From the first night of Navratri to Christmas Day, here are the Indian festival dates for the rest of 2026, with the pooja samagri and festive essentials each one needs. Plan your shopping early and we will have it ready at Beaumont Street.
Tap a festival to jump to its shopping list. Dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar (panchang) as observed in India; local temples and community groups in Newcastle sometimes hold events on the nearest weekend.
Sharad Navratri honours the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Many families keep a vrat for all nine days, or just the first and last, and evenings fill up with garba and dandiya. The tenth day, Dussehra (Vijayadashami), falls on Tuesday 20 October 2026 and marks the victory of good over evil.
Keeping the vrat too? See our fasting foods.
On Karva Chauth, married women fast from sunrise until the moon appears, praying for their husband's long life. The day starts with sargi, a pre-dawn meal often prepared by the mother-in-law, and ends with the evening puja, the moon sighting through a sieve, and a family dinner.
See more on our pooja items page.
The festival of lights celebrates Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya and welcomes Goddess Lakshmi into the home. Houses are cleaned and lit with diyas, Lakshmi puja is held in the evening, and boxes of mithai and namkeen go out to friends and neighbours. With Diwali on a Sunday this year, expect plenty of weekend gatherings.
Chhath is dedicated to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya and is especially dear to families from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Devotees keep a strict fast and make arghya (offerings) at the water's edge at sunset and again at sunrise.
Christmas in Newcastle means long lunches and warm evenings. Plenty of our customers put a biryani next to the ham, fire up tandoori on the barbecue, or bring a tray of Goan-style sweets and chai biscuits to the table. Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year, so it rolls straight into a long weekend.
Stock up on masalas and blends before the holiday rush.
Tell us which festival you are cooking for and what you need. We will set it aside so you can collect it without the queue.
Some product photos are from Wikimedia Commons: Diya lamp, Karwa, Chhalani, Mauli, Rangoli, Ganesh murti, Chhath daura (CC BY-SA 4.0); Sindoor, Christmas baubles (CC BY-SA 3.0); Tealight candles (CC BY 2.0); puja thali and kalash (CC0). Branded product images belong to their brand owners.
Festival dates are based on the Indian panchang for 2026. Brand names and packaging belong to their respective owners; stock can vary, so call ahead for specific items.