October 2025 presents the most festival-dense month in the Hindu calendar, featuring 27 major celebrations with precise puja muhurat timings. This comprehensive guide provides exact auspicious timings, regional significance, and SEO-optimized content for Hindu festival enthusiasts, content creators, and spiritual practitioners.
Festival Overview & Key Highlights
Major Festival Seasons dominate October 2025, including the 5-day Diwali celebration (October 18-22), 4-day Chhath Puja (October 25-28), and significant women’s festivals like Karva Chauth and Sharad Purnima. The month begins with Maha Navami and Dussehra, setting the spiritual tone for extensive celebrations ahead.
Early October: Navratri Conclusion & Spiritual Observances
Maha Navami – October 1, 2025 (Wednesday)
Puja Muhurat: Morning 06:42 AM – 08:15 AM, Evening 06:20 PM – 08:10 PM
The ninth day of Shardiya Navratri marks the penultimate celebration of Goddess Durga worship. This day features Kanya Puja rituals where nine young girls are worshipped as manifestations of the Divine Mother. The evening muhurat is considered especially potent for concluding Navratri observances and seeking the Goddess’s final blessings.
Vijayadashami/Dussehra – October 2, 2025 (Thursday)
Puja Muhurat: Aparahna Muhurat 01:18 PM – 03:34 PM, Vijaya Muhurat 02:06 PM – 02:54 PM
Victory of good over evil is celebrated on this national holiday, commemorating Lord Rama’s triumph over Ravana. The Vijaya Muhurat is considered most auspicious for new beginnings, weapon worship, and starting important ventures. This day also marks Gandhi Jayanti, making it doubly significant in Indian culture.
Papankusha Ekadashi – October 3, 2025 (Friday)
Fasting Schedule: Sunrise to sunset, breaking fast next day after sunrise
This Krishna Paksha Ekadashi dedicated to Lord Vishnu offers spiritual purification and sin removal. Devotees observe complete fasting during daylight hours, engaging in Vishnu worship and spiritual meditation.
Women’s Sacred Festivals
Karva Chauth – October 9-10, 2025 (Thursday-Friday)
Critical Timings:
- Puja Muhurat: 05:57 PM – 07:11 PM (October 9)
- Moonrise: 08:13 PM (October 10)
- Fast Breaking: After moon sighting through sieve
The most significant married women’s fast involves day-long fasting from sunrise to moonrise for husbands’ longevity and well-being. The puja muhurat on Thursday evening includes worship of Lord Shiva’s family, followed by the iconic moonrise viewing ritual on Friday. Regional moonrise variations include Delhi (8:13 PM), Mumbai (8:25 PM), and Kolkata (7:45 PM).
Sharad Purnima – October 6, 2025 (Monday)
Comprehensive Timings:
- Purnima Tithi: 12:23 PM (Oct 6) to 09:16 AM (Oct 7)
- Moonrise: 05:27 PM
- Kheer Preparation: Evening 06:00 PM onwards
The harvest full moon when the moon shines with all 16 kalas, making it spiritually complete. This night celebrates Lord Krishna’s Raas Leela with the gopis and Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings. The tradition of preparing kheer under moonlight and staying awake all night (Jagaran) ensures divine prosperity.
Diwali Festival Season: Five-Day Grand Celebration
Day 1: Dhanteras – October 18, 2025 (Saturday)
Detailed Muhurat Timings:
- Dhanteras Puja: 07:16 PM – 08:20 PM
- Pradosh Kaal: 05:48 PM – 08:20 PM
- Vrishabha Kaal: 07:16 PM – 09:11 PM (Most Auspicious)
- Gold Purchase Muhurat: 12:18 PM (Oct 18) – 06:08 AM (Oct 19)
The first day of Diwali honors Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari. The Vrishabha Kaal represents the most auspicious time for Lakshmi Puja, ensuring the goddess remains in your home. Gold, silver, and utensils purchased during the specified muhurat bring maximum prosperity.
Day 2: Narak Chaturdashi/Choti Diwali – October 19, 2025 (Sunday)
Puja Muhurat: Early Morning 05:30 AM – 07:00 AM, Evening 06:00 PM – 08:00 PM
Also known as Hanuman Puja in North India, this day celebrates victory over demon Narakasura. The early morning oil bath before sunrise and lighting four-faced diyas in the evening are essential rituals for removing negativity and welcoming positive energies.
Day 3: Diwali Main Day – October 20, 2025 (Monday)
Critical Muhurat Timings:
- Lakshmi Puja: 06:56 PM – 08:04 PM (Peak Time)
- Pradosh Kaal: 05:33 PM – 08:08 PM
- Vrishabha Kaal: 06:56 PM – 08:53 PM
- Nishita Kaal: 11:41 PM – 12:31 AM (Oct 21)
The main Diwali celebration centers on Lakshmi Puja during Pradosh Kaal when the goddess is most receptive to prayers. The Vrishabha (Fixed) Lagna ensures Lakshmi’s permanent residence in your home. Homes should be cleaned and decorated by afternoon, with five types of sweets prepared and diyas lit from sunset onwards.
Day 4: Govardhan Puja – October 21, 2025 (Tuesday)
Puja Muhurat: Morning 06:26 AM – 08:42 AM, Evening 03:29 PM – 05:44 PM
Celebrating Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill, this day features the Annakut (mountain of food) offering. It’s also Gujarati New Year (Vikram Samvat), making it doubly auspicious for new beginnings and business ventures.
Day 5: Bhai Dooj – October 22, 2025 (Wednesday)
Tilak Ceremony Muhurat: Aparahna Kaal 01:13 PM – 03:28 PM
The brother-sister bond celebration concludes Diwali festivities. Sisters apply tilak to brothers during the specified muhurat, praying for their long life and prosperity while exchanging gifts and sweets.
Chhath Puja: Four-Day Sun Worship Festival
Day 1: Nahay Khay – October 25, 2025 (Saturday)
Timings: Sunrise 06:41 AM, Sunset 06:06 PM
The ritualistic bath and first meal marks Chhath Puja’s beginning. Devotees take holy baths and prepare sattvic meals with bottle gourd and Bengal gram lentils, consumed as the last meal before fasting begins.
Day 2: Kharna – October 26, 2025 (Sunday)
Critical Timings: Sunrise 06:41 AM, Sunset 06:05 PM, Evening Prasad after sunset
The 36-hour nirjala fast begins after breaking the day-long fast with jaggery kheer and chapatis in the evening. This marks the start of the most rigorous fasting period in Hindu traditions.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya – October 27, 2025 (Monday)
Essential Timing: Sunset/Arghya: 06:05 PM (Most Critical)
The evening offering to the setting sun represents Chhath Puja’s most visually spectacular ceremony. Devotees gather at riverbanks, standing in water up to their waist, offering prayers and arghya to the setting sun while singing devotional songs.
Day 4: Usha Arghya – October 28, 2025 (Tuesday)
Final Timing: Sunrise/Usha Arghya: 06:42 AM (Exact Moment)
The morning offering to the rising sun completes the 36-hour fast and concludes Chhath Puja. Devotees break their fast after offering prayers to the rising sun, followed by community celebrations and prasad distribution.
Regional & Cultural Celebrations
Jagaddhatri Puja – October 31, 2025 (Friday)
Bengal Festival Timings: Main Puja 06:00 PM – 08:00 PM
West Bengal’s major festival honoring Goddess Jagaddhatri as the world’s protector. Chandernagore hosts the grandest celebrations, with elaborate pandals and cultural programs extending into November.
Additional October Observances
Ahoi Ashtami (October 13) features mothers fasting for children’s welfare with star-sighting rituals in the evening. Tula Sankranti (October 17) marks the Sun’s transit into Libra, celebrated in Karnataka and Odisha. Skanda Sashti (October 27) honors Lord Kartikeya, particularly significant in South India.