Karnataka Festivals and Holidays in January 2026
Start the new year with our Karnataka festivals and holidays in January 2026 guide—your quick calendar with dates & tithi. Highlights include Pre-Sankranti, Makara Sankranti / Uttarayana (ellu–bella exchanges, temple pujas across Bengaluru–Mysuru–Udupi–Malenadu), Mauni Amavasya, Vasant Panchami, Ratha Saptami, and the national holiday Republic Day. Use this Karnataka holiday list (January 2026) to plan darshan timings, travel, and crowd windows—do check local temple notices for last-minute updates. We’ll also refresh this page once the official DPAR Karnataka Holiday List 2026 is notified.
Government, Local & Restricted Holidays — January 2026 (Karnataka)
Subject to Government of Karnataka (DPAR) 2026 notification. Some observances vary by institution—please recheck your office/temple notice.
🏛️ Public Holidays (State)
- 14-January-2026 (Wednesday) Makara Sankranti / Uttarayana State General Holiday; jatres & temple pujas across Karnataka.
- 26-January-2026 (Monday) Republic Day National Gazetted Holiday; State General Holiday.
📍 Local Holiday (District-specific)
- — No statewide local holiday notified yet DC offices may announce event-based closures (temple jatres/fairs). District Notice
🗓️ Restricted / Optional (check your office list)
- 01-January-2026 (Thursday) New Year’s Day Optional Restricted/optional in many institutions.
- 12-January-2026 (Monday) Swami Vivekananda Jayanti / National Youth Day Observance Programs in schools/colleges; office treatment varies.
- 13-January-2026 (Tuesday) Pre-Sankranti Observance Day before Sankranti; community rituals in many regions.
- 18-January-2026 (Sunday) Mauni Amavasya Observance Snana/daan at rivers & kshetras.
- 23-January-2026 (Friday) Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja) Observance Celebrated in many traditions/institutions.
- 25-January-2026 (Sunday) Ratha Saptami Observance Surya puja; rathotsavas at select temples.
- 29-January-2026 (Thursday) Jaya Ekadashi Observance Vaishnava fast/puja; office treatment varies.
Important Festivals in January 2026 – Karnataka
Dates follow the Hindu calendar & govt schedules. Cross-check local temple/DC office notices; we’ll refresh if DPAR updates come in.
New Year’s Day Optional
Urban celebrations; some institutions treat as restricted/optional leave.
Bengaluru & major cities.Sakat Chauth / Lambodara Sankashti Observance
Evening moon-sighting puja & fast for Lord Ganesha.
Idagunji, Bengaluru Ganesha temples.Swami Vivekananda Jayanti / National Youth Day Observance
Schools/colleges host talks & service events.
Statewide institutions.Pre-Sankranti Observance
Community rituals mark the eve of Makara Sankranti.
South Karnataka & border regions.Makara Sankranti / Uttarayana Public Holiday
Ellu-bella exchanges, Surya puja, and special temple sevas; Punya Kāla in afternoon (Bengaluru).
Statewide—Bengaluru, Mysuru, Udupi, Malenadu, coastal.Mauni Amavasya Observance
Snana & dāna; quiet austerities at rivers/kshetras.
Tungabhadra, Kaveri ghats; major temples.Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja) Observance
Welcomes spring; students perform Saraswati puja.
Schools, music & dance institutions.Ratha Saptami Observance
Surya aradhana; morning snana muhurta is popular.
Udupi, Hampi area, coastal/temple towns.Republic Day Public Holiday
Parades, flag hoisting and cultural programs.
Statewide; parade venues in district HQs.Jaya Ekadashi Observance
Vaishnava fast & temple darshan; parana next morning.
Vishnu/ISKCON temples statewide.Additional Village Festivals / Local Jatres
January falls in Pausha–Magha, the post-harvest window when many grāmadevate jatres follow Makara Sankranti. Expect village fairs, annadāna, rathotsavas, and evening deepa rows across Malenadu, Karavali and Bayaluseeme. Ratha Saptami week brings Surya pujas and morning snāna muhurtas at major temples statewide.
Big January fairs to watch: Suttur Jathra Mahotsava (Mysuru) — Jan 15–20, 2026 — six days of religious & cultural programmes including Rathotsava and Teppotsava. On the coast, the traditional Kambala buffalo-race season is in full swing with announced Saturdays: Jan 3 (Miyyaru), Jan 10 (Naringana), Jan 17 (Adde/Adve), Jan 24 (Moodbidri), Jan 31 (Aikala). In Udupi, the biennial Paryaya Mahotsava at Sri Krishna Matha peaks on Jan 18, 2026 with processions, darbars and seva arrangements around the mathas and Car Street.
Regular monthly gatherings continue too: Saundatti Yellamma full-moon crowds (Belagavi region) through the Oct–Feb season, Sigandur Chowdeshwari darshan days (plan for the Holebagilu ferry window; services usually run only in daytime), and evening Sankashti queues at Idagunji Mahaganapathi and city Ganesha temples. Practical tips: verify temple/DC notices 24–48 hrs ahead, arrive early for ferry/parking, carry UPI & water, and dress modestly for village jatres.
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.