The Bangla Calendar March 2026 spans two cherished Bengali months — Phalguna (ফাল্গুন) in its first two weeks and Chaitra (চৈত্র) for the remainder — both belonging to Bangabda 1432. Chaitra holds special significance as the final month of the Bengali year, making March 2026 a month of both celebration and spiritual completion — the year ending in a spectacular flourish of festivals before the Bengali New Year of Poila Boishakh arrives in April.
March 2026 brings an extraordinary diversity of celebrations: the devotional splendour of Dol Yatra and Dol Purnima, the joyful explosion of Holi, the nine sacred nights of Basanti Puja (Chaitra Navratri), the communal warmth of Eid-ul-Fitr, the birth of Lord Rama on Ram Navami, and the national tribute to the great Jain sage on Mahavir Jayanti. It is a month that demonstrates — as only the Bengali calendar can — how a single thirty-one-day stretch can hold the sacred stories of multiple faiths, multiple communities, and multiple seasons within its embrace.
Bengali Calendar March 2026 – Complete Day-by-Day Festival & Holiday Table
| Date | Day | Festival / Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Dol Yatra / Dol Purnima | Vaishnava Festival — Phalguna Purnima |
| March 4, 2026 | Wednesday | Holi (Rangwali Holi / Dhulendi) | National Festival / Public Holiday |
| March 14, 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday | Bank Holiday — All India |
| March 19, 2026 | Thursday | Basanti Puja Begins (Chaitra Navratri / Ghatasthapana) | Nine-Night Goddess Festival |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr | Public Holiday — All India |
| March 27, 2026 | Friday | Ram Navami | Gazetted Holiday / National Festival |
| March 28, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | Bank Holiday — All India |
| March 31, 2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti | National Public Holiday |
Detailed Guide to Every Festival – Bengali Calendar March 2026
1. Dol Yatra and Dol Purnima – March 3, 2026 (Tuesday)
Type: Vaishnava Festival — Phalguna Purnima (Full Moon of Phalguna)
Dol Yatra on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 is one of the most distinctively and deeply Bengali festivals in the entire calendar year — and it is fundamentally different from how the rest of India celebrates this season. While Holi is known across India as a festival of colour and spring, Bengal’s Dol Utsav (Dol Yatra) is rooted in something far more devotional — a sacred celebration of the eternal love between Lord Krishna and Radha Rani that transforms colour-play into an act of divine worship.
What Is Dol Yatra? The word Dol refers to a palanquin or swing — specifically the beautifully decorated wooden palankeen (dol) on which the idols of Radha and Krishna are placed during the festival. On Dol Purnima, these palanquins are carried out in grand processions through the streets of towns and villages across West Bengal, as devotees — dressed in yellow and white, the colours of spring — walk alongside, sing Kirtan, play the dhak (large ceremonial drum) and khol (barrel-shaped drum central to Vaishnava music), and shower the idols with abir (red and pink coloured powder) and fresh spring flowers.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Dol Purnima: Dol Purnima holds a uniquely sacred place in Bengali Vaishnava tradition because Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu — the great saint of Nabadwip who revolutionised Radha-Krishna devotion across India — is traditionally believed to have been born on this very day. Dol Purnima is therefore simultaneously the birthday of Bengal’s most beloved spiritual saint and the devotional colour festival of Radha-Krishna — a convergence that gives the day extraordinary emotional depth for Bengali Vaishnavas. The Mayapur ISKCON campus in Nabadwip (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s birthplace) celebrates Dol Purnima with a grandeur that draws pilgrims from across the world.
Shantiniketan’s Legendary Dol Utsav: The most photographed and celebrated Dol Utsav in all of Bengal takes place at Shantiniketan — Rabindranath Tagore’s visionary school-university in Birbhum district. Tagore himself instituted the Basanta Utsav (Spring Festival) at Shantiniketan in the tradition of Dol Purnima — students and faculty dressed in saffron and yellow, dancing and singing Tagore’s Basanta songs amid a shower of flower petals and abir, surrounded by the blooming palash (flame of the forest) trees that make Shantiniketan’s campus otherworldly in late Phalguna. This celebration has become one of the most iconic images of Bengali cultural life worldwide.
Dol Purnima (Phalguna Purnima): The full moon that falls on March 3, 2026 is the Phalguna Purnima — the full moon of the Bengali month of Phalguna and one of the most auspicious Purnimas of the year. Sacred bathing, charitable giving, and ancestral Tarpan on this day carry exceptional spiritual merit.
2. Holi (Rangwali Holi / Dhulendi) – March 4, 2026 (Wednesday)
Type: National Festival / Public Holiday
Holi on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 is India’s most exuberant national festival — a day when the entire country dissolves into a glorious explosion of colour, laughter, music, and the uninhibited joy of spring. Coming one day after Dol Purnima, Holi is the wider, more universally observed extension of the same spring festival season that Bengal celebrates through Dol Yatra.
Holika Dahan — the Night Before: On the evening of March 3 (Dol Purnima night), communities across India light large bonfires in a ritual called Holika Dahan (also Chhoti Holi). This ceremony commemorates the ancient story from the Vishnu Purana of Prahlad and Holika: Prahlad, a devoted young prince who worshipped Vishnu, was persecuted by his own father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu. His aunt Holika, who possessed a divine shawl that made her immune to fire, sat in a bonfire with Prahlad intending to burn him. But through the grace of Lord Vishnu, the shawl flew off Holika and covered Prahlad — Holika perished and Prahlad emerged unharmed. The bonfire of Holika Dahan symbolises the burning away of ego, negativity, and all accumulated impurities of the past year.
Rangwali Holi — The Day of Colour: On March 4, from morning through the early afternoon, the streets of every Indian city, town, and village transform. People of all ages, religions, social backgrounds, and walks of life emerge to play Holi — applying gulal (dry coloured powder), spraying coloured water with pichkaris, and embracing in a community spirit that levels all differences of wealth, caste, and position. The colours of Holi — red, yellow, green, blue, pink — are understood as symbols of the diversity of life itself, all mixing together in joyful harmony.
Holi in West Bengal: While the primary Holi energy in Bengal is expressed through Dol Yatra on March 3, the colour play of Holi on March 4 is also widely celebrated — particularly by Bengali youth and in multi-community urban settings in Kolkata. Special Holi events at parks, housing complexes, and cultural organisations feature music, dance, traditional Holi sweets like gujiya, thandai, and malpua, and the joyful chaos of colour that makes Holi one of the world’s most visually spectacular festivals.
3. Second Saturday (Bank Holiday) – March 14, 2026 (Saturday)
Type: Bank Holiday — All India (RBI Directive)
March 14, 2026 is the Second Saturday of the month — a mandatory banking holiday under the Reserve Bank of India’s nationwide policy. All scheduled commercial banks across West Bengal and India remain closed. ATMs, UPI, IMPS, and digital banking remain fully operational. Plan branch-based transactions (demand drafts, fixed deposits, cheque deposits, loan applications) for working days before or after this date.
4. Basanti Puja Begins (Chaitra Navratri / Ghatasthapana) – March 19, 2026 (Thursday)
Type: Nine-Night Goddess Festival — Spring Navratri
Basanti Puja 2026 begins on Thursday, March 19, 2026 with the sacred Ghatasthapana ceremony — the ritual installation of the Kalash (sacred pot) that formally initiates the nine nights and ten days of devotion to Goddess Durga in her spring Basanti form.
What Is Basanti Puja? Basanti Puja (also called Chaitra Navratri or Vasanta Navratri) is the spring worship of Goddess Durga — and in the Bengali tradition, it holds the distinction of being the original and most ancient Navratri of the year. While the autumn Durga Puja (Sharad Navratri) in October has become Bengal’s grandest annual celebration, Basanti Puja is the devotional spring counterpart that preceded it in historical and scriptural tradition.
The name Basanti comes from Basanta — the Bengali word for spring — and the festival honours Goddess Durga in her form as the spring goddess, dressed in yellow (the colour of the season), surrounded by the flowers and energy of the new season’s awakening.
The Ramayana Connection: According to the Valmiki Ramayana, when Lord Rama faced the enormous challenge of crossing the ocean and defeating Ravana to rescue Goddess Sita, the sage Narada advised him to perform the worship of Goddess Durga in spring (Basant kaal) to gain divine strength and blessings. Lord Rama performed Basanti Puja — and his subsequent victory over Ravana is attributed to the goddess’s grace. This scriptural precedent gives Basanti Puja enormous spiritual authority and explains why it is considered the original Navratri.
Autumn Navratri Context: The more widely known Sharad Navratri (Durga Puja in October) is historically a later addition — Lord Rama himself performed what the scriptures call Akalbodhan (worship at an inauspicious time — autumn rather than the prescribed spring) because of the urgency of his situation. This is why the autumn Durga Puja is also called Akalbodhan — an out-of-season awakening — while Basanti Puja is the true seasonal worship.
5. Eid-ul-Fitr – March 21, 2026 (Saturday)
Type: Public Holiday — All India
Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday, March 21, 2026 is one of the two most sacred celebrations in Islam — the festival of breaking the fast that marks the joyful conclusion of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, prayer, Quran recitation, and spiritual reflection observed by Muslims worldwide.
The Spirit of Eid-ul-Fitr: The Arabic word Eid means “recurring happiness” and Fitr refers to breaking the fast. After thirty days of fasting from dawn to sunset, of intensified prayer, of charitable giving, and of turning inward toward God and community, Eid-ul-Fitr is the day when the entire Muslim community erupts in collective joy, gratitude, and celebration. It is a day of thanksgiving to God for the strength granted during Ramadan and a day of community — when every Muslim reaches out to family, friends, neighbours, and those in need.
Note: The date of Eid-ul-Fitr is based on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon and may vary by one day. March 21 is the expected date based on astronomical calculation — always verify with official announcements.
6. Ram Navami – March 27, 2026 (Friday)
Type: National Festival / Gazetted Holiday
Ram Navami on Friday, March 27, 2026 celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Rama — the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, the hero of the Ramayana, and one of the most universally revered figures in the entire Hindu tradition. Ram Navami falls on the Navami (ninth day) of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of the Bengali month of Chaitra — which is also the culminating ninth day of Basanti Puja (Chaitra Navratri), creating a powerful convergence of two major celebrations.
Why Lord Rama Is Beloved in Bengal: Lord Rama’s importance in Bengal is deep and multifaceted. The Krittibas Ramayana — Krittibas Ojha’s 15th-century Bengali translation of Valmiki’s Ramayana — is one of the most celebrated works in the entire history of Bengali literature, and it brought the story of Rama and Sita into the hearts and homes of Bengali families in their own language centuries before the printed book existed. The Basanti Puja connection — where Rama himself performed the spring worship of Goddess Durga — creates a uniquely Bengali narrative thread linking Ram Navami to the Durga Puja tradition itself.
How Ram Navami Is Observed:
- Temple ceremonies: Ram temples across West Bengal conduct special abhishek (sacred bathing of Rama’s idol), akhand Ramayan patha (continuous Ramayana recitation), and bhajan programs
- Fasting and prayer: Devotees observe a day-long fast, read from the Ramayana or Ramcharitmanas, and perform puja for righteousness, truth, and dharma
- Processions: Many localities organize Ram Navami processions with tableaux depicting scenes from the Ramayana, accompanied by devotional music
- The Birth Moment: The most sacred moment is Madhyahna (midday) — the time of Lord Rama’s birth in Ayodhya — when special Janma celebrations are held at temples with the ringing of bells, blowing of conch shells, and the chanting of “Jai Shri Ram”
7. Fourth Saturday (Bank Holiday) – March 28, 2026 (Saturday)
Type: Bank Holiday — All India (RBI Directive)
March 28, 2026 is the Fourth Saturday of the month — a mandatory bank holiday under RBI policy. All scheduled commercial banks in West Bengal and across India are closed. Digital banking services including UPI, IMPS, and net banking remain operational 24/7.
8. Mahavir Jayanti – March 31, 2026 (Tuesday)
Type: National Public Holiday — All India
Mahavir Jayanti on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 is a National Public Holiday — one of India’s official gazetted holidays observed uniformly across all states — marking the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and final Tirthankara (Enlightened Teaching Master) of the Jain religion.
Who Was Lord Mahavir? Lord Mahavir (also spelled Mahavira) was born as Vardhamana in 599 BCE in Vaishali, in present-day Bihar, into a noble Kshatriya family. At the age of 30, he renounced all worldly comforts — wealth, family, royal inheritance — and undertook twelve years of intense ascetic practice and meditation, achieving Kevala Jnana (omniscience or perfect knowledge) at the age of 42. He then spent the next thirty years teaching across the Indian subcontinent, attracting hundreds of thousands of followers.
Phalguna and Chaitra – The Last Two Months of the Bengali Year
March 2026 is the final chapter of Bangabda 1432 — a year drawing to its close in a spectacular flourish. Understanding these two final months enriches every festival in this guide:
Phalguna (ফাল্গুন) — Spring Arrives: The 11th month of the Bengali year, Phalguna, is the month when Basanta (spring) officially arrives in the Bengali calendar. The air warms, the winter recedes, and the palash (flame of the forest) and shimul (silk cotton) trees burst into vivid red and orange bloom against the blue sky. Phalguna’s visual beauty is inseparable from Dol Purnima’s celebration — the coloured powders of abir are themselves an echo of the colours nature is already displaying. Tagore’s Basanta songs — celebrating the arrival of spring with joy, longing, and wonder — are sung across West Bengal throughout Phalguna.
Chaitra (চৈত্র) — The Year’s Grand Finale: Chaitra is the 12th and final month of the Bengali year — a month of culmination, completion, and preparation for the new year ahead. The famous Chaitra Sale (Chaitra month sales) in Bengali markets are among the busiest shopping events of the year, as families stock up before Poila Boishakh. The Charak Puja (a traditional folk festival involving physical asceticism and devotion) falls at the very end of Chaitra. And the Basanti Puja that begins in March extends through Chaitra, making this last month of the Bengali year one of the most devotionally intense.
Bank Holidays in West Bengal – March 2026 Complete List
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 14, 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday | Bank Holiday — All India |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr | Public Holiday — All India |
| March 28, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | Bank Holiday — All India |
Key Notes:
- March 2026 has three bank closure dates — all falling on Saturdays
- No weekday bank closures in March 2026 for the standard holidays listed
- Eid-ul-Fitr (March 21) is a public holiday meaning all banks, government offices, and courts are closed
- Ram Navami (March 27, Friday) and Mahavir Jayanti (March 31, Tuesday) are national holidays — government offices and banks will be closed on both
- UPI, IMPS, and ATMs remain fully operational on all bank holidays
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What Bengali months does March 2026 cover?
March 2026 spans two Bengali months — Phalguna (ফাল্গুন) for the first half and Chaitra (চৈত্র) for the second half — both in Bangabda 1432. Chaitra is the final month of the Bengali year, making March 2026 the last chapter before Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) arrives in April.
Q2. When is Dol Yatra and Dol Purnima in the Bengali Calendar March 2026?
Dol Yatra and Dol Purnima fall on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 — the full moon (Purnima) of the Bengali month of Phalguna. This is Bengal’s devotional colour festival dedicated to Radha and Krishna, celebrated with palanquin processions, Kirtan, and abir (coloured powder). Shantiniketan’s Dol Utsav is its most celebrated expression.
Q3. What is the difference between Dol Yatra and Holi in 2026?
is Bengal’s devotional Vaishnava festival — Krishna-Radha idols are carried in decorated palanquins, Kirtan is sung, and abir is offered as an act of worship. Holi (March 4) is the pan-India colour play festival observed the following day — more exuberant and community-wide, preceded by the Holika Dahan bonfire on March 3 evening.
Q4. When does Basanti Puja (Chaitra Navratri) begin in March 2026?
Basanti Puja begins on Thursday, March 19, 2026 with the Ghatasthapana ceremony. This nine-night spring Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga is the original Navratri of the Hindu calendar — predating the more famous autumn Durga Puja — and holds deep significance in the Bengali tradition.
Q5. When is Eid-ul-Fitr in 2026?
Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to fall on Saturday, March 21, 2026 — the day marking the conclusion of Ramadan. It is a national public holiday across India. The exact date is subject to moon sighting confirmation — verify with official announcements closer to the date.