Valmiki Jayanti 2026 on October 26: why it follows Sharad Purnima

Valmiki Jayanti, which honours Maharishi Valmiki, the sage traditionally credited with composing the Sanskrit Ramayana, falls on Monday, October 26, 2026, according to most panchang calendars. It is marked on the full moon day of the month of Ashwin. This year the Purnima tithi, the full-moon lunar day, begins at about 11.55 am on Sunday, October 25, and ends at about 9.41 am on Monday, October 26, according to panchang listings. Because of that overlap, Sharad Purnima is observed on October 25 while Valmiki Jayanti is listed on October 26, and at least one calendar gives October 25 for both.

Valmiki holds a special place in India's literary and religious history. According to tradition, he is the adi kavi, the first poet of Sanskrit, and the Ramayana attributed to him is called the adi kavya, the first poem. The text, with its story of Rama, Sita and Ravana, has shaped literature, art, theatre and moral thought across India and Southeast Asia for many centuries, and has been retold in many languages. Scholars study the Valmiki Ramayana as a foundational work of Sanskrit literature, discussing its verse form, its many manuscript traditions and the layers it may have gained over time.

The date question is itself a small lesson in how the Indian calendar works. Hindu festival dates follow the tithi, a lunar day defined by the Moon's angle from the Sun, not the midnight-to-midnight solar day. A tithi can begin at any hour and does not line up neatly with calendar dates. Many calendar makers therefore use a rule of "udaya tithi": the observance is held on the day when the relevant tithi is present at sunrise. On October 26, Purnima is present at sunrise, so most calendars place Valmiki Jayanti on that day. Sharad Purnima, whose rituals centre on the moonlit night, is observed on the evening of October 25, when the full moon is in the sky.

Different calendars may apply these rules differently, which is why one listing gives October 25. Tithi times are usually published in Indian Standard Time, while sunrise varies from city to city, so local calendars can differ at the margins. For people planning to observe the day, the local panchang or temple announcement is the best guide.

The day is especially important for the Valmiki community, which honours him with processions, readings and gatherings, often called Pargat Diwas. Whether it is a holiday depends on each state's official list.

Short-term: Temples, community groups and schools will hold readings, processions and events on October 26 in most places, with some observing on October 25.

Long-term: Observances like Valmiki Jayanti keep public attention on the Ramayana's literary tradition and on the lunar calendar's rules, from tithis to sunrise-based dating.

Who is affected: devotees and the Valmiki community; temples and cultural organisations; schools and universities teaching Sanskrit and Indian literature; and offices in states that mark the day as a holiday.

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