In short
- Date: Monday 14 December 2026.
- Panchami tithi (New Delhi): from the evening of 13 December to the evening of 14 December.
- The wedding of Shri Ram and Sita, celebrated above all in Ayodhya and Janakpur.
- The same date is Vihar Panchami in Vrindavan.
What the day remembers
In the Ramayana, Shri Ram broke the bow of Shiva at Janak's court in Mithila and married Sita. Vivah Panchami celebrates that wedding. In Ayodhya and in Janakpur, Sita's home town in Nepal, temples re-enact the procession and the ceremony, and the wedding chapters of the Ramcharitmanas are recited.
A wedding celebrated for centuries, not just remembered.
At home
- Read the Sita-Ram vivah prasang from the Ramcharitmanas, or listen to it recited
- Offer a lamp and flowers before Sita-Ram
- Sing or listen to wedding bhajans
Some families in Mithila avoid fixing their own weddings on this date, out of feeling for the hardships Sita later faced. Follow your own family's custom.
In Vrindavan the same day
In Vrindavan, Margashirsha Shukla Panchami is also Vihar Panchami, when Shri Banke Bihari is said to have appeared to Swami Haridas at Nidhivan. Expect very heavy crowds there.
The heart of it
Whatever the festival, the practice he teaches stays the same: the name. See how to start naam jap or keep count with the naam jap counter.
Dates and sources
| Day | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Utpanna Ekadashi | Fri 4 December |
| Vivah Panchami and Vihar Panchami | Mon 14 December |
| Mokshada Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti (some panchangs: Sun 20) | Sat 19 December |
Dates are as published by panchang sources for New Delhi. Tithi times shift by city, and traditions differ when a tithi spans two days, so confirm with your local panchang or temple.
Sources consulted: Bhakti Bharat, Hindutone.
Things devotees often ask about
Brass Lotus Diya, Set of 2
Two small lotus-shaped brass diyas for the home mandir, for daily aarti or deep daan.
Brass Akhand Diya
A brass diya with a deep oil well, made to burn long, for the evening lamp of Kartik.
Tulsi Japa Mala, 108 Beads
A plain tulsi mala with 7 mm beads, the size most people find comfortable for daily japa.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; your price does not change. None of this is needed for the practice, and none of it is connected with Maharaj Ji or the ashram. See all items
This is a fan website, not the official site of Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj. The article summarises what he teaches in public satsang; it does not quote him. If something here is wrong, tell us and it is corrected the same week.
