12 Marathi Months Name with English Dates and 2026 Festivals

Do you remember that distinctive red and white Kalnirnay calendar hanging on your grandmother’s kitchen wall? For many of us, it wasn’t just a way to check the date; it was the heartbeat of the home. It told us when the Aaji would start making Puran Poli or when the house would finally smell of fresh mango leaves and incense for Gudi Padwa.

If you are a student trying to memorize the 12 Marathi months name with English dates or a parent wanting to pass down these beautiful traditions, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we aren’t just listing names; we’re exploring a celestial clock that has guided the people of Maharashtra for centuries. From the spring blooms of Chaitra to the colorful finale of Phalguna, let’s look at the Marathi months 2026 calendar.

The Master List: 12 Marathi Months Name with English Dates (2026)

Before we dive into the stories of each month, let’s answer your search intent immediately. Since the Marathi calendar is lunar (based on the moon), the dates shift slightly every year. For Marathi months 2026, here is your essential reference table:

*Note: Some festivals like Holi or Diwali 2026 may fall at the very end or beginning of a lunar month depending on the Tithi. Always check your local Panchang for the exact sunrise timing.

The 2026 Anomaly: Why Jyeshtha Appears Twice?

If you looked closely at the 12 Marathi months name with English dates table above, you might have noticed something strange. The month of Jyeshtha seems to last for 60 days in 2026! Don’t worry, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you.

The year 2026 features a rare phenomenon called Adhik Maas (Extra Month). Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, our calendar adds an entire month every 32.5 months to stay in sync with the seasons. In 2026, we have Adhik Jyeshtha.

This “leap month” is is a time for charity and prayer. While we don’t hold material celebrations like weddings during Adhik Maas, it’s a beautiful period for spiritual reflection before the “Nij” (Regular) month begins.

Understanding the Amanta System

Why do Marathi month names sometimes start later than the names used in North India? It’s all about when the month ends. Maharashtra follows the Amanta system, where the month ends on the Amavasya (New Moon).

In contrast, North India often follows the Purnimanta system, ending the month on the Purnima (Full Moon). This means the “dark half” of the moon belongs to a different month name depending on where you are. This is a crucial detail when searching for the 12 Marathi months name with English dates, as it ensures you follow the local Vrats correctly.

A Journey Through the Ritu Chakra

Learning the 12 Marathi months name with English dates is easier when you connect them to the changing landscape of Maharashtra. Every two months, the season (Ritu) shifts, bringing new flavors to our plates.

Chaitra & Vaishakh: The Golden Spring (Vasanta)

Chaitra marks the Marathi New Year with Gudi Padwa. We hoist the Gudi—a bamboo staff draped in silk and topped with a copper pot—to signal victory and prosperity. It is traditional to eat a mixture of neem leaves and jaggery. This bitter-sweet combo reminds us that life is a blend of joy and sorrow, while also naturally detoxifying the blood for the heat ahead.

Jyeshtha & Ashadha: The Scorching Heat to Early Rains (Grishma)

In 2026, Jyeshtha will be a long period of patience due to the Adhik Maas. This is when the sun is at its fiercest. Families often retreat indoors, sipping on cooling Aam Panna. By Ashadha, the clouds finally burst. The pilgrimage to Pandharpur begins, as thousands of Warkaris walk through the mud, singing hymns to Lord Vitthal.

Shravan & Bhadrapad: The Green Deluge (Varsha)

Shravan is perhaps the most beloved month in the Marathi months 2026 cycle. The hills of the Western Ghats turn a vibrant emerald green. Most families observe a vegetarian diet to respect the delicate digestive fire (Agni) during the rains. Then comes Bhadrapad, the month of the “Bappa.” The sound of dhol-tasha fills the streets as we welcome Lord Ganesha with handmade clay idols and plates of steamed Ukadiche Modak.

Ashwin & Kartik: The Autumn Glow (Sharad)

As the rains recede, we enter the most festive part of the year. Dussehra in Ashwin marks the victory of good over evil. Shortly after, the sky lights up with the “Aakash Kandil” (lanterns) of Diwali. In the Marathi tradition, the Abhyanga Snan (ritual bath with fragrant oils and Utane powder) is a sensory memory we all carry.

Margashirsha & Pausha: The Gentle Chill (Hemanta)

Margashirsha brings pleasant mornings and the dewy celebration of Datta Jayanti. By Pausha, the winter sets in properly. This is when we celebrate Makar Sankranti. You’ll hear the famous phrase: “Til-gul ghya, god god bola” (Eat sesame and jaggery, and speak sweetly). Scientifically, the til and jaggery provide the thermogenic heat our bodies need to stay warm in the January chill.

Magha & Phalguna: The Deep Winter to Spring (Shishira)

Magha is a month of spiritual discipline, ending with the powerful night of Mahashivratri. Finally, Phalguna arrives, closing the year with the vibrant colors of Holi. It is a time to forgive old grudges and prepare the earth for the return of Chaitra.

Memorizing the List: A Student’s Mnemonic

If you are a student, trying to remember the 12 Marathi months name with English dates can be tricky. Try this simple rhyme to keep them in order:

“Chaitra-Vaishakh, Jyeshtha-Ashadha, Shravan-Bhadrapad gao re,

Ashwin-Kartik, Marg-Paush, Magh-Phalguna dhyat dharo re!”

Focus on the phonetics! The retroflex ‘L’ in Phalguna and the ‘Sh’ in Jyeshtha are part of the unique linguistic identity of the Marathi bhasha.

Why These Names Still Matter in 2026

In an age of Google Calendars and digital alerts, why do we still look for the Marathi months 2026? Because these names connect us to the soil.

A Marathi farmer doesn’t just plant rice in “July”; he waits for the Mrig Nakshatra in Ashadha. A daughter doesn’t just visit her mother in “November”; she waits for the Bhaubeej in Kartik. These months are a link to our ancestors, our ecology, and our identity.

When you learn the 12 Marathi months name with English dates, you aren’t just learning a list of words. You are learning the story of a culture that refuses to let the stars go ignored.

Conclusion: Living with the Moon

The 12 Marathi months name with English dates represent more than just a passing of time. They are a cycle of resilience, celebration, and harmony with nature. Whether we are navigating the 60 days of Jyeshtha in 2026 or celebrating the first rain of Shravan, we are part of a 5,000-year-old dance.

So, this year, when you look at that calendar on the wall, take a moment to explain to the younger generation why we eat Til-Gud or why the Gudi faces the sun. Keep the tradition alive, one month at a time.