December 2026 is a month of quiet spiritual depth, year-end reflection, and some deeply cherished cultural celebrations in the Bengali Calendar. According to the Bangla Panjika 2026, this final month of the Gregorian year brings together two important Ekadashi fasting dates, the sacred Agrahayan Amavasya and Agrahayan Purnima, the iconic Poush Mela of Shantiniketan, the grand occasion of Gita Jayanti, the joyful Christmas celebrations known as Boro Din in Bengal, and the critical Dhanu Sankranti marking the beginning of the Poush month and the Kharmas period. For Bengali families across West Bengal, Bangladesh, and the global Bengali community, December 2026 is a month that beautifully blends Vedic devotion, cultural heritage, and the warmth of the year-end festive spirit.
What Is the Bengali Calendar (Bangla Panjika)?
The Bengali Calendar, also known as the Bangla Panjika or Bongabdo, is the traditional lunar-solar almanac that has guided Bengali Hindu communities for generations. Followed across West Bengal, Bangladesh, Assam, Tripura, and the worldwide Bengali diaspora, the Panjika provides precise daily information including Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Sunrise and Sunset timings, auspicious hours (Shubh Samay), inauspicious periods (Durmuhurt), Amrit Kaal, and the complete yearly schedule of festivals and fasting days. For millions of Bengali families, the Bangla Panjika remains the most trusted reference for planning every puja, ceremony, and important decision throughout the year.
How to Download Bengali Calendar December 2026 PDF for Free
The Bengali Calendar December 2026 PDF and high-definition image are available for free download from official Bangla Panjika websites. Visit the December 2026 section on the official Bengali Calendar website and click the download button to save the complete HD calendar directly to your device for easy offline reference throughout the month.
Bengali Calendar December 2026: Complete Day-by-Day Festival and Holiday Table
The following table presents every important festival, holiday, and observance for December 2026 as recorded in the Bangla Panjika 2026. Keep this as your complete daily reference throughout the month.
| Date | Day | Festival / Holiday | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 4, 2026 | Friday | Utpanna Ekadashi | First Ekadashi of December, falling in Margashirsha Krishna Paksha. Fasting grants liberation and spiritual merit |
| Dec 8, 2026 | Tuesday | Agrahayan Amavasya | New Moon day of the Agrahayan month. Ideal for Pitru Tarpan and ancestor rituals |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday (Bank Holiday) | Banking holiday across India |
| Dec 16, 2026 | Wednesday | Dhanu Sankranti (Poush Month Begins) | Sun enters Sagittarius. The Bengali month of Poush begins. Kharmas period starts |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Sunday | Mokshada Ekadashi; Gita Jayanti | One of the most powerful Ekadashis of the year. Sacred anniversary of the Bhagavad Gita |
| Dec 23, 2026 | Wednesday | Poush Mela Begins (Shantiniketan); Agrahayan Purnima; Dattatreya Jayanti | The iconic annual winter fair at Tagore’s Shantiniketan begins. Full Moon of Agrahayan. Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya |
| Dec 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day (Boro Din) | Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Public holiday across India |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday (Bank Holiday) | Banking holiday across India |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Eve | Year-end celebrations across India and the world |
Utpanna Ekadashi 2026 — First Ekadashi of December
Date and Significance
Utpanna Ekadashi 2026 falls on Friday, December 4. This Ekadashi falls in the Krishna Paksha of the Margashirsha month and is considered one of the foundational Ekadashis in the Vaishnav tradition. According to the Puranas, Goddess Ekadashi herself was born on this day from the power of Lord Vishnu to defeat the demon Mura — which is why this Ekadashi is called Utpanna, meaning born or originated.
How to Observe
Devotees observe a full fast from the previous evening, perform Vishnu puja with Tulsi leaves and flowers, stay in prayer and devotional chanting, and break the fast on the Dwadashi (December 5) within the correct Parana time window. Fasting on Utpanna Ekadashi is said to wash away the sins of an entire year and grant the devotee liberation from the cycle of birth and death. For the exact Parana timing in your city, consult the official Bangla Panjika December 2026 PDF.
Agrahayan Amavasya 2026 — New Moon for Ancestor Rituals
Date and Significance
Agrahayan Amavasya 2026 falls on Tuesday, December 8. This New Moon day of the Agrahayan month is an important occasion for Pitru Tarpan — the ritual offering of water, sesame seeds, and prayers to departed ancestors. In the Bengali tradition, Amavasya days carry deep ancestral significance, and the Agrahayan Amavasya is considered particularly favorable for performing Shradh and Tarpan rituals outside the main Pitru Paksha period.
Families who wish to honor their ancestors during the year-end period will find this Amavasya especially appropriate. Taking a holy bath, performing Tarpan at a river or at home, and donating food or essentials to those in need on this day is believed to bring peace and blessings to departed family members.
⚠️ Dhanu Sankranti 2026 — Poush Month Begins and Kharmas Advisory
Date and Critical Importance
Dhanu Sankranti 2026 falls on Wednesday, December 16. This is the single most important Panchang advisory in the Bengali Calendar December 2026 and every family must take careful note of it.
On this day, the Sun transits from Vrischika (Scorpio) into Dhanu (Sagittarius), marking the beginning of the Bengali month of Poush. While this transition is culturally celebrated as the opening of the beloved winter Poush season, it also triggers the beginning of the Kharmas period in Vedic tradition.
What Is Kharmas?
Kharmas is the period during which the Sun travels through Sagittarius (Dhanu Rashi). According to the Vedic Panchang, this period is considered inauspicious for all Manglik Karya — auspicious new beginnings including weddings, engagements, Griha Pravesh (housewarming), and Janeu (sacred thread) ceremonies.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Kharmas Start Date | December 16, 2026 (Wednesday) — Dhanu Sankranti |
| Cause | Sun’s transit into Sagittarius (Dhanu Rashi) |
| End Date | Makar Sankranti in January 2027 (Sun enters Capricorn) |
| Ceremonies Prohibited | Weddings, engagements, Griha Pravesh, Janeu, and all new auspicious beginnings |
If you have any wedding, engagement, or housewarming planned for the second half of December 2026 or early January 2027, it must be rescheduled to after Makar Sankranti in January 2027.
Mokshada Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti 2026 — A Doubly Sacred Day
Date and Significance
Mokshada Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti 2026 both fall on Sunday, December 20. This coincidence of two deeply sacred events on the same day makes December 20 one of the most spiritually powerful dates of the entire month and arguably of the entire second half of 2026.
Mokshada Ekadashi
Mokshada Ekadashi falls in the Shukla Paksha of the Margashirsha month and is one of the most important Ekadashis in the Hindu calendar. Its name itself reveals its power — Mokshada means that which grants Moksha or liberation from the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Fasting on this day is believed to free not only the devotee but also their ancestors from worldly attachments and grant the entire family the blessings of liberation. This makes it particularly significant for families who wish to offer spiritual benefit to their departed loved ones.
Gita Jayanti
Gita Jayanti marks the sacred anniversary of the day when Lord Krishna delivered the profound and timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to the warrior Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, just before the great Mahabharata war began. The Bhagavad Gita, containing 700 verses across 18 chapters, is considered the most important philosophical and spiritual text in Hinduism and a practical guide to righteous living for all of humanity.
On Gita Jayanti, temples across Bengal organize special Gita recitations, spiritual discourses, and community programs. Many dedicated readers complete a full reading of all 18 chapters of the Gita on this day as a form of devotion. The combination of Mokshada Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti on the same day gives December 20 an extraordinary spiritual weight.
Agrahayan Purnima and Dattatreya Jayanti 2026
Date and Significance
Agrahayan Purnima 2026 falls on Wednesday, December 23. This Full Moon day of the Agrahayan month is considered auspicious for holy bathing, charity, and Vishnu puja. In Bengali tradition, Agrahayan is considered one of the most blessed months of the year — the Bhagavad Gita itself (Chapter 10, Verse 35) references the month of Margashirsha (Agrahayan) as the most glorious of all months according to Lord Krishna.
Dattatreya Jayanti
December 23 also marks Dattatreya Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya — the divine trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva combined in a single form. Lord Dattatreya is the great avadhuta guru (a realized master beyond all conventions) and is worshipped as the divine embodiment of the eternal Guru principle. His Jayanti on the Agrahayan Purnima is observed with special puja, reading of the Avadhuta Gita, and offerings at Dattatreya temples, particularly in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Poush Mela 2026 — The Iconic Winter Fair of Shantiniketan
Date and Overview
Poush Mela 2026 begins on Wednesday, December 23, coinciding with Agrahayan Purnima. The Poush Mela is one of the most beloved and culturally iconic events in the entire Bengali calendar — a four-day annual winter fair held in Shantiniketan, Birbhum district, West Bengal, the university town founded by Rabindranath Tagore.
History and Cultural Significance
The Poush Mela has its origins in 1843 when Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore, formally accepted the Brahmo Dharma on the auspicious Full Moon of Poush. In memory of this spiritual milestone, an annual fair began at the Ashram premises that grew over generations into the magnificent cultural festival it is today.
Christmas 2026 — Boro Din in Bengal
Date and Significance
Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday, December 25 and is listed as a public holiday across India in the Bangla Panjika. In Bengal, Christmas is affectionately called Boro Din (the Big Day) and is celebrated with a warmth and inclusivity that reflects the uniquely syncretic culture of West Bengal.
Christmas in Kolkata
Kolkata, which has a deep historical connection with the Christian community going back to British colonial times, celebrates Christmas with particular enthusiasm. Park Street in central Kolkata transforms into a glittering display of lights, Christmas trees, and decorations that rivals any Christmas market in the world. Churches across the city — including the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral — hold midnight mass services and morning prayers that are attended not only by Christians but by people of all faiths who come to experience the spiritual beauty of the occasion.
Ekadashi Dates in December 2026
December 2026 has two significant Ekadashi fasting dates, both of which carry deep spiritual power.
| Date | Day | Ekadashi Name | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 4, 2026 | Friday | Utpanna Ekadashi | Falls in Krishna Paksha of Margashirsha. Named for the birth of Goddess Ekadashi herself. Fasting removes a full year’s worth of accumulated sins and grants liberation from the cycle of rebirth |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Sunday | Mokshada Ekadashi (Gita Jayanti) | Falls in Shukla Paksha of Margashirsha. One of the most powerful Ekadashis of the year. Fasting grants Moksha (liberation) for the devotee and their ancestors. Coincides with the sacred anniversary of the Bhagavad Gita |
Bank Holidays in December 2026
December 2026 has two Saturday bank holidays and one national public holiday on Christmas Day. Plan all important banking transactions and financial activities in advance.
| Date | Day | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday — Banking Holiday across India |
| Dec 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day — National Public Holiday across India |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday — Banking Holiday across India |
Key Highlights of Bengali Calendar December 2026 at a Glance
December 2026 opens with Utpanna Ekadashi on December 4. Agrahayan Amavasya for ancestor rituals comes on December 8. Second Saturday bank holiday falls on December 12. The critically important Dhanu Sankranti marking the start of Poush month and Kharmas arrives on December 16. The doubly sacred Mokshada Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti fall together on December 20. Agrahayan Purnima, Dattatreya Jayanti, and the beloved Poush Mela all begin on December 23. Christmas (Boro Din) is on December 25. Fourth Saturday bank holiday comes on December 26. The year closes with New Year’s Eve on December 31. December 2026 is a month of cultural richness, devotional depth, and year-end joy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When does Poush Mela begin in December 2026? Poush Mela 2026 begins on Wednesday, December 23, in Shantiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal. It is held around the Agrahayan Purnima period every year.
Q2. When is Gita Jayanti in December 2026? Gita Jayanti 2026 falls on Sunday, December 20, which also coincides with Mokshada Ekadashi, making it an especially sacred day.
Q3. When does Kharmas begin in December 2026? Kharmas 2026 begins on Wednesday, December 16, with Dhanu Sankranti when the Sun enters Sagittarius. All auspicious ceremonies including weddings are prohibited from this date until Makar Sankranti in January 2027.
Q4. What are the two Ekadashi dates in December 2026? December 2026 has two Ekadashis — Utpanna Ekadashi on December 4 (Friday) and Mokshada Ekadashi on December 20 (Sunday).
Q5. When is Agrahayan Purnima in December 2026? Agrahayan Purnima falls on Wednesday, December 23, 2026. It coincides with Dattatreya Jayanti and the start of Poush Mela in Shantiniketan.
Q6. When is Christmas (Boro Din) in December 2026? Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday, December 25. It is a national public holiday across India.
Q7. When is Agrahayan Amavasya in December 2026? Agrahayan Amavasya falls on Tuesday, December 8, 2026. This is an ideal day for Pitru Tarpan and ancestor rituals.
Q8. How many bank holidays are there in December 2026? December 2026 has three significant non-working days — Second Saturday on December 12, Christmas on December 25, and Fourth Saturday on December 26.
Conclusion
December 2026 brings the Bengali Calendar year to a close with a perfect blend of spiritual observance, cultural celebration, and year-end warmth. From the liberating power of two Ekadashi fasts to the critical Kharmas advisory of Dhanu Sankranti, from the cultural magic of Poush Mela in Shantiniketan to the festive joy of Christmas in Kolkata, December 2026 offers something deeply meaningful to every Bengali family regardless of their background or tradition.