If you’re searching for the Bengali Calendar March 2026 (বাংলা ক্যালেন্ডার মার্চ ২০২৬), you’re in the right place. This month closes out Bangabda 1432 in style — it holds the final weeks of Phalgun (ফাল্গুন), the 11th Bengali month, and the opening of Chaitra (চৈত্র), the 12th and last month of the Bengali year, right before Poila Boishakh ushers in the new year in April.
Few months pack in as much variety as this one. The Bengali Calendar March 2026 carries Bengal’s own devotional colour festival, Dol Purnima; the pan-India explosion of Holi the very next day; the nine sacred nights of Basanti Puja (Chaitra Navratri); the joyous conclusion of Ramadan on Eid-ul-Fitr; the birth celebration of Lord Rama on Ram Navami; and the gazetted national holiday of Mahavir Jayanti. Here’s the complete, date-wise guide.
Bengali Calendar March 2026 — Month at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Bengali Month (till ~14 March) | Phalgun (ফাল্গুন), 11th month, Bangabda 1432 |
| Bengali Month (from ~14–15 March) | Chaitra (চৈত্র), 12th and final month, Bangabda 1432 |
| Bengali Year | Bangabda 1432 (its last full month) |
| Calendar Basis | Luni-solar Panjika, solar month boundaries (Sankranti-based) |
| Season | Basanta (spring) in full bloom |
| Major Festivals | Dol Purnima & Holi (3–4 March), Ram Navami (27 March) |
| Interfaith Observance | Eid-ul-Fitr — 21 March (moon-sighting dependent) |
| Bank Holidays | 14 March (2nd Saturday), 28 March (4th Saturday) |
Complete Day-by-Day Festival & Holiday Table
| Date | Day | Festival / Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 March 2026 | Tuesday | Dol Purnima / Holika Dahan | Vaishnava Festival — Phalguna Purnima |
| 4 March 2026 | Wednesday | Holi (Rangwali Holi) | National Festival / Public Holiday |
| 14 March 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday | Bank Holiday |
| 19 March 2026 | Thursday | Basanti Puja Begins (Chaitra Navratri / Ghatasthapana) | Nine-Night Goddess Festival |
| 21 March 2026 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr | Public Holiday |
| 27 March 2026 | Friday | Ram Navami | Gazetted Holiday |
| 28 March 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | Bank Holiday |
| 31 March 2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti | National Public Holiday |
Festival-by-Festival Guide
1. Dol Purnima — 3 March 2026 (Tuesday)
Dol Yatra is Bengal’s own take on the spring colour season, and it’s built on devotion rather than street play. The word dol refers to the decorated palanquin on which idols of Radha and Krishna are carried through towns and villages, accompanied by kirtan, the dhak and khol drums, and abir showered by devotees dressed in yellow and white. The day is also treasured as the traditional birthday of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Vaishnava saint of Nabadwip, which is why Mayapur’s ISKCON campus marks it with especially large gatherings. Shantiniketan’s Basanta Utsav — instituted by Rabindranath Tagore in this same Dol Purnima tradition — remains one of the most photographed spring celebrations in Bengal.
2. Holi — 4 March 2026 (Wednesday)
Holika Dahan is lit on the evening of 3 March, recalling the story of the devotee Prahlad surviving the fire that consumed his aunt Holika — a tale of protection through devotion, and a ritual understood as burning away the past year’s negativity. The following morning, 4 March, brings Rangwali Holi, the nationwide play of colour that dissolves social distinctions for a day. In West Bengal, Holi’s colour play is often treated as a lighter follow-on to the more devotional Dol Yatra, especially popular among younger crowds in Kolkata’s parks and housing complexes.
3. Basanti Puja / Chaitra Navratri — Begins 19 March 2026 (Thursday)
Basanti Puja opens with Ghatasthapana, the ritual installation of the sacred kalash that marks the start of nine nights of worship to Goddess Durga in her spring form. In Bengali tradition this spring Navratri is considered the original one — scripture holds that Lord Rama performed this very worship before his campaign against Ravana, on the sage Narada’s advice, making the far more famous autumn Durga Puja (Sharad Navratri) the later, “out-of-season” observance known as Akalbodhan. Basanti Puja runs through to 27 March, culminating in Ram Navami.
4. Eid-ul-Fitr — 21 March 2026 (Saturday)
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the joyful end of Ramadan, the month of dawn-to-dusk fasting, heightened prayer, and charity observed by Muslims worldwide. The day itself is one of collective gratitude — special Eid prayers, family gatherings, and the giving of Fitra (charity) to ensure everyone can join the celebration. Because the date depends on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon, it can shift by a day between regions; in India, Eid-ul-Fitr 2026 was confirmed for 21 March after the moon was not sighted the previous evening.
5. Ram Navami — 27 March 2026 (Friday)
Ram Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama and falls on the ninth day of Chaitra’s bright fortnight — the same day Basanti Puja concludes, linking the two observances directly. In Bengal, Rama’s story reaches most households through the Krittibas Ramayana, Krittibas Ojha’s centuries-old Bengali translation of Valmiki’s epic. Temples hold abhishek ceremonies, continuous Ramayana recitations, and processions, with the most sacred moment falling at Madhyahna — midday, the traditional hour of Rama’s birth in Ayodhya.
6. Mahavir Jayanti — 31 March 2026 (Tuesday)
Mahavir Jayanti is a gazetted national holiday marking the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and final Tirthankara of Jainism. Born as Vardhamana in Vaishali around 599 BCE, he renounced royal life at 30, undertook twelve years of ascetic practice, and attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) at 42 before spending three decades teaching the principles of non-violence, truth, and non-attachment that remain central to Jain philosophy today. Jain temples hold ceremonial bathing of Mahavir’s idol and community charity events on this day.
Bank Holidays in March 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 14 March 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday (RBI-notified) |
| 21 March 2026 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr (public holiday — banks closed) |
| 28 March 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday (RBI-notified) |
All three closures fall on Saturdays this month, so weekday banking is unaffected. UPI, IMPS, and ATMs continue functioning as usual on bank holidays, though branch-based services like cheque clearing and NEFT/RTGS processing may pause — plan larger transactions around these dates. Government offices and courts also remain closed on Eid-ul-Fitr, Ram Navami, and Mahavir Jayanti, since all three are gazetted holidays.
Phalgun and Chaitra: Bangabda 1432’s Final Chapter
Phalgun, the 11th month, is when spring properly settles in — palash and shimul trees bloom in vivid red-orange, days lengthen, and the coloured abir of Dol Purnima feels like an extension of what nature is already doing. Chaitra, the 12th and closing month of the Bengali year, is a season of culmination: the busy Chaitra Sale shopping period in Bengali markets, the folk observance of Charak Puja at month’s end, and Basanti Puja’s nine nights of devotion all build toward Poila Boishakh — the Bengali New Year that opens Bangabda 1433 in mid-April.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Which Bengali months does March 2026 cover?
March 2026 spans the final weeks of Phalgun and the opening of Chaitra, the last month of Bangabda 1432, ending just before Poila Boishakh in April.
Q2. What is the difference between Dol Purnima and Holi?
Dol Purnima (3 March) is Bengal’s own Vaishnava festival — Radha-Krishna idols are carried in palanquins with kirtan and abir as an act of worship. Holi (4 March) is the wider, pan-India colour-play festival observed the following day.
Q3. When does Basanti Puja (Chaitra Navratri) begin in 2026?
It begins Thursday, 19 March 2026, with Ghatasthapana, and concludes on Ram Navami, 27 March 2026.
Q4. When is Eid-ul-Fitr in March 2026?
Eid-ul-Fitr fell on Saturday, 21 March 2026, marking the end of Ramadan, confirmed after the Shawwal moon was not sighted the evening before.
Q5. Is Ram Navami a bank holiday?
Yes — Ram Navami (27 March) is a gazetted national holiday, so banks, government offices, and courts remain closed.
Q6. What is Mahavir Jayanti and when is it in 2026?
Mahavir Jayanti, observed on 31 March 2026, marks the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the last Jain Tirthankara, and is a nationwide gazetted holiday.
Conclusion
The Bengali Calendar for March 2026 brings Bangabda 1432 to a vivid, crowded close — Dol Purnima and Holi back to back at the start, nine nights of Basanti Puja building toward Ram Navami, Eid-ul-Fitr’s community joy in between, and Mahavir Jayanti closing out the month. Whether you’re tracking a vrat, a public holiday, or simply want to know what’s being celebrated around you, this Panjika will help you follow Phalgun and Chaitra 2026 through to the doorstep of the Bengali New Year. For city-specific puja muhurats, always cross-check with a local Panchang closer to each date.