Events Happening in Ajmer This Month

TL;DR

• 🪔 Ajmer's religious calendar is packed through late September and into October, with Navratri 2026 beginning Oct 11
• Ekadashi falls on Sep 22 and Oct 6, followed two days later each time by Pradosh Vrat
• Purnima on Sep 26 coincides with the Pitra Paksha period, while Amavasya on Oct 10 closes the ancestral observance fortnight
• Sankashti Chaturthi on Sep 30 marks the month's dedicated Ganesha puja day
• Navratri 2026 beginning Oct 11 brings nine nights of celebration across the city and surrounding areas

Ajmer's position at the crossroads of Rajasthan's religious geography gives the city a distinctive calendar rhythm. September and October are among the busiest months — the panchang moves through a dense sequence of fasting days, moon-cycle observances, ancestral rites, and finally the nine nights of Navratri. This guide maps each date in the upcoming window and explains what it means for residents and visitors alike.

The Fortnightly Calendar: Ekadashi and Pradosh Vrat

No two observances structure the Hindu lunar calendar more consistently than Ekadashi and Pradosh Vrat, and both appear twice in this stretch.

Ekadashi on September 22 is Aja Ekadashi, falling in the Shukla Paksha of the Bhadrapad month. Fasting on Ekadashi — abstaining from grains and legumes for 24 hours — is among the most widely practiced Vaishnava disciplines. Temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu across Ajmer see increased footfall on these days, with evening aarti drawing sizeable gatherings from surrounding neighborhoods. The October 6 Ekadashi is Indira Ekadashi, which is observed with particular attention to pitru tarpan — water offerings to ancestors — appropriate given its placement near the tail end of the Pitra Paksha period.

Pradosh Vrat on September 24 and October 8 falls on the Trayodashi tithi of each fortnight, during the pradosh kaal — the period around sunset that bridges day and night. This observance is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and families who follow it fast through the day, perform Shiva puja as dusk arrives, and traditionally recite the Shiva Panchakshara stotra. In Ajmer, where Shaiva devotion runs alongside broader Vaishnava practice, Pradosh Vrat gatherings at local Shiva temples often draw genuine neighborhood participation.

Purnima, Amavasya, and the Pitra Paksha Window

The full and new moon dates in this stretch — Purnima on September 26 and Amavasya on October 10 — both fall within or adjacent to Pitra Paksha, the annual fortnight dedicated to ancestral observances.

Purnima on September 26 marks the full moon of Bhadrapad. During Pitra Paksha, this day is associated with Shraddh rituals performed for ancestors who passed on a Purnima tithi. Families gather at riverbanks, kunds, or simply at home to offer water, sesame, and prayers. Ajmer's proximity to Pushkar — whose sacred lake is among the most recognized sites in Rajasthan for ancestral rites — means some families make the short trip on this day. Home-based observance is equally valid and widely practiced within the city itself.

Purnima is also when many households hold Satyanarayan puja or gather extended family for a shared meal. Even for families who do not observe the full Shraddh protocol, the full moon evening carries a quality of pause and togetherness that the calendar naturally invites.

Amavasya on October 10 closes the Pitra Paksha cycle and is one of the most significant dates in the ancestral observance calendar. This particular Amavasya is known as Sarvapitri Amavasya — the new moon on which Shraddh can be performed for any ancestor regardless of the tithi on which they departed. In Ajmer, this day sees heightened activity at sites associated with water and ancestral puja, and families who have not observed Shraddh on any earlier Pitra Paksha date typically do so on this one.

Sankashti Chaturthi: September 30

Sankashti Chaturthi on September 30 is the monthly Ganesha observance, falling on the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha. The fast is kept through the day and broken only after moonrise, following puja to Lord Ganesha. Ajmer's Ganesh temples see dedicated visitors on this day, and in many residential mohallas, informal group pujas organized by neighbors are a fixture.

Sankashti Chaturthi carries particular resonance in the run-up to Navratri — Lord Ganesha is traditionally invoked at the start of any major festival season, and observing Sankashti a week and a half before Navratri 2026 begins carries that transitional energy naturally.

Insider Tip: Ajmer's old city lanes and markets near Agra Gate and Madar Gate can get significantly more crowded during major festival periods. For puja supplies, flowers, dhoop-batti, and samagri needed for the Navratri 2026 season, mornings before 9 AM are the best time to shop — vendors set up early and foot traffic is manageable before midday.

Navratri 2026: Nine Nights Beginning October 11

Navratri 2026 begins on October 11, opening the nine-night festival honoring the nine forms of Goddess Durga. For Ajmer, Navratri is both a religious and a social event. Temples dedicated to Mata are decorated, daily ceremonies run from early morning through late night, and neighborhoods organize dandiya and garba programs in open grounds and community spaces.

Each night of Navratri corresponds to a different form of the Goddess — Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, and so on through to Siddhidatri — and many families observe the associated color of the day when dressing for evening events. The festival brings together generations: grandparents observing the religious dimensions, younger people participating in the cultural and social ones.

Ajmer's position in central Rajasthan means Navratri draws visitors from surrounding districts, and the city's accommodation fills up in the final days before Dussehra. If family members are traveling in to join the celebrations, arranging accommodation before Navratri begins is strongly advisable.

The ninth night, Navami, carries special significance — it is the day of Kanya Puja, the worship of young girls as forms of the Goddess, and the conclusion of the Navratri fast for those who have observed it through all nine days.

FAQ

Q: Which Ajmer temples are active during these observances? A: Ajmer has several Shakti and Vaishnava temples, many of which extend their hours for evening aarti and darshan during Navratri 2026 and on Ekadashi. Temples on the outskirts of the city dedicated to various forms of Mata are particularly active during the Navratri season.

Q: Can Shraddh rituals be performed at home during Purnima and Amavasya? A: Yes. Home-based Shraddh with water offerings, sesame seeds, and cooked food is a valid observance. Families who want a formal ceremony can arrange for a pandit, though demand is high across all of Pitra Paksha and advance coordination is advisable.

Q: What is the best way to observe Pradosh Vrat if a temple visit is not possible? A: A home puja with a Shiva image or shivalinga, bilva leaves, and recitation of the Shiva Panchakshara — "Om Namah Shivaya" — during the pradosh kaal (approximately 90 minutes spanning sunset) constitutes a complete observance.

Q: Is Navratri 2026 different in any way from previous years? A: The dates shift each year based on the lunar calendar. The ritual structure — nine nights, nine forms of the Goddess — remains consistent. What varies is the community programming: each year's events are shaped by local temple committees, neighborhood organizers, and the energy each gathering brings.

Bottom Line

From Ekadashi on September 22 through the opening night of Navratri 2026 on October 11, Ajmer's observance calendar offers a structured path through one of the year's most spiritually active periods. Whether you follow the fortnightly discipline of Ekadashi and Pradosh Vrat, observe the ancestral rites of Purnima and Amavasya, or join the broader community for nine nights of Navratri, this window rewards full engagement.