Festival rituals through the year: Shivratri to Janmashtami

Festivals are moments when a whole community turns its attention in one direction: towards devotion, gratitude, abundance or new beginnings. I find that this shared focus makes them a natural time for a small personal ritual. You are not working against the current; you are moving with it.

Here are the festival rituals I shared through 2026, from Shivratri in February to Janmashtami in September, with a little background on each festival and how to use the ritual whenever it feels right.

Before any ritual

A few things make every ritual stronger:

1. Choose a quiet, clean spot and switch off your phone.
2. Take a few slow breaths and settle.
3. Be clear about one intention, not ten.
4. Close with gratitude, and then let it go. Don't keep checking whether it has "worked".

Shivratri: a ritual for love and relationships

Maha Shivratri, the great night of Shiva, is celebrated with fasting, night-long prayer and offerings of bel leaves and water to the Shiva lingam. Many traditions also see it as the night of the union of Shiva and Parvati, which is why it is a lovely night for intentions around love, partnership and marriage.

On Shivratri in February 2026 I shared a relationship ritual using a bay leaf. Bay leaves have long been used in manifestation work: you write your wish on a dry leaf and offer it, usually by safely burning it, as a way of releasing the intention to the universe. In this ritual the focus was on attracting love, healing the inner child and inviting a healthy partnership.

If love feels blocked by old hurts, my post on whether you are ready for love is a good companion to this ritual.

Hanuman Jayanti: a manifestation technique

Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Lord Hanuman, the symbol of devotion, strength, courage and selfless service. Devotees recite the Hanuman Chalisa, visit temples and offer sindoor and sweets.

For this high-frequency day in April 2026 I shared a manifestation technique rooted in Hanuman bhakti and the water element. The heart of it is devotion: the faith that Hanuman shows Ram, turned towards your own intention.

If you would like the full step-by-step method for working with water, it is in my post on the water manifestation technique.

Akshaya Tritiya: amplify your abundance

Akshaya means "never diminishing". Akshaya Tritiya, which fell in April 2026, is considered one of the most auspicious days of the year: whatever good is begun or given on this day is believed to keep growing. People buy gold, start new ventures and, just as importantly, give to others.

My message for the day was simple: may your good karmas give you akshaya results and amplify your abundance mindset. Raise your frequency and become a magnet to both give and receive. Close your intention with Tathastu, tathastu, tathastu: "so be it".

Try this: give something on Akshaya Tritiya, however small: food, time or a kind word. Then write one intention for abundance and read it each morning. My post on how to amplify your goals goes deeper into making intentions stick.

Adhik Maas: what am I fearing?

Adhik Maas is the extra lunar month added every two to three years to keep the Hindu lunar calendar in step with the solar year. It is traditionally devoted to Vishnu and to spiritual practice, rather than to big worldly beginnings. In 2026 it began in May.

The practice I shared for this month is one of the simplest and strongest I know:

1. Ask yourself: "What am I fearing?" Don't overthink. Answer intuitively, in flow, out loud or on paper.
2. Pause.
3. Then ask: "What if everything is good?" Answer intuitively again.
4. Notice how your energy shifts.

This practice is very helpful with negative self-talk, anxiety and limiting beliefs around money, confidence, love and growth. If fear or anxiety feels constant, please also speak to a doctor or counsellor.

Guru Poornima: the gift of water

Guru Poornima, on the full moon of Ashadha, honours our teachers, from Ved Vyasa to the guides in our own lives. It is a day of gratitude for the wisdom we have received.

On Guru Poornima in July 2026 I shared a small gift about the water element. Water is one of the most powerful mediums of healing for us. From the beginning of life to its end, water is the strongest resource of Mother Nature, and our bodies are mostly water.

Try this: on a full moon, hold a glass of water, think of a teacher you are grateful to, and drink it slowly with that gratitude.

Krishna Janmashtami: a moonrise ritual

Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who was born at midnight in Mathura. Devotees fast, sing bhajans, decorate cradles for baby Krishna and break the fast at midnight. The rising moon matters on this night too, because Krishna was born into the lunar dynasty, the Chandravansh.

For Janmashtami in September 2026 I shared a ritual to do in the evening, as the moon rises. Krishna stands for love, joy and play, so this is a gentle ritual to bring that frequency into your life. Many people like to keep up a practice like this for about 45 days, which is a good length of time to build a new habit and notice a shift.

What these rituals are not

These are devotional and reflective practices. They help you focus, release and set intentions, but they don't guarantee outcomes and they don't replace medical, financial or legal advice. Follow your own family's traditions where they differ; there is no single right way.

If you'd like support

If a ritual brings up feelings you would like help with, or you want to combine it with healing, my Reiki healing sessions are a gentle next step. You are always welcome to send me a message first.