This page lists the main Hindu festivals 2028 with dates, weekdays and the meaning of each, plus a free printable 2028 calendar with the whole festival list marked. Holi 2028 falls early, on Saturday, March 11, and Diwali 2028 is on Tuesday, October 17, almost two weeks earlier than in 2027. Dates follow the lunisolar calendar and can vary by a day depending on your region and panchang.
Hindu festivals 2028 at a glance
| Date | Day | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| January 15 | Saturday | Makar Sankranti, Pongal |
| February 23 | Wednesday | Maha Shivaratri |
| March 11 | Saturday | Holi |
| March 27 | Monday | Gudi Padwa, Ugadi |
| April 3 | Monday | Ram Navami |
| April 13 | Thursday | Vaisakhi |
| June 24 | Saturday | Rath Yatra |
| August 5 | Saturday | Raksha Bandhan |
| August 13 | Sunday | Janmashtami |
| August 23 | Wednesday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| September 1 | Friday | Onam |
| September 27 | Wednesday | Dussehra |
| October 7 | Saturday | Karwa Chauth |
| October 17 | Tuesday | Diwali |
| October 18 | Wednesday | Govardhan Puja |
| October 19 | Thursday | Bhai Duj |
| October 23 | Monday | Chhath Puja |
Dates follow the Government of India holiday lists and common panchangs; regional calendars can differ by a day.
Printable Hindu calendar 2028
Download a Hindu calendar 2028 with every festival marked: a year at a glance, all 12 months on A4 with a Monday start, October with Karwa Chauth, Diwali and Chhath Puja, and March with Holi and Gudi Padwa.
Diwali 2028 and the five days of lights
Diwali 2028 is on Tuesday, October 17, the new moon night of Kartika. Families light diyas and candles, draw rangoli at the door, worship the goddess Lakshmi in the evening, exchange sweets and gifts and set off fireworks. The festival spans five days:
- Dhanteras: usually two days before Diwali, a lucky day to buy gold, silver or kitchen utensils.
- Choti Diwali: the day before, also called Naraka Chaturdashi.
- Diwali and Lakshmi Puja: Tuesday, October 17.
- Govardhan Puja: Wednesday, October 18.
- Bhai Duj: Thursday, October 19, when sisters pray for their brothers’ long life.
Six days later, on Monday, October 23, Chhath Puja honors the sun god with offerings at sunrise and sunset beside rivers and ponds, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Holi 2028 and the spring festivals
Holi 2028 is on Saturday, March 11, falling on a weekend this year, after the Holika Dahan bonfire on the evening of Friday, March 10. It is a joyful festival of colors, music and food that welcomes spring. Earlier, Maha Shivaratri on Wednesday, February 23 is a night of fasting and prayer to Lord Shiva. Later in spring come Gudi Padwa and Ugadi on Monday, March 27, the New Year in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and Ram Navami on Monday, April 3. Vaisakhi, the spring harvest festival and Sikh New Year, is on Thursday, April 13.
Monsoon and harvest festivals in 2028
- Rath Yatra, June 24: Lord Jagannath’s huge chariots are pulled through the streets of Puri.
- Raksha Bandhan, August 5: sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists.
- Janmashtami, August 13: the birth of Lord Krishna, with midnight prayers and the dahi handi game.
- Ganesh Chaturthi, August 23: clay idols of Lord Ganesha are worshipped for up to ten days and then immersed in water.
- Onam, September 1: Kerala’s harvest festival, with a vegetarian feast (sadya), flower carpets and boat races.
- Dussehra, September 27: the victory of good over evil at the end of Navratri, much earlier than in 2027.
Hindu festivals 2028 compared with 2027
| Festival | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|
| Holi | Monday, March 22 | Saturday, March 11 |
| Raksha Bandhan | Tuesday, August 17 | Saturday, August 5 |
| Dussehra | Saturday, October 9 | Wednesday, September 27 |
| Diwali | Friday, October 29 | Tuesday, October 17 |
Most festivals come 10 to 12 days earlier in 2028 because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. Every few years an extra lunar month is added, which pushes the festivals back later again.
Planning around Hindu festivals 2028
Several big festivals fall on or near weekends in 2028: Holi on Saturday, March 11, Raksha Bandhan on Saturday, August 5 and Janmashtami on Sunday, August 13, which makes family gatherings easier to plan. Diwali on a Tuesday means many families abroad will celebrate on the weekend before or after as well as on the day. Mark the dates early if you need to book travel to India, because flights and trains fill up quickly around Diwali and Chhath Puja.
Understanding the Hindu calendar 2028
Each lunar month is divided into a bright half, as the moon grows to full, and a dark half, as it wanes to the new moon. Festivals are fixed to a tithi, or lunar day, in a particular month: Diwali to the new moon of Kartika and Holi to the full moon of Phalguna. A few, like Makar Sankranti on January 15, follow the sun instead. Wikipedia’s Hindu calendar article covers the system, and turning on moon phases in the calendar maker shows the new and full moons that set many of these dates.
Print a 2028 calendar with these dates
The calendar maker below opens with the Hindu festivals for 2028 already marked. Switch between a year at a glance, one page per month or a single month; add India’s public holidays on top, add your own family events and download a free PDF for US Letter, A4 or A5.
Hindu festivals 2028: frequently asked questions
When is Diwali 2028?
Tuesday, October 17, 2028.
When is Holi 2028?
Saturday, March 11, 2028, with Holika Dahan on the evening of March 10.
When is Raksha Bandhan 2028?
Saturday, August 5, 2028.
How many festivals are in the festival list 2028?
The table above lists 17 major festivals. Many regional and community festivals are celebrated as well.
Why are the dates earlier than in 2027?
The lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, so lunar festivals move earlier each year until a leap month is added.
Is the Hindu calendar 2028 free to print?
Yes. Every calendar on this page is free for home, temple or school use.
More holiday calendars
- Hindu Festivals 2027 (Diwali is October 29)
- India Holidays 2028 with the public holiday list
- Islamic Holidays 2028, Jewish Holidays 2028, Christian Holidays 2028 and Chinese Festivals 2028
- October 2028 calendar and March 2028 calendar
- 2028 calendar and all holiday calendars