Festival Advertising Opportunities 2026–27: Every Major Festival, Dates and When to Book

Durga Puja 2026 ends on 21 October, but the next twelve months hold more than a dozen big festival advertising opportunities, from Kali Puja and Chhath this November to Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja 2027. This is the full list, with dates and the latest date you should book each one.

Festival advertising is won by brands that plan the year, not the week. The best gates, stages and stalls go to whoever asks first, and every committee has a date after which its good spaces are gone. Use this page as your planning calendar.

Every major festival, November 2026 to November 2027

| Festival | Date | Where the crowds are | Book by | |---|---|---|---| | Kojagari Lakshmi Puja | Sun 25 Oct 2026 | Bengal and Odisha clubs, housing societies | 20 Oct 2026 | | Dhanteras | Fri 6 Nov 2026 | Markets, jewellery and electronics streets | 25 Oct 2026 | | Kali Puja and Diwali | Sun 8 Nov 2026 | Kali Puja pandals in Bengal; Diwali melas everywhere | 28 Oct 2026 | | Chhath Puja | 13–16 Nov 2026 | River and pond ghats: Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern UP, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai | 5 Nov 2026 | | Jagaddhatri Puja | Around 18 Nov 2026 | Chandannagar, Krishnanagar | 9 Nov 2026 | | Rash Utsav and Kartik Purnima | Around 24 Nov 2026 | Shantipur and Nabadwip, river fairs, Gurpurab | 14 Nov 2026 | | Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Gangasagar | 14–15 Jan 2027 | Tamil Nadu, Gujarat (kites), Bengal (Gangasagar Mela) | December 2026 | | Saraswati Puja / Vasant Panchami | Thu 11 Feb 2027 | Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam: schools, colleges, clubs | January 2027 | | Holi | Holika Dahan Sun 21 Mar, colours Mon 22 Mar 2027 | North India and housing societies; in Bengal, Dol Jatra is on 21 March | February 2027 | | Poila Boishakh, Ugadi, Vishu, Baisakhi | Mid-April 2027 | Bengal, South India, Punjab: new-year shopping | March 2027 | | Akshaya Tritiya | Around 8 May 2027 | Jewellery and property buying across India | April 2027 | | Rath Yatra | Mon 5 Jul 2027 | Puri, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and ISKCON processions | May 2027 | | Ganesh Chaturthi | Sat 4 – Tue 14 Sep 2027 | Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Goa, Bengaluru | June–July 2027 | | Onam | Thiruvonam Sun 12 Sep 2027 | Kerala and Malayali communities | July 2027 | | Navratri and Garba | From Thu 30 Sep 2027 | Gujarat, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Rajasthan | July 2027 | | Durga Puja | Shashthi Tue 5 Oct to Dashami 9–10 Oct 2027 | Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, abroad | June–August 2027 | | Dussehra and Ramlila | Sat 9 Oct 2027 | Delhi, UP, MP, Punjab | August 2027 | | Diwali and Kali Puja | Fri 29 Oct 2027 | Pan-India; Kali Puja in Bengal | September 2027 | | Chhath Puja | Around 3–4 Nov 2027 | Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern UP, Delhi, Kolkata | September 2027 |

Dates follow widely used panchangs. Some differ by a day between panchangs and regions, so confirm with the committee you book.

The rest of 2026: still open now

Kali Puja and Diwali (8 November) is the best-value festival in Bengal. The pandals are lit up at night, the crowds go pandal-hopping again, and rates are usually well below Durga Puja's. Barasat, Naihati and the northern suburbs of Kolkata are especially known for big Kali Puja celebrations. Book backlit gate panels, LED screens and stalls. Kali Puja committees are already listing on PujaSathi. Kali Puja sponsorship guide

Chhath Puja (13–16 November) is one of the largest gatherings of the year, and most brands ignore it. Families fill the ghats for the sunset arghya on Sunday 15 November and the sunrise arghya on Monday 16 November. Brands that help are remembered: welcome gates, water and tea points, lighting, changing tents and first-aid desks. Make sure the ghat committee has permission from the local administration for any structure.

Jagaddhatri Puja (around 18 November) in Chandannagar and Krishnanagar draws visitors from across Bengal for its light displays. Sponsor the lighting or an illuminated gate. This is the natural second chance for anyone who missed Durga Puja.

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja (25 October) and Rash Utsav (around 24 November) are smaller and local, which suits sweet shops, banks, jewellers and home stores near the venue.

2027: the year at a glance

January to April: the quiet quarter that isn't

• Saraswati Puja (11 February) is celebrated in almost every school, college and neighbourhood club in Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. Crowds are young, and budgets are small. It's ideal for coaching institutes, stationery, food, telecom and two-wheeler brands. Saraswati Puja sponsorship
• Holi (21–22 March) brings society events, ticketed Holi parties and Dol Jatra in Bengal. It's a strong sampling moment for beverages, snacks and skin and hair care.
• New year festivals in mid-April, including Poila Boishakh in Bengal, Ugadi and Vishu in the South and Baisakhi in Punjab, are big shopping days. Poila Boishakh is the day of haal khata (new account books), and every shop wants customers through the door.
• Akshaya Tritiya (around 8 May) is the jewellery and property day of the first half of the year.

July: Rath Yatra

Rath Yatra (5 July) sends huge processions through Puri, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and dozens of other cities, with fairs (mela) that run for days. Book route banners, welcome gates, water points and mela stalls.

September: Ganesh Chaturthi and Onam in the same week

Ganesh Chaturthi runs from Saturday 4 to Tuesday 14 September 2027. That's eleven days of mandal footfall, followed by the visarjan processions on Anant Chaturdashi. It is India's second-largest on-ground sponsorship market after Durga Puja, and Mumbai and Pune mandals confirm their main sponsors early. Read our full plan: Ganesh Chaturthi 2027 Advertising Opportunities.

Onam's main day, Thiruvonam, is Sunday 12 September, in the same week. Brands selling in both Maharashtra and Kerala should plan one September campaign for both.

30 September to 29 October: the tightest festive month in years

In 2027, Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra and Diwali all fall within 30 days:

• Navratri begins on Thursday 30 September.
• Durga Puja's Shashthi is Tuesday 5 October, about twelve days earlier than in 2026.
• Dussehra is Saturday 9 October.
• Diwali and Kali Puja are on Friday 29 October.

That has two consequences. Committees and printers will be busy at the same time, so artwork deadlines arrive earlier. And a brand can ride one creative idea through the whole month, from garba nights to pandals to Diwali, at one booking. Read the full plan: Durga Puja 2027 Advertising: Dates and When to Book.

November: Chhath and Jagaddhatri

Chhath falls around 3–4 November 2027 and Jagaddhatri follows in early November. Book them together with Kali Puja for a single Bengal and Bihar season.

When to book: the simple rule

| Festival size | Book this far ahead | |---|---| | Durga Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi (famous pujas and mandals) | 3–4 months | | Navratri, Diwali, Dussehra, Kali Puja | 1–2 months | | Neighbourhood pujas, Chhath ghats, Saraswati Puja | 2–4 weeks | | Printing and installation of artwork | Allow at least 7 days |

For a September–October festival, approve your budget in June. That gives you July and August to choose the pujas, agree prices and print.

Frequently asked questions

What are the biggest festival advertising opportunities in India in 2027?

Durga Puja (5–10 October), Ganesh Chaturthi (4–14 September), Navratri (from 30 September), Diwali and Kali Puja (29 October) and Dussehra (9 October) are the largest. Rath Yatra (5 July), Saraswati Puja (11 February), Holi (21–22 March) and Chhath (around 3–4 November) are strong regional opportunities.

When is Durga Puja 2027?

Maha Shashthi is on Tuesday 5 October 2027, and Bijoya Dashami falls on 9 or 10 October depending on the panjika. That is about twelve days earlier than Durga Puja 2026.

When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2027?

Ganesh Chaturthi is on Saturday 4 September 2027, and the main visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi is on Tuesday 14 September.

Which festivals are still open for advertising in 2026?

Kali Puja and Diwali (8 November), Chhath Puja (13–16 November), Jagaddhatri Puja (around 18 November) and Rash Utsav (around 24 November). Kojagari Lakshmi Puja (25 October) is open for a few more days.

When should I start booking for Durga Puja 2027?

Approve the budget in June 2027 and book between June and August. The best gates at well-known pujas are often committed by early August.

Plan your year on PujaSathi

Brands: browse pujas and festivals open for advertising, from Kali Puja this November onward. Every listing shows the spaces, the prices and photos.

Committees: list your puja once and keep it for every festival you run, from Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja to Durga Puja 2027. List your puja free.

Related: [Advertising Opportunities in Puja: 15 Spaces](/blog/advertising-opportunities-in-puja-pandals) · [Shubh Days to Advertise: 2026–27 Calendar](/blog/shubh-muhurat-to-advertise-auspicious-days-for-brands) · [India Festival Marketing Calendar 2027](/blog/india-festival-marketing-calendar-2027)