December 2025 is a spiritually significant month in the Hindu calendar, marked by an extensive list of festivals, vrat observances, auspicious yogas, and ritual days across regional traditions. The month spans the transition from Margashirsha Shukla Paksha to Pausha Shukla Paksha, offering devotees numerous opportunities for worship, fasting, charity, and prayer.

This detailed guide brings together all major Hindu festivals, vrats, pujas, sankrantis, lunar observances, and cultural events falling in December 2025, based on Drik Panchang and traditional Hindu almanacs. It also covers additional relevant observances from Jain, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Vaishnava traditions where applicable.

Hindu Festivals and Vrats in December 2025

December 1, 2025 – Monday

Gita Jayanti

* Celebrates the divine teaching of the Bhagavad Gita delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.

* Observed on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi.

Guruvayur Ekadashi (Solar)

* Important observance at the Guruvayur Temple in Kerala.

* Devotees fast and offer prayers to Lord Krishna.

Mokshada Ekadashi

* A highly auspicious Ekadashi believed to grant liberation (moksha).

* Ideal for Vishnu Puja and Gita Path.

World AIDS Day

* International observance (non-religious but widely marked).

December 2, 2025 – Tuesday

Matsya Dwadashi

* Dedicated to Shri Vishnu’s Matsya Avatar.

* Fasting and prayers are performed for protection from calamities.

Bhauma Pradosh Vrat

* Pradosh falling on a Tuesday, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

* Observed during the evening twilight.

December 3, 2025 – Wednesday

Hanuman Jayanti (Kannada Tradition)

* Celebrated on Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi in Karnataka.

* Devotees perform Hanuman Chalisa, oil offerings, and temple visits.

December 4, 2025 – Thursday

Dattatreya Jayanti

* Appearance day of Lord Dattatreya, believed to be the combined incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

* Observed with meditation, bhajans, and Dattatreya Sahasranama.

Annapurna Jayanti

* Celebrates Goddess Annapurna, the giver of nourishment and food.

* Annadanam (food donation) is highly meritorious.

Bhairavi Jayanti

* Dedicated to Goddess Bhairavi, one of the Mahavidyas.

Margashirsha Purnima & Margashirsha Purnima Vrat

* Full moon day in the holy month of Margashirsha.

* Ideal for Satyanarayan Puja, charity, and Ganga Snan.

Karthigai Deepam (Solar)

* Major Tamil festival celebrated with oil lamps and Murugan worship.

Anvadhan

* Vedic ritual of replenishing the sacrificial fire.

December 5, 2025 – Friday

Pausha Month Begins (North India)

* Start of Pausha Krishna Paksha.

Rohini Vrat (Jain)

* Observed by Jain women for family well-being.

* Dedicated to Goddess Rohini.

Ishti

* A Vedic fire ritual performed during specific lunar alignments.

December 7, 2025 – Sunday

Akhuratha Sankashti Chaturthi

* Sankashti falling in Pausha Krishna Chaturthi.

* Devotees fast for the blessings of Lord Ganesha.

December 11, 2025 – Thursday

Kalashtami

* Monthly Ashtami dedicated to Lord Kalabhairava.

* Fasting and night vigil are common.

Masik Krishna Janmashtami

* Monthly observance honoring Lord Krishna’s birth.

* Devotees perform Krishna bhajans and milk offerings.

December 15, 2025 – Monday

Saphala Ekadashi

* Fasting today is believed to bring success, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment.

* A popular Ekadashi among householders.

December 16, 2025 – Tuesday

Krishna Matsya Dwadashi

* Observance connected to Matsya avatar worship.

Dhanu Sankranti

* Sun enters Dhanu Rashi (Sagittarius).

* Start of the auspicious Dhanurmasa period in many traditions.

* Considered excellent for Vishnu worship, especially in South India.

December 17, 2025 – Wednesday

Budha Pradosh Vrat

* Pradosh falling on Wednesday.

* Devotees perform Shiva Abhishekam during dusk.

December 18, 2025 – Thursday

Masik Shivaratri

* Monthly Shivaratri occurring on Krishna Chaturdashi.

* Night-long worship of Shiva with Rudra Abhishek.

December 19, 2025 – Friday

Hanuman Jayanti (Tamil tradition)

* Observed in Tamil Nadu on Amavasya.

Darsha Amavasya

* New moon observance.

* Ideal for Pitru Tarpan and meditation.

Anvadhan

* Another occasion for replenishing Vedic sacrificial fire.

Pausha Amavasya / Magha Krishna Amavasya

* Highly auspicious for rituals dedicated to ancestors.

* Considered spiritually potent for deep charity and mantra chanting.

December 20, 2025 – Saturday

Ishti

* Performed during Amavasya rituals.

December 21, 2025 – Sunday

Shortest Day of the Year (Winter Solstice)

* Marks the transition into Uttarayana energy buildup.

* Astronomically significant and spiritually potent.

Chandra Darshan

* First visibility of the waxing moon.

* Considered auspicious for new beginnings.

December 24, 2025 – Wednesday

Vighneshvara Chaturthi

* Monthly Vinayaka Chaturthi.

* Fasting and Ganesha mantras ensure removal of obstacles.

December 25, 2025 – Thursday

Skanda Sashti

* Dedicated to Lord Murugan or Kartikeya.

* Observed with fasting and temple processions.

December 27, 2025 – Saturday

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

* Celebrates the birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru.

Mandala Pooja (Malayalam tradition)

* Marks the end of the 41-day vratham for Sabarimala pilgrims.

December 28, 2025 – Sunday

Banada Ashtami

* Regional observance significant in certain Indian states.

Masik Durgashtami

* Monthly observance of Durga Ashtami.

* Devotees perform Durga Saptashati readings.

December 30, 2025 – Tuesday

Tailang Swami Jayanti

* Birth anniversary of the yogic saint Tailang Swami.

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi

* Main Ekadashi for progeny blessings.

* Devotees fast for the wellbeing of children and family harmony.

Dharma Savarni Manvadi

* Beginning of the Dharma-Savarni Manvantara cycle (scriptural reference).

December 31, 2025 – Wednesday

Kurma Dwadashi

* Dedicated to Vishnu’s Kurma (Tortoise) avatar.

Masik Karthigai

* Monthly Karthigai festival, connected with Murugan worship.

* Celebrated mainly in Tamil Nadu.

Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Solar)

* Highly significant Ekadashi in Vaishnava tradition.

* The Vaikuntha Dwaram is opened in temples such as Tirupati, Srirangam, and others.

* Ideal for complete fasting and Vishnu Sahasranama chanting.

Gauna Pausha Putrada Ekadashi

* Observed when Ekadashi tithi extends based on regional rules.

Vaishnava Pausha Putrada Ekadashi

* Observed by Vaishnavites as per their sect’s calendar rules.

Important Lunar Days in December 2025

Purnima

* Begins 4 December at 8:38 AM

* Ends 5 December at 4:44 AM

* Extremely auspicious for Satyanarayan Puja.

Amavasya

* Begins 19 December at 4:59 AM

* Ends 20 December at 7:13 AM

* Ideal for Pitru rituals and introspection.

Additional Observances, Auspicious Yogas & Notes

Pausha Month Significance

* Known for spiritual discipline, charity, and Vishnu worship.

* Dhanurmasa rituals commence.

Pradosh Vrat Days

* December 2 (Bhauma Pradosh)

* December 17 (Budha Pradosh)

Sankashti / Vinayaka Chaturthi

* December 7 and 24

Auspicious for Charity and Puja

* Full moon (Dec 4)

* First moonlight (Dec 21)

* Ekadashi days (Dec 1, Dec 15, Dec 30/31)

Important Regional Festivals

* Karthigai Deepam (Tamil) – Dec 4

* Mandala Puja (Kerala) – Dec 27

* Skanda Sashti – Dec 25

* Kannada & Tamil Hanuman Jayantis – Dec 3 and Dec 19

Spiritual Places, Temples, and Tirthas to Visit in December

December falls during Hemant Ritu, a spiritually powerful period with cool, stable weather—ideal for pilgrimages, teerth yatras, temple visits, meditation retreats, and austerity.

1. Vishnu Temples (Highly Recommended in Pausha & Dhanurmasam)

December includes Dhanurmasam, making Vishnu temples extremely auspicious.

Best Vishnu temples to visit:

* Tirumala Tirupati Balaji, Andhra PradeshIdeal during Dhanurmasam; early morning suprabhatam is considered extremely meritorious.

* Shri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Tamil NaduThe Vaikunta Ekadashi celebrations here are world famous.

* Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, KeralaBeautiful winter climate; ideal for Vishnu Sahasranama chanting.

* Dwarkadhish Te