Karnataka Festivals and Holidays in December 2026
Discover our Karnataka festivals and holidays in December 2026 guide—your quick calendar with important dates, weekday details and tithi-based observances. December brings devotional celebrations, Christmas festivities and year-end gatherings across Bengaluru, Mysuru, coastal Karnataka and temple towns throughout the state. Key highlights this month include Gita Jayanthi, Mokshada Ekadashi, Datta Jayanthi, Christmas Eve and Christmas, alongside local temple programmes and village celebrations. Christmas is a statewide General Holiday, while Christmas Eve is listed as a restricted holiday for Karnataka state government employees; religious observances do not automatically mean an official holiday. Use this Karnataka holiday list for December 2026 to plan temple visits, family gatherings and year-end travel, and check school vacation dates separately. Festival timings may vary according to local panchanga and temple customs, so please confirm local event notices and Karnataka Government holiday updates before finalising your plans.
Government, Local & Restricted Holidays — December 2026 (Karnataka)
Based on Karnataka Government notification No. DPAR 16 HHL 2025, dated 17 November 2025. December includes Christmas as a General Holiday and Christmas Eve as a restricted holiday.
Public Holidays (State)
- 25 Dec 2026 (Friday) Christmas Statewide General Holiday for Karnataka government offices. DPAR 2026
- Regular weekly holidays Sundays and Second & Fourth Saturdays Also covered by the state government holiday notification. Weekly Holidays
Local Holidays (District-specific)
- December 2026 No December local holiday listed The annual DPAR notification has no district-specific local holiday entry for December. Annual List
- District announcements Check separately issued local notices Any additional local closure follows the relevant district or department order. District Notice
Restricted / Optional Holidays
- 24 Dec 2026 (Thursday) Christmas Eve Restricted holiday for state government employees, subject to leave approval. Restricted
- Annual leave limit Up to two restricted holidays in 2026 Prior permission from the authorised leave-sanctioning authority is required. Approval Required
Important Festivals in December 2026 – Karnataka
Religious observances follow local panchanga and temple traditions. Public and restricted holiday badges follow Karnataka’s 2026 DPAR holiday list; an observance does not automatically mean a government holiday.
Utpanna Ekadashi Observance
An Ekadashi observance dedicated to Lord Vishnu, marked by prayers, devotional reading and fasting according to family tradition.
Homes and Vishnu temples; follow your panchanga for fasting timings.Subrahmanya Shashti Observance
An important day for Lord Subrahmanya worship, with special pujas and celebrations at Subrahmanya temples.
Kukke, Ghati and other Subrahmanya temples; confirm each temple’s utsava schedule.Dhanu Sankramana Observance
The Sun’s entry into Dhanu marks the seasonal transition associated with Dhanurmasa worship.
Check temple notices for the start and timings of early-morning Dhanurmasa pujas.Vaikuntha Ekadashi / Mokshada Ekadashi Observance
A significant day for Vishnu worship, devotional prayers and Ekadashi fasting. Both observances fall on this date in 2026.
Vishnu and Venkateshwara temples; special darshan arrangements depend on the temple.Gita Jayanthi Observance
Commemorates Lord Krishna’s teaching of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, with Gita recitation and spiritual discourses.
Krishna temples, maths, study groups and homes across Karnataka.Hanumad Vrata Observance
A devotional observance dedicated to Lord Hanuman, with puja, prayers and vrata rituals according to local tradition.
Anjaneya temples and homes; follow local notices for associated celebrations.Datta Jayanthi / Dattatreya Jayanthi Observance
Celebrates Lord Dattatreya with special worship, devotional singing and readings from sacred texts.
Datta temples and maths; individual temple programmes may span several days.Hostila Hunnime Observance
A traditional full-moon observance in parts of Karnataka, with household rituals and offerings that vary by community.
Follow your family tradition and local panchanga for the customary puja.Christmas Eve Restricted Holiday
Churches and families prepare for Christmas with carols, prayers and evening or midnight services.
Restricted holiday for Karnataka state government employees, subject to leave approval.Christmas Public Holiday
Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ with church services, festive meals, charitable activities and family gatherings.
Statewide General Holiday for Karnataka government offices.Additional Village Festivals / Local Jatres
December in Karnataka brings Karthika lamp festivals early in the month, followed by Margashirsha observances and the Dhanurmasa devotional season. Village temples and temple towns may organise special pujas, deepotsava, bhajana, cultural programmes, pallakki utsava, rathotsava and annadana according to their own traditions. These celebrations have individual schedules rather than a single statewide festival date.
Local celebrations this month include Subrahmanya Shashti festivities at Kukke and Ghati Subrahmanya, Hanumad Vrata programmes at Anjaneya temples and Datta Jayanthi observances at Datta temples and maths. Other seasonal highlights to check are Basavanagudi’s Kadalekayi Parishe, Bengaluru’s traditional groundnut fair, and Dharmasthala’s Laksha Deepotsava, known for its lamp lighting and religious programmes. Confirm the exact 2026 dates, procession timings and festival duration from the respective organisers before travelling.
Practical tips for December jatres: check the temple committee notice, Gram Panchayat update or district administration circular for programme changes and local traffic arrangements. For Dhanurmasa morning pujas, confirm temple opening times; for evening lamp festivals, arrive before the announced programme. Book transport and accommodation ahead for major events, and allow extra time for queues, parking and procession-route diversions. A local jatre does not automatically mean a public holiday, so check office and school notices separately.
Disclaimer
Dates, tithi, muhurta and holiday status may vary by temple panchang and DPAR notices. Please confirm with local temple/district office and your institution calendar before planning.