Mahakal Temple Ujjain
English हिन्दी
Mahakal Lok, the sandstone corridor leading to the temple

Mahakaleshwar Calendar 2026–2028 – Sawari, Shivratri and Aarti Dates

Photo: Prateek Priyadeep, CC BY-SA 4.0

Next big days

Crowd forecast for the next five weeks

An estimate from the calendar – weekends, festival days and melas – not a live count.

QuietBusyVery busyMela crowds

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Full list

DateFestivalSource
Aarti timings switch to the winter schedule By the Hindu calendar
Deepawali By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Kartik–Agahan)
The shorter winter series of processions		 By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Kartik–Agahan)
The shorter winter series of processions		 By the Hindu calendar
Vaikunth Chaturdashi – Harihar Milan
At midnight Mahakal goes to Gopal Mandir and hands the care of the world to Vishnu		 By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Kartik–Agahan)
The shorter winter series of processions		 By the Hindu calendar
Shahi Sawari (final, royal procession)
The shorter winter series of processions		 By the Hindu calendar
New Year's Day
One of the heaviest single days of the year at the temple		 Announced
Shiv Navratri begins
Nine days of special shringar leading up to Maha Shivratri		 By the Hindu calendar
Maha Shivratri
The temple stays open through the night; a once-a-year afternoon Bhasma Aarti follows the Sehra Darshan the next day		 By the Hindu calendar
Aarti timings switch to the summer schedule By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Shravan–Bhadrapada)
The procession of Mahakal through the old city, leaving the temple in the afternoon		 By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Shravan–Bhadrapada)
The procession of Mahakal through the old city, leaving the temple in the afternoon		 By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Shravan–Bhadrapada)
The procession of Mahakal through the old city, leaving the temple in the afternoon		 By the Hindu calendar
Nag Panchami
The Nagchandreshwar temple above the Mahakal sanctum opens for this one day in the year		 By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Shravan–Bhadrapada)
The procession of Mahakal through the old city, leaving the temple in the afternoon		 By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Shravan–Bhadrapada)
The procession of Mahakal through the old city, leaving the temple in the afternoon		 By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Shravan–Bhadrapada)
The procession of Mahakal through the old city, leaving the temple in the afternoon		 By the Hindu calendar
Shahi Sawari (final, royal procession)
The last and largest procession of the season, on a longer route; the biggest crowd of the Shravan period		 By the Hindu calendar
Aarti timings switch to the winter schedule By the Hindu calendar
Deepawali By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Kartik–Agahan)
The shorter winter series of processions		 By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Kartik–Agahan)
The shorter winter series of processions		 By the Hindu calendar
Vaikunth Chaturdashi – Harihar Milan
At midnight Mahakal goes to Gopal Mandir and hands the care of the world to Vishnu		 By the Hindu calendar
Mahakal Sawari (Kartik–Agahan)
The shorter winter series of processions		 By the Hindu calendar
Shahi Sawari (final, royal procession)
The shorter winter series of processions		 By the Hindu calendar
Simhastha Kumbh 2028, Ujjain
The twelve-yearly Kumbh on the Shipra. The overall period is official; the individual royal bathing dates have not been announced yet		 Announced

“Announced” dates come from the temple committee or the district administration. “By the Hindu calendar” dates are calculated from the panchang and may shift by a day; check before booking tickets.