Vivah Panchami 2026 Date: 14 December, Rama–Sita Wedding Day
Vivah Panchami 2026 is on Monday, 14 December 2026. It falls on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami and celebrates the wedding of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita.
| Date | Monday, 14 December 2026 |
| Tithi | Margashirsha Shukla Panchami |
| Main celebrations | Janakpur (Nepal), Ayodhya, Sitamarhi (Bihar) |
| Next festival | Gita Jayanti, 20 December 2026 |
What is Vivah Panchami?
According to the Ramayana tradition, Rama won Sita’s hand at the swayamvara held by King Janaka of Mithila by lifting and breaking Shiva’s bow (Pinaka). Vivah Panchami commemorates their wedding, which tradition places on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Margashirsha.
The festival is celebrated most grandly at the Janaki Mandir in Janakpur, Nepal, believed to be Sita’s birthplace, and in Ayodhya, where temples re-enact the wedding procession and ceremony. In many homes, devotees read the Ram Charit Manas, especially the Bal Kand account of the wedding.
How Vivah Panchami is observed
- Worship of Rama and Sita with flowers, sindoor, sweets and a symbolic wedding ceremony at temples and homes.
- Recitation of the Ramayana or Ram Charit Manas, particularly the wedding episode.
- Wedding processions (baraat) and tableaux in Janakpur and Ayodhya.
- Some devotees fast for the day.
Why weddings are often avoided on Vivah Panchami
Despite celebrating a divine marriage, many families in Mithila and parts of North India avoid holding weddings on Vivah Panchami, because Rama and Sita’s married life was marked by exile and separation. This is a regional custom rather than a universal rule.
Frequently asked questions
When is Vivah Panchami 2026?
Monday, 14 December 2026, per Drik Panchang for New Delhi.
Where is Vivah Panchami celebrated most?
In Janakpur (Nepal), Ayodhya and the Mithila region of Bihar.
