Adhik Maas 2026: Dates, Calendar, and Key Observances

Adhik Maas in 2026 falls from Saturday, May 17 through Sunday, June 15 -- a period of 30 days known as Adhik Jyeshtha. Key dates include Parama Ekadashi (May 27), Purnima (May 31), Padmini Ekadashi (June 11), and Amavasya (June 15). This is the first Adhik Maas since 2023, and the next will not arrive until approximately 2029.

If you are planning your observance -- or helping your family plan theirs -- this page provides every date you need, from the Ekadashi fasts to Purnima, along with the context to understand what makes each date significant.

Adhik Maas 2026: Start and End Dates

	Date	Day
Adhik Maas begins	May 17, 2026	Saturday
Adhik Maas ends	June 15, 2026	Sunday
Duration	30 days
Month name	Adhik Jyeshtha (अधिक ज्येष्ठ)

The month begins with the new moon (Amavasya) of the extra Jyeshtha month and continues for one full lunar cycle. The regular Jyeshtha month follows immediately after.

Key Dates Within Adhik Maas 2026

Several days within the month carry special significance. These are the dates that families and practitioners mark on their calendars.

Ekadashi Dates -- Parama and Padmini Ekadashi

Ekadashi -- the eleventh Tithi of each lunar fortnight -- is always a day of heightened spiritual practice in the Hindu calendar. But the two Ekadashis that fall within Adhik Maas are considered among the most sacred of the entire year.

• Parama Ekadashi (Krishna Paksha / waning moon Ekadashi): May 27, 2026 (Tuesday)
• Padmini Ekadashi (Shukla Paksha / waxing moon Ekadashi): June 11, 2026 (Thursday)

The names themselves signal their importance. "Parama" means supreme. "Padmini" refers to the lotus -- a symbol of purity and Bhagwan Vishnu. Devotees who observe Ekadashi Vrat (fasting) throughout the year consider these two days especially powerful for spiritual practice.

What to do on Ekadashi: The traditional observance includes fasting (at minimum avoiding grains; many observe a fruit-and-milk fast or a complete fast), additional Japa, reading from the Purushottam Maas Mahatmya, and spending time in prayer or meditation. The fast is broken the following morning during the Parana window -- a specific time period calculated based on the Tithi. DrikPanchang.com provides precise Parana timings for your location.

Purnima (Full Moon)

• Adhik Jyeshtha Purnima: May 31, 2026 (Sunday)

Purnima -- the full moon -- falls exactly at the midpoint of Adhik Maas. This is traditionally a day for:

• Snan -- a holy bath, ideally in a sacred river, though a bath taken at home with sincere prayer is equally honored
• Daan -- charitable giving, especially Anna Daan (feeding those in need)
• Extended Paath -- reading or listening to sacred texts for a longer period than usual
• Temple visits and collective prayer

In the 30-day reading of the Purushottam Maas Mahatmya, Day 15 falls on Purnima. It is a natural moment to pause and reflect on the journey so far -- half the month complete, half still ahead.

Amavasya (New Moon)

• Adhik Jyeshtha Amavasya: June 15, 2026 (Monday)

Amavasya -- the new moon, the darkest night of the month -- falls on the penultimate day of Adhik Maas. Traditionally, this is a day for:

• Tarpan -- offerings to ancestors
• Quiet reflection -- the darkness of the moon invites inwardness
• Preparation for the final day of the month

The following day, June 15, marks the last day of Adhik Maas and the completion of the 30-day observance.

What is Adhik Jyeshtha?

Every Adhik Maas takes the name of the regular month it precedes. In 2026, the extra month falls before the regular Jyeshtha month, so it is called Adhik Jyeshtha -- literally, "extra Jyeshtha."

The name tells you where in the year the extra month has been inserted. It does not change the nature of the observance. Whether it falls as Adhik Shravan (as in 2023), Adhik Jyeshtha (as in 2026), or Adhik Ashwin (as in some other years), the spiritual practices of Purushottam Maas remain the same: daily Paath, Japa, Daan, Vrat, and Bhakti.

What does change is the season. Adhik Jyeshtha falls in late spring and early summer in India -- a time of increasing heat before the monsoon arrives. For the diaspora, in the Northern Hemisphere, it coincides with late spring: long days, warm evenings, a natural season for family gatherings and outdoor conversations. This can make the shared practice of reading and discussing each day's story feel especially inviting.

Historical Context: Recent Adhik Maas Periods

Adhik Maas is not a rare cosmic event. It is a regular feature of the Hindu calendar, occurring with predictable rhythm. Understanding when past Adhik Maas periods fell can help you see the pattern.

Year	Adhik Maas Month	Approximate Dates
2015	Adhik Ashada	June - July 2015
2018	Adhik Jyeshtha	May - June 2018
2020	Adhik Ashwin	September - October 2020
2023	Adhik Shravan	July - August 2023
2026	Adhik Jyeshtha	May 17 - June 15, 2026
~2029	(To be determined)	Exact dates pending

Notice that the extra month can fall in different parts of the year. The interval between occurrences is approximately 32 to 33 months -- close to three years, but not exactly three years. This is why the month seems to "move" through the calendar over the decades.

For families who observed Adhik Shravan in 2023, the 2026 occurrence is the next opportunity. Three years is a long time. Children who were too young to participate in 2023 may now be old enough to read along. Grandparents who led the practice in 2023 are three years older. The tradition understands this: each Adhik Maas is not a repetition but a return, and each return finds the family changed.

When is the Next Adhik Maas After 2026?

The next Adhik Maas after 2026 is expected around 2029 — approximately 32 to 33 months later. The exact month and dates depend on astronomical calculations finalized closer to the year, based on the precise movements of the sun and moon.

This means that if you miss the 2026 Adhik Maas, the next opportunity is roughly three years away. For families with elderly members who wish to observe together, or young children who are just beginning to understand the tradition, the 2026 window is particularly significant. It does not come often, and it does not wait.

How to Plan for Adhik Maas 2026

With 30 days of daily practice, some planning helps -- especially for families observing together across different cities and time zones.

Before Adhik Maas Begins (Now through May 16)

• Mark the Ekadashi dates (May 27 and June 11) on your calendar. If you plan to fast, let your family or household know in advance.
• Choose your daily reading source. The 30-day reading from Adhik Mas Nu Nitya Chintan by Hitendra Gandhi and Jyotsna Shah is available on AdhikMaas.com, one story per day — read or listen in Gujarati and English.
• Sign up for daily email delivery so the story arrives in your inbox each morning. One less thing to remember.
• Set your Sankalpa -- decide what practice you will commit to for the month, whether it is daily reading, Japa, Daan, fasting, or all of the above.
• Tell your family. The simplest act of preparation is a message to your family WhatsApp group: "Adhik Maas starts May 17. I am going to read one story each day. Want to read together?"

During the Month (May 17 - June 15)

• Read one story each morning. Five to seven minutes is enough. Consistency matters more than duration.
• Observe the two Ekadashis with whatever level of fasting is appropriate for your health.
• Practice daily Japa -- even 11 repetitions of "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" after your morning reading.
• Give something each day -- not necessarily money. Time, attention, patience, and kindness are all forms of Daan.
• Share with your family. After reading, send a card or a message to your family group. Let your grandmother see that you read today. Let your cousin know you are keeping pace.

On the Final Day (June 15)

• Complete the 30th reading. This is the last day of the month and of the practice.
• Reflect on your Sankalpa. Did you keep it? Partially? What did you learn?
• Celebrate quietly. The completion of 30 days of daily practice is not a small thing. In the tradition, it is a form of Yatra -- a pilgrimage. You walked it, one day at a time.

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Adhik Maas 2026 begins May 17. AdhikMaas.com offers 30 daily stories for Purushottam Maas -- one each morning, to read or listen in Gujarati and English, with family discussion prompts. Sign up to receive the daily story by email, free.