Vishwakarma Puja Dateविश्वकर्मा पूजा की तिथि

Vishwakarma Puja, also called Vishwakarma Day or Vishwakarma Jayanti, is observed on Kanya Sankranti, the day the sun enters Kanya (Virgo) in the sidereal solar calendar. Unlike most Hindu festivals, which follow the phases of the moon, it follows the sun, so its date is nearly fixed and usually falls on 16, 17 or 18 September. In parts of North India, Vishwakarma Day is observed instead on the day after Diwali, and some communities also keep Vishwakarma Jayanti on Magha Shukla Trayodashi. This page explains each of these dates and how they are worked out.

Vishwakarma Puja dates

The table below lists the dates of Vishwakarma Puja on Kanya Sankranti for 2026 to 2035. The dates are for India. The exact moment of the Sankranti varies from year to year and the local day can differ between regional calendars, so please confirm the date and any timings with your local panchang or temple.

Why it falls in September

Hindu solar months begin when the sun moves from one rashi (zodiac sign) to the next. Each such transit is called a sankranti. When the sun leaves Simha (Leo) and enters Kanya (Virgo), the day is Kanya Sankranti, and this is the day on which Vishwakarma Puja is traditionally observed in eastern India and in workplaces across the country. In Bengal it is often called Bhadra Sankranti, as it marks the last day of the Bengali month of Bhadra.

Because the sun's movement through the sidereal zodiac repeats almost exactly each year, Kanya Sankranti stays within a narrow window of the Gregorian calendar. Small differences in the time of the transit, and the effect of leap years, move it between 16, 17 and 18 September.

How the date is decided

Astrologers and calendar makers calculate the precise moment when the sun enters Kanya. The puja is then fixed on the day associated with that moment. When the transit happens in the morning or during the day, the puja is held on that day. When it happens late in the evening or at night, regional calendars apply their own rules, and some mark the observance on the following day. This is why two calendars occasionally list dates one day apart, and why it is always worth checking a local panchang.

Most factories, workshops and offices simply follow the date announced in their region or by their employer, which is usually the date printed in the local calendar.

Vishwakarma Day after Diwali

In parts of North India, such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, Vishwakarma Day is observed on the day after Diwali, the same day as Govardhan Puja. This falls on Kartika Shukla Pratipada in the lunar calendar, so its Gregorian date changes every year, usually in October or November. On this day workshops, shops and factories clean and worship their tools and machines in the same spirit as the September festival, and the day is often a break from work after the Diwali celebrations.

Vishwakarma Jayanti on Magha Shukla Trayodashi

Some communities, especially among craft groups that regard Lord Vishwakarma as their ancestor, observe Vishwakarma Jayanti on Magha Shukla Trayodashi, the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magha. This usually falls in January or February. It is kept as Lord Vishwakarma's appearance day with puja, processions and community gatherings, while the September festival remains the main day for worshipping tools and machines.

Best time of day for the puja

There is no single time that suits every place and year, as auspicious timings depend on the local sunrise and the moment of the Sankranti. In general:

• Most people perform the puja in the morning or during the daytime, after bathing and cleaning the workplace and tools.
• Many families and priests choose a time within the Sankranti punya kaal, the auspicious period linked with the sun's transit, as given in the local panchang.
• Many people avoid Rahu Kaal, which also varies by place and day.
• Workplace pujas are often completed before midday so that prasad can be shared and the community meal can follow.

If you are unsure, ask a local priest or follow your local calendar. For the steps of the puja, see the Vishwakarma Puja vidhi, and for what to prepare, see Vishwakarma Puja items.

Frequently asked questions