Why do Hindu festivals fall on different dates every year?

Hindu festivals fall on different Gregorian dates because they are determined by the lunisolar Panchang calendar rather than the solar Gregorian calendar. The Hindu calendar has months of 29-30 days (based on the Moon”s cycle), making the Hindu year approximately 354 days — about 11 days shorter than the solar year. To synchronize with the solar year, an extra month called Adhik Maas (intercalary month or Purushottam Maas) is inserted approximately every 32.5 months. This adjustment ensures that festivals like Diwali (Kartik Amavasya), Holi (Phalgun Purnima), and Pitrupaksha (Ashwin Krishna Paksha) remain in the correct season. For example, Pitrupaksha always falls during the Ashwin Krishna Paksha, but the Gregorian dates shift between mid-September and mid-October depending on the lunar cycle that year. In 2026, Pitrupaksha runs from September 27 to October 11. This system is why a qualified Pandit or Jyotishi should be consulted for the exact muhurat of any important ritual — the Panchang determines not just the date but the precise hours of auspicious alignment. Prayag Pandits provides muhurat consultation for all ancestral rites free of charge with any booking.