Choghadiya Today in Washington, D.C.

Today’s choghadiya for Washington, D.C., worked out from Washington, D.C.’s own sunrise and sunset in Eastern Time (America/New York). Hindu life in the Washington area centres on Fairfax, Loudoun and Montgomery counties, home to the region’s largest Asian Indian populations, and on temple clusters in Lanham in suburban Maryland and Chantilly in Northern Virginia. Washington, D.C.’s clock runs 9 hours 30 minutes to 10 hours 30 minutes behind India’s, so some festivals fall a day earlier here than in India.

Best times in Washington, D.C.

Amrit, Shubh and Labh windows clear of Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika Kaal, Vara Vela, Kala Vela and Kala Ratri, with the Abhijit Muhurat. A good choghadiya that falls in one of them is marked Mixed in the tables below. How these overlaps work.

Panchang in Washington, D.C. for today

Tithi, nakshatra, yoga and karana are as at sunrise in Washington, D.C., with the time each one ends, all in Washington, D.C. time and for the date chosen above.

New to choghadiya? Read how the eight periods work and which ones to choose on our main choghadiya page.

Hindu festivals in Washington, D.C.: dates and timings

These are the dates as they fall in Washington, D.C., worked out for Washington, D.C.’s own sunrise and moonrise. 14 of the 37 festivals below fall on a different day here than in India.

Why a date can differ: a tithi (lunar day) begins at the same instant everywhere on earth, but a festival is kept on the local day when its tithi holds at the right moment, such as sunrise or moonrise. Washington, D.C. keeps a different clock from India, so that moment can land on a different calendar day here. For festivals not listed, see the festival calendar.

Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya and Pradosh in Washington, D.C.

The next vrat days for Washington, D.C., with the tithi window in Washington, D.C. time.

Hindu temples in and around Washington, D.C.

Mandirs across the Washington, D.C. area, from the city to the suburbs. Check each temple’s website for darshan hours and its festival programme.

The Hindu community in Washington, D.C.

• The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro has an estimated 187,080 Asian Indian residents (ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B02015), the sixth largest of any US metro after New York, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Francisco, Chicago and San Jose. (US Census Bureau ACS via Census Reporter)
• In the same estimates, Fairfax County (52,677), Loudoun County (47,553) and Montgomery County (42,008) have the largest Asian Indian populations of any county in the metro. (US Census Bureau ACS via Census Reporter)
• ISKCON of DC in Potomac marked Dussehra in October 2025 with kirtan, a Ram Lila and the burning of a Ravana effigy, and ISKCON News reported that over 7,000 people attended. (ISKCON News)
• On 24 October 2025 the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art held a free Asia After Dark Diwali festival, with food, performances and crafts, at The Plaza in DC’s Union Market District. (Union Market District)

Washington, D.C. choghadiya and festivals: common questions

What time is the Karva Chauth moonrise in Washington, D.C.?

Wednesday, October 28, 2026, a day before India (Thu, Oct 29): moonrise 7:54 PM, puja 6:13 PM to 7:33 PM. It can fall on a different calendar day from India because the fast is kept on the evening when the Chaturthi tithi is in force at moonrise, and Washington, D.C.’s clock runs 9 hours 30 minutes behind India’s that week.

When is Lakshmi puja on Diwali in Washington, D.C.?

The Lakshmi puja muhurat in Washington, D.C. is Sunday, November 8, 2026: 5:20 PM to 7:09 PM.

When is Holi 2027 in Washington, D.C.?

Monday, March 22, 2027 in Washington, D.C., a day before India (Tue, Mar 23). Holika Dahan: Sunday, March 21, 2027.

When is Janmashtami 2027 in Washington, D.C.?

Tuesday, August 24, 2027 in Washington, D.C., a day before India (Wed, Aug 25).

When is Dussehra 2026 in Washington, D.C.?

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 in Washington, D.C., same day as India.

When does Navratri 2027 begin in Washington, D.C.?

Thursday, September 30, 2027 in Washington, D.C., same day as India.

When is Makar Sankranti 2027 in Washington, D.C.?

Thursday, January 14, 2027 in Washington, D.C., a day before India (Fri, Jan 15).

Is there a temple just for Lord Murugan near Washington, DC?

Yes. The Murugan Temple of North America at 6300 Princess Garden Parkway in Lanham, Maryland, describes itself as the first temple dedicated to Lord Murugan (Karthikeya) in the United States. It opened in 1999 and follows Saivite traditions of puja and worship.

Where can I join a big public Diwali celebration in Washington, DC?

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art runs a free Asia After Dark Diwali festival with music, dance, food and crafts. It was held on Freer Plaza on the National Mall on 1 November 2024, and the museum says more than 8,000 people attended its November 2023 Diwali celebration. The 2025 edition moved to The Plaza at Union Market on 24 October 2025, so check the museum’s listing for the current venue.

Choghadiya through the year in Washington, D.C.

Sunrise and sunset in Washington, D.C. on the 21st of each month, and how long one choghadiya lasts by day and by night.

Choghadiya in other cities

Choghadiya timings are computed astronomically from sunrise and sunset for Washington, D.C. and shown in local time. Festival and vrat dates are for Washington, D.C.. Panchang traditions can vary; for samskaras and major events, please also consult your family panditji.

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