Janmashtami 2026 in Bareilly: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR 🕌

• Bareilly's festival season runs from September through November 2026, with Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja all falling within weeks of each other
• Three major temples — Alakhnath Temple, Dhopeshwar Nath Temple, and Trivati Nath Mandir — anchor the city's religious calendar across different neighborhoods
• Karva Chauth falls on October 29, Diwali on November 8, and Chhath Puja on November 15 this year
• Trivati Nath Mandir in Gandhi Nagar has a dedicated website and phone line for queries
• The festival density of Bareilly's October-November calendar makes it one of the busiest religious seasons in Uttar Pradesh

Bareilly and the Autumn Festival Calendar

Bareilly, the fourth-largest city in Uttar Pradesh, sits in the Rohilkhand region between the Himalayan foothills and the Gangetic plain. Its religious calendar is dense and deeply observed, particularly in the stretch from the end of monsoon through Diwali season. The city's temples, processions, and community gatherings during this period reflect a living tradition of observance that has remained continuous across generations.

The 2026 festival calendar loads most of its major events into a ten-week window running from late September through mid-November. For families in Bareilly — and for those returning from outside the city to participate — understanding the sequence of observances and knowing where to go is practical knowledge.

The Autumn Festival Sequence in 2026

The calendar starts with Sankashti Chaturthi on September 30, a monthly observance dedicated to Ganesha that marks the fourth day after the full moon. It is a one-day fast observed at home and at temples, often with a view of the moon in the evening.

Ekadashi on October 6 is the eleventh day of the lunar fortnight, observed as a fast day by Vaishnav households. It recurs twice monthly; the October edition falls within the season's buildup to Navratri.

Pradosh Vrat on October 8 is a Shaivite fast day tied to the thirteenth lunar day, observed on the eighth and ninth lunar days in the evening. At temples dedicated to Shiva — such as Alakhnath Temple and Dhopeshwar Nath Temple — Pradosh Vrat evening draws worshippers for the Shiva Puja ritual.

Amavasya on October 10 is the new moon day and a time for ancestral prayers and tarpan rituals. Many families visit the Saryu River ghats or temple premises for these rites.

Navratri and Dussehra: The Core of the Season

Navratri 2026 begins on October 11 and runs for nine nights, culminating in Dussehra / Vijayadashami on October 20. In Bareilly, as in most of North India, Navratri is marked by daily Mata pujas, dandiya events organized by neighborhoods and cultural associations, and evening gatherings at temples dedicated to Durga and Devi.

Dussehra is the tenth day — the day associated with Rama's victory over Ravana and Durga's victory over Mahishasura. In Bareilly, effigy burnings (the Ravana dahan) are organized at open grounds around the city, and crowds gather in the evening from across neighborhoods. It is one of the year's most publicly visible celebrations.

Ekadashi on October 22 and Pradosh Vrat on October 24 continue the lunar calendar's rhythm as the season moves toward Diwali.

Insider Tip: During Navratri evenings, the area around Trivati Nath Mandir in Gandhi Nagar fills with worshippers and vendors. Getting there before 6 pm means you can find parking and reach the temple entrance before the larger evening crowds arrive. The mandir's contact number is +91 5812540667 if you need to confirm specific puja timings.

Karva Chauth, Diwali, and Beyond

Purnima on October 26 is the full moon day, observed with prayers and in some households as Sharad Purnima — a night of significance in the Vaishnav calendar, associated with the Krishna Raas Lila tradition of Vrindavan.

Karva Chauth on October 29 is a day-long fast observed by married women for the longevity and wellbeing of their husbands. It ends after moonrise. In Bareilly and across UP, Karva Chauth is a household and neighborhood observance, with women gathering in the evenings to perform the puja together and sieve the moonlight through a strainer. The same date carries Sankashti Chaturthi this year.

Dhanteras on November 6 marks the beginning of the Diwali cluster — the day of Lakshmi and Kubera worship, when purchases of gold, silver, or new utensils are considered auspicious. Markets across Bareilly extend their hours.

Diwali falls on November 8, 2026. The main day of Lakshmi Puja takes place after sunset, with lamps lit across households, buildings, and temples. The temples of Bareilly — Alakhnath Temple at State Highway 37 in Phool Bagh, Quilla Chhawni, and Dhopeshwar Nath Temple on End of Dhopa Road, Sadar Bazar, Cantonment — are among the most active sites on Diwali night.

Amavasya on November 9 follows Diwali the next day. In the North Indian calendar, the Diwali Amavasya is considered especially potent for Lakshmi worship.

Bhai Dooj on November 11 — two days after Diwali — is the sibling festival, with sisters performing tikka for their brothers.

Chhath Puja on November 15 closes the major autumn sequence. It is a four-day sun worship observance particularly associated with Bihar and eastern UP. The rituals involve standing in water — a river, a tank, or a dedicated ghat — to offer arghya to the rising and setting sun. Bareilly's Chhath community organizes public ghat events, and the November 15 date falls on a Sunday, making community participation more accessible.

Pradosh Vrat on November 22 rounds out the visible stretch of the autumn calendar.

The City's Three Anchor Temples

Alakhnath Temple on State Highway 37, Phool Bagh, Quilla Chhawni, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243001, phone +91 8929175340, is one of the most prominent Shaivite temples in the city. It draws worshippers year-round and sees major influxes during Shivaratri, Pradosh Vrat days, and the Sawan month. During the autumn festival season, Alakhnath Temple's daily puja schedule intensifies.

Dhopeshwar Nath Temple at End of Dhopa Road, Sadar Bazar, Cantonment, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243001, is another of the city's historical Shaivite shrines. Its location in the Sadar Bazar cantonment area makes it accessible to worshippers from both the old city and the more recently developed areas.

Trivati Nath Mandir at Baba Trivati Nath Mandir Marg, Gandhi Nagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243003, phone +91 5812540667, website trivatinathmandir.org, is a Shiva temple in the Gandhi Nagar neighborhood that has become a central point for community religious activities. Its web presence reflects a more organized operational approach, and the phone number makes it straightforward to confirm event timings before making the trip.

FAQ

Q: Where are the main Diwali celebrations in Bareilly? A: Diwali is primarily a household and neighborhood observance. Temples including Alakhnath Temple and Dhopeshwar Nath Temple are major gathering points on Diwali night.

Q: What is the significance of Pradosh Vrat and where is it observed? A: Pradosh Vrat is a Shaivite fast observed on the thirteenth lunar day, with evening puja dedicated to Shiva. Shiva temples — including Dhopeshwar Nath Temple and Alakhnath Temple — are the principal sites.

Q: How do I find out specific puja timings for Trivati Nath Mandir? A: The mandir can be reached at +91 5812540667, or its website trivatinathmandir.org for updated schedules.

Q: When does the Chhath Puja ghat program take place in Bareilly? A: Chhath Puja falls on November 15, 2026. Public ghat events are typically organized by community groups in the evenings of Kharna (the third day) and the final arghya morning. Local community announcements in Bareilly neighborhoods carry the specifics.

Q: Is Karva Chauth observed publicly in Bareilly? A: Karva Chauth is primarily a household and neighborhood observance. Neighborhoods and housing societies organize group pujas, and temple premises are active in the evening after moonrise.

Bottom Line

Bareilly's October-November 2026 calendar runs from Navratri on October 11 through Chhath Puja on November 15 — five weeks of continuous festival observance. Alakhnath Temple, Dhopeshwar Nath Temple, and Trivati Nath Mandir are the city's three main points for Shiva-centered worship throughout this season. For families who plan the year around the festival calendar, Bareilly's density of observances in this window is one of the defining features of living in Rohilkhand.