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Sky and festival news
What is happening in the sky and the festival calendar, published as each event approaches. Every date and time is computed from NASA JPL planetary data. RSS feed.
Moon ·
New Moon in Scorpio on 9 November 2026: what it means
The new moon falls in Scorpio on 9 November 2026, 07:02 UTC (12:32 PM IST).
Festival ·
Tulsi Vivah 2026: date, timings and what to know
Tulsi Vivah is on Saturday 21 November 2026, the day after Dev Uthani Ekadashi. It marks the symbolic marriage of the Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu and the start of the wedding season.
Festival ·
Chhath Puja 2026: date, timings and what to know
The main day of Chhath, with the evening arghya to the setting sun, is Sunday 15 November 2026.
Festival ·
Bhai Dooj 2026: date, timings and what to know
Bhai Dooj is on Wednesday 11 November 2026, the last day of Diwali, when sisters put a tilak on their brothers' foreheads.
Festival ·
Govardhan Puja 2026: date, timings and what to know
Govardhan Puja and Annakut are on Tuesday 10 November 2026, the day after the Amavasya, remembering Krishna lifting Govardhan hill.
Moon ·
Full Moon in Taurus on 26 October 2026: what it means
The full moon falls in Taurus on 26 October 2026, 04:11 UTC (9:41 AM IST).
Festival ·
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) 2026: date, timings and what to know
Diwali is on Sunday 8 November 2026. Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening (Pradosh Kaal after sunset) on the Amavasya day; the exact time depends on your city.
Zodiac season ·
Sun enters Scorpio: Scorpio season 2026 begins 23 October
The Sun moves into Scorpio on 23 October 2026, 09:38 UTC (3:08 PM IST), opening Scorpio season.
Festival ·
Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) 2026: date, timings and what to know
Naraka Chaturdashi, also called Choti Diwali and Kali Chaudas, is on 7 and 8 November 2026: lamps on the evening of 7 November and the oil bath (abhyang snan) before sunrise on 8 November, the day of Diwali.
Festival ·
Dhanteras 2026: date, timings and what to know
Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November 2026. The puja is done in the evening (Pradosh Kaal); buying gold, silver or utensils is traditional.
Retrograde ·
Mercury turns retrograde on 24 October 2026 in Scorpio
Mercury stations retrograde on 24 October 2026, 07:12 UTC (12:42 PM IST) and stays retrograde until 13 November 2026.
Festival ·
Ahoi Ashtami 2026: date, timings and what to know
Ahoi Ashtami is on Sunday 1 November 2026, four days after Karwa Chauth. Mothers fast from sunrise until the stars appear and worship Ahoi Mata for their children.
Retrograde ·
Pluto stations direct on 16 October 2026 in Aquarius
Pluto ends its retrograde on 16 October 2026, 02:40 UTC (8:10 AM IST).
Festival ·
Karwa Chauth 2026: date, timings and what to know
Karwa Chauth is on Thursday 29 October 2026. The fast is broken after moonrise, which is at a different time in every city (see the moonrise time for your city).
Festival ·
Sharad Purnima 2026: date, timings and what to know
The Ashwin full moon on Sunday 25 October 2026, when kheer is kept in moonlight and Lakshmi is worshipped (Kojagari Purnima).
Moon ·
New Moon in Libra on 10 October 2026: what it means
The new moon falls in Libra on 10 October 2026, 15:50 UTC (9:20 PM IST).
Festival ·
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026: date, timings and what to know
Vijayadashami falls on Tuesday 20 October 2026, the day after Maha Navami, marking Rama's victory over Ravana and Durga's victory over Mahishasura.
Retrograde ·
Venus turns retrograde on 3 October 2026 in Scorpio
Venus stations retrograde on 3 October 2026, 07:16 UTC (12:46 PM IST) and stays retrograde until 14 November 2026.
Festival ·
Sharad Navratri 2026: date, timings and what to know
Nine nights and days of worship of the nine forms of Durga, 11 to 19 October 2026, followed by Dussehra on 20 October.
Moon ·
Full Moon in Aries on 26 September 2026: what it means
The full moon falls in Aries on 26 September 2026, 16:49 UTC (10:19 PM IST).
Festival ·
Pitru Paksha 2026: date, timings and what to know
The 16-day period for Shraddh, tarpan and pind daan to honour ancestors. 26 September to 10 October 2026, ending on Sarva Pitru Amavasya.
Zodiac season ·
Sun enters Libra: Libra season 2026 begins 23 September
The Sun moves into Libra on 23 September 2026, 00:06 UTC (5:36 AM IST), opening Libra season.
Coming up
- 6 Nov: Dhanteras 2026: date, timings and what to know
- 7 Nov: Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) 2026: date, timings and what to know
- 8 Nov: Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) 2026: date, timings and what to know
- 10 Nov: Govardhan Puja 2026: date, timings and what to know
- 11 Nov: Bhai Dooj 2026: date, timings and what to know
- 15 Nov: Chhath Puja 2026: date, timings and what to know
- 21 Nov: Tulsi Vivah 2026: date, timings and what to know
- 9 Nov: New Moon in Scorpio on 9 November 2026: what it means
Keep exploring, all free