Calendar · Updated October 2026
Festival food danger calendar for dogs in India: 24 festivals, 111 foods, 2026 and 2027 dates
We matched 24 Indian festivals to 111 festival foods in the dogeats.in database. 24 of those foods are rated unsafe for dogs, 80 need caution and only 7 are safe. Diwali (8 unsafe foods) and Christmas (7) are the riskiest dates, and October 2027 packs five festivals into one month.
Key findings
- Across 24 festivals, 111 distinct festival foods appear in our database: 24 unsafe (21.6%), 80 caution (72.1%) and 7 safe (6.3%).
- Diwali and Bhai Dooj bring 17 foods into the calendar, and 8 of them are rated unsafe, including barfi, gulab jamun, chocolate and raisins.
- Christmas has the highest unsafe share: 7 of 9 foods, mostly cakes with chocolate or dried fruit plus Goan sorpotel and xacuti.
- October 2027 holds five festival dates, from Durga Puja and Dussehra to Karwa Chauth and Diwali. That month covers 33 of our festival foods, 10 of them unsafe.
- 14 of the 24 festivals have at least one food rated unsafe for dogs.
- Onam is the one big festival where all 8 foods in our list are rated caution and none unsafe, though the sadya is still too rich to share.
- Bakrid brings cooked bones into many homes, and our cooked bones page rates them unsafe because they splinter.
- Festival dates come from the central government holiday lists for 2026 and 2027 issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.
Which Indian festivals are most dangerous for dogs, month by month?
Diwali and Christmas are the most dangerous festivals for dogs in our data. Each brings more unsafe foods than any other date. Ramzan and Eid-ul-Fitr, Bakrid, and Raksha Bandhan follow, with two unsafe foods each.
We built this calendar from 24 festivals and the foods most tied to them. Every food links to a dogeats.in safety page with a verdict. Dates are from the central government holiday lists for Delhi offices, so regional dates can differ by a day.
The table below runs from January to December. It gives the 2026 and 2027 date, how the date is listed, and every food with its verdict.
Source: dogeats.in food safety database; festival dates from DoPT holiday list for 2027. February 2027 has no festival in this calendar.
Show the numbers
| Label | Safe | Caution | Unsafe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | 16 | 0 |
| Feb | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar | 2 | 14 | 3 |
| Apr | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| May | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Jun | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Jul | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Aug | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Sep | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Oct | 3 | 20 | 10 |
| Nov | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Dec | 0 | 2 | 7 |
Embed this chart
| Month (2027) | Festival | 2026 date | 2027 date | Central list status | Foods | Unsafe foods | Foods and verdicts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Lohri and Makar Sankranti | 14 Jan 2026 | 14 Jan 2027 | Makar Sankranti: restricted holiday. Lohri falls the evening before. | 11 | 0 | Chikki (Groundnut Brittle) (caution); Gajak (caution); Makki Ki Roti (Corn Flatbread) (caution); Peanuts (caution); Pinni (caution); Popcorn (caution); Sarson Saag (Mustard Greens) (caution); Til Ke Laddoo (Sesame Laddoo) (caution); Undhiyu (caution); Khichdi (safe); Sesame Seeds (Til) (safe) |
| January | Magh Bihu and Poush Sankranti | 14 Jan 2026 | 14 Jan 2027 | Restricted holiday (Magha Bihu) | 3 | 0 | Nolen Gur (Date Palm Jaggery) (caution); Pitha (Assamese) (caution); Pithe (caution) |
| January | Pongal | 14 Jan 2026 | 15 Jan 2027 | Restricted holiday | 4 | 0 | Coconut (caution); Jaggery (caution); Pongal (caution); Ven Pongal (caution) |
| March | Maha Shivratri | 15 Feb 2026 | 6 Mar 2027 | Restricted holiday | 5 | 0 | Kuttu Atta (caution); Sabudana (caution); Sabudana Khichdi (caution); Thandai (caution); Makhana (Fox Nuts) (safe) |
| March | Ramzan and Eid-ul-Fitr | Eid 21 Mar 2026 | Eid 10 Mar 2027 | Gazetted holiday; date depends on moon sighting | 8 | 2 | Pakora (unsafe); Samosa (unsafe); Biryani (caution); Dates (caution); Falooda (caution); Firni (caution); Hyderabadi Haleem (caution); Sheer Khurma (caution) |
| March | Holi | 4 Mar 2026 | 23 Mar 2027 | Gazetted holiday (Delhi) | 5 | 1 | Pakora (unsafe); Kanji (caution); Malpua (caution); Puran Poli (caution); Thandai (caution) |
| March | Easter | 5 Apr 2026 | 28 Mar 2027 | Restricted holiday (Easter Sunday) | 3 | 1 | Chocolate (unsafe); Cupcake (caution); Boiled Eggs (safe) |
| April | Gudi Padwa, Ugadi and Chaitra Navratri | 19 Mar 2026 | 7 Apr 2027 | Restricted holiday | 4 | 0 | Aamras (caution); Kesari Bath (caution); Puran Poli (caution); Shrikhand (caution) |
| April | Baisakhi, Vishu, Bohag Bihu and Poila Baisakh | 14 to 15 Apr 2026 | 14 to 15 Apr 2027 | Restricted holidays (14 and 15 April) | 5 | 0 | Lassi (caution); Mishti Doi (Sweet Yoghurt) (caution); Payasam (Kheer) (caution); Pitha (Assamese) (caution); Sadya (caution) |
| May | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | 27 May 2026 | 17 May 2027 | Gazetted holiday; date depends on moon sighting | 8 | 2 | Cooked Bones (unsafe); Haleem (unsafe); Biryani (caution); Mutton Curry (caution); Raw Bones (caution); Seekh Kebab (caution); Sheer Khurma (caution); Mutton (Goat Meat) (safe) |
| June | Muharram | 26 Jun 2026 | 16 Jun 2027 | Gazetted holiday; date depends on moon sighting | 3 | 1 | Haleem (unsafe); Hyderabadi Haleem (caution); Sharbat (caution) |
| July | Rath Yatra | 16 Jul 2026 | 5 Jul 2027 | Restricted holiday | 4 | 1 | Rasgulla (unsafe); Chhena Poda (caution); Dalma (caution); Rasabali (caution) |
| August | Raksha Bandhan and Teej | 28 Aug 2026 | 17 Aug 2027 | Restricted holiday (Raksha Bandhan) | 5 | 2 | Barfi (unsafe); Cadbury Dairy Milk (unsafe); Ghevar (caution); Kaju Katli (caution); Milk Cake (caution) |
| August | Janmashtami | 4 Sep 2026 | 25 Aug 2027 | Gazetted holiday (Delhi) | 4 | 1 | Peda (unsafe); Amul Butter (caution); Mishri (caution); Makhana (Fox Nuts) (safe) |
| September | Ganesh Chaturthi | 14 Sep 2026 | 4 Sep 2027 | Restricted holiday | 6 | 1 | Ladoo (unsafe); Besan Ladoo (caution); Modak (caution); Motichoor Ladoo (caution); Puran Poli (caution); Ukadiche Modak (caution) |
| September | Onam | 26 Aug 2026 | 12 Sep 2027 | Restricted holiday (Thiru Onam) | 8 | 0 | Avial (caution); Banana Chips (caution); Erissery (caution); Kerala Sadya (caution); Olan (caution); Payasam (Kheer) (caution); Sadya (caution); Semiya Payasam (caution) |
| October | Durga Puja | 18 to 20 Oct 2026 | 6 to 8 Oct 2027 | Restricted holidays: Saptami to Mahanavami | 6 | 0 | Kosha Mangsho (Mutton) (caution); Luchi (caution); Mishti Doi (Sweet Yoghurt) (caution); Rosogolla (Bengali) (caution); Sandesh (caution); Khichdi (safe) |
| October | Navratri fasts | Ends 20 Oct 2026 | Ends 9 Oct 2027 | Nine nights ending at Dussehra (gazetted) | 6 | 0 | Jhangora Kheer (caution); Kuttu Atta (caution); Sabudana Khichdi (caution); Samak Rice (caution); Makhana (Fox Nuts) (safe); Singhara (safe) |
| October | Dussehra | 20 Oct 2026 | 9 Oct 2027 | Gazetted holiday | 3 | 1 | Jalebi (unsafe); Fafda (caution); Mysore Pak (caution) |
| October | Karwa Chauth | 29 Oct 2026 | 18 Oct 2027 | Restricted holiday | 3 | 1 | Mathri (unsafe); Almonds (caution); Cashews (caution) |
| October | Diwali and Bhai Dooj | 8 Nov 2026 (Bhai Duj 11 Nov) | 29 Oct 2027 (Bhai Duj 31 Oct) | Gazetted holiday (Diwali); Bhai Duj restricted | 17 | 8 | Barfi (unsafe); Cadbury Dairy Milk (unsafe); Chocolate (unsafe); Gulab Jamun (unsafe); Ladoo (unsafe); Namkeen (Indian Salty Snacks) (unsafe); Raisins (unsafe); Walnuts (unsafe); Almonds (caution); Basundi (caution); Cashews (caution); Chakli (caution); Kaju Katli (caution); Kalakand (caution); Rasmalai (caution); Shakkarpara (caution); Soan Papdi (caution) |
| November | Chhath Puja | 15 Nov 2026 | 4 Nov 2027 | Restricted holiday | 4 | 0 | Coconut (caution); Jaggery (caution); Thekua (caution); Banana (safe) |
| November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | 24 Nov 2026 | 14 Nov 2027 | Gazetted holiday | 3 | 1 | Halwa (unsafe); Desi Ghee (caution); Roti (caution) |
| December | Christmas | 25 Dec 2026 | 25 Dec 2027 | Gazetted holiday; Christmas Eve restricted | 9 | 7 | Black Forest Cake (unsafe); Brownies (unsafe); Chocolate Cake (unsafe); Fruitcake (unsafe); Panettone (unsafe); Sorpotel (unsafe); Xacuti (unsafe); Bebinca (caution); Cookies (caution) |
Moon-dependent dates for Eid, Bakrid and Muharram can move by a day. The government notifies any change closer to the date.
Festivals in the next few months
From October 2026 to January 2027, the festival season runs almost without a break. Durga Puja and Dussehra fall on 18 to 20 October 2026, Karwa Chauth on 29 October and Diwali on 8 November 2026.
Chhath follows on 15 November, Guru Nanak Jayanti on 24 November and Christmas on 25 December. Makar Sankranti and Lohri open 2027 on 14 January. Our Diwali dog food safety guide covers sweets, noise and emergencies for the biggest of these.
| Festival | Date | Unsafe foods | Foods rated unsafe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durga Puja | 18 to 20 Oct 2026 | 0 | None rated unsafe |
| Navratri fasts | Ends 20 Oct 2026 | 0 | None rated unsafe |
| Dussehra | 20 Oct 2026 | 1 | Jalebi |
| Karwa Chauth | 29 Oct 2026 | 1 | Mathri |
| Diwali and Bhai Dooj | 8 Nov 2026 (Bhai Duj 11 Nov) | 8 | Barfi, Gulab Jamun, Ladoo, Namkeen (Indian Salty Snacks), Cadbury Dairy Milk, Chocolate, Raisins, Walnuts |
| Chhath Puja | 15 Nov 2026 | 0 | None rated unsafe |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | 24 Nov 2026 | 1 | Halwa |
| Christmas | 25 Dec 2026 | 7 | Fruitcake, Panettone, Chocolate Cake, Black Forest Cake, Brownies, Sorpotel, Xacuti |
| Lohri and Makar Sankranti | 14 Jan 2027 | 0 | None rated unsafe |
| Pongal | 15 Jan 2027 | 0 | None rated unsafe |
| Magh Bihu and Poush Sankranti | 14 Jan 2027 | 0 | None rated unsafe |
Why Diwali carries the most risk
Diwali brings the largest food basket into Indian homes. Our Diwali list has 17 foods, and 8 are rated unsafe. The rest need caution, and none is safe.
The unsafe foods fall into three groups. Mithai such as Barfi, gulab jamun and ladoo carry sugar, fat and often raisins. Chocolate gift boxes carry theobromine. Dry fruit platters carry Raisins and walnuts.
The risk also lasts longer than one evening. Gift boxes arrive over a week, sit on low tables and get shared with guests. Diwali also brings firecracker noise, which can make dogs anxious and more likely to scavenge.
Source: dogeats.in food safety database, October 2026.
Show the numbers
| Label | Safe | Caution | Unsafe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mithai (8) | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Namkeen and fried snacks (3) | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Chocolate (2) | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dry fruit (4) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Embed this chart
| Food | Group | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Barfi | Mithai | Unsafe |
| Kaju Katli | Mithai | Caution |
| Soan Papdi | Mithai | Caution |
| Gulab Jamun | Mithai | Unsafe |
| Ladoo | Mithai | Unsafe |
| Kalakand | Mithai | Caution |
| Rasmalai | Mithai | Caution |
| Basundi | Mithai | Caution |
| Chakli | Namkeen and fried snacks | Caution |
| Shakkarpara | Namkeen and fried snacks | Caution |
| Namkeen (Indian Salty Snacks) | Namkeen and fried snacks | Unsafe |
| Cadbury Dairy Milk | Chocolate | Unsafe |
| Chocolate | Chocolate | Unsafe |
| Raisins | Dry fruit | Unsafe |
| Cashews | Dry fruit | Caution |
| Almonds | Dry fruit | Caution |
| Walnuts | Dry fruit | Unsafe |
Our Diwali firecracker noise report covers the other half of the festival. For the sweets in detail, see the Indian sweets safety report.
Unsafe foods per festival
14 of the 24 festivals in our calendar bring at least one unsafe food. Diwali leads with 8, then Christmas with 7. Most others bring one or two.
Christmas has the highest unsafe share. 7 of its 9 foods are rated unsafe, because fruitcake, panettone and chocolate cakes rely on chocolate or dried fruit. Goa's sorpotel and xacuti add onion, garlic and heavy spice.
Festivals with mostly caution foods still need care. Ganesh Chaturthi modak and Pongal are sugar and ghee, not poison, but a whole plate can upset a dog's stomach or trigger pancreatitis.
Source: dogeats.in food safety database, October 2026. Label shows unsafe foods out of all foods listed for that festival.
Show the numbers
| Label | foods |
|---|---|
| Diwali and Bhai Dooj | 8 of 17 |
| Christmas | 7 of 9 |
| Ramzan and Eid-ul-Fitr | 2 of 8 |
| Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | 2 of 8 |
| Raksha Bandhan and Teej | 2 of 5 |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | 1 of 6 |
| Holi | 1 of 5 |
| Rath Yatra | 1 of 4 |
| Janmashtami | 1 of 4 |
| Easter | 1 of 3 |
| Muharram | 1 of 3 |
| Dussehra | 1 of 3 |
| Karwa Chauth | 1 of 3 |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | 1 of 3 |
Embed this chart
Source: dogeats.in food safety database, October 2026.
Show the numbers
| Label | Safe | Caution | Unsafe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diwali and Bhai Dooj | 0 | 9 | 8 |
| Christmas | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Lohri and Makar Sankranti | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| Holi | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Ramzan and Eid-ul-Fitr | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Onam | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | 0 | 5 | 1 |
Embed this chart
Which festival foods are toxic to dogs?
24 festival foods in our calendar carry an unsafe verdict. The list mixes the expected, such as chocolate and raisins, with dishes that surprise many owners, such as Jalebi, peda and cooked bones.
Some unsafe foods come back many times a year. 24 foods in our calendar appear at two or more festivals. Ladoo, barfi, chocolate and haleem each return across the year.
| Food | Festivals |
|---|---|
| Barfi | Raksha Bandhan and Teej, Diwali and Bhai Dooj |
| Cadbury Dairy Milk | Raksha Bandhan and Teej, Diwali and Bhai Dooj |
| Chocolate | Easter, Diwali and Bhai Dooj |
| Haleem | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid), Muharram |
| Ladoo | Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali and Bhai Dooj |
| Pakora | Holi, Ramzan and Eid-ul-Fitr |
| Black Forest Cake | Christmas |
| Brownies | Christmas |
| Chocolate Cake | Christmas |
| Cooked Bones | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) |
| Fruitcake | Christmas |
| Gulab Jamun | Diwali and Bhai Dooj |
| Halwa | Guru Nanak Jayanti |
| Jalebi | Dussehra |
| Mathri | Karwa Chauth |
| Namkeen (Indian Salty Snacks) | Diwali and Bhai Dooj |
| Panettone | Christmas |
| Peda | Janmashtami |
| Raisins | Diwali and Bhai Dooj |
| Rasgulla | Rath Yatra |
| Samosa | Ramzan and Eid-ul-Fitr |
| Sorpotel | Christmas |
| Walnuts | Diwali and Bhai Dooj |
| Xacuti | Christmas |
Regional festivals with dog-friendly foods
Only 7 of 111 festival foods are rated safe. They are plain staples: khichdi, makhana, singhara, sesame seeds, boiled eggs, banana and plain mutton.
Safe here means safe plain and in small amounts. Durga Puja bhog khichuri is cooked with ghee and spices, and Bakrid mutton is usually seasoned. Set aside a plain, unseasoned portion before any masala goes in.
Regional festivals often lean on caution foods rather than unsafe ones. Assam's Magh Bihu pitha, Bengal's Poush Sankranti pithe and Tamil Nadu's Pongal are all rated caution. Kerala's Onam sadya has 8 caution foods and no unsafe ones.
- Makar Sankranti and Lohri: plain sesame seeds and plain khichdi are safe in small amounts; chikki, gajak and til laddoo are not.
- Navratri fasts: plain makhana and singhara are safe; sabudana khichdi and kuttu puri are fried or salted.
- Bakrid: plain boiled mutton with no bones is safe; cooked bones are unsafe.
- Chhath Puja: plain banana is safe; thekua is fried and sugary.
Getting through festival season safely
Plan around the calendar. Mark the 2026 and 2027 dates for the festivals your family and neighbours celebrate, and prepare a few days ahead.
Most festival poisonings start with access, not with feeding. Gift boxes, prasad plates and dry fruit bowls on low tables are the main risk. Guests who do not know the rules are the second.
Keep your vet's number and the nearest emergency clinic saved before the season starts. Ask your vet before giving any human food, even a safe one.
- Store sweet boxes, chocolate and dry fruit on a high shelf or in a closed cupboard.
- Clear puja and prasad plates as soon as the ritual ends.
- Tell guests and children not to feed the dog.
- Bin bones and food waste in a lidded bin, especially after Bakrid and Christmas.
- Keep a plain safe treat ready so your dog has something festive too.
Frequently asked questions
Which Indian festival is most dangerous for dogs?
Diwali is the most dangerous in our data. It brings 17 foods into the calendar, and 8 are rated unsafe, including barfi, gulab jamun, chocolate, raisins and walnuts. Christmas has the highest share of unsafe foods.
When is Diwali in 2026 and 2027?
Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026 and Friday, 29 October 2027, according to the central government holiday lists issued by the Department of Personnel and Training. Some states observe Naraka Chaturdasi a day earlier.
Can dogs eat festival sweets like ladoo or modak?
No. Ladoo is rated unsafe because mixed recipes often contain raisins. Modak is rated caution because of jaggery, coconut and ghee. Neither should be shared, and prasad plates should be cleared quickly.
Is Bakrid meat safe for dogs?
Plain cooked mutton with no bones, salt or masala is rated safe in small amounts. Cooked bones are rated unsafe because they can splinter. Biryani and spiced mutton curry need caution.
What Christmas foods are toxic to dogs?
7 of the 9 Christmas foods in our calendar are rated unsafe. They include fruitcake, panettone, chocolate cake, black forest cake and brownies, plus Goan sorpotel and xacuti. Bebinca and plain cookies need caution.
Are Navratri fasting foods safe for dogs?
Some are. Plain makhana and singhara are rated safe in small amounts. Sabudana khichdi, kuttu atta preparations and jhangora kheer need caution because of salt, ghee, frying or sugar.
Where do these festival dates come from?
Dates come from the Department of Personnel and Training holiday lists for central government offices in Delhi for 2026 and 2027. Moon-dependent dates such as Eid and Muharram can shift by a day.
What should I do if my dog eats festival food?
Note what and how much was eaten and your dog's weight. If chocolate, raisins, walnuts, xylitol or cooked bones are involved, call your vet straight away. For other foods, watch for vomiting or diarrhoea over 24 to 48 hours.
Methodology and limitations
We listed 24 festivals celebrated widely in India and matched each to the foods most tied to it that have a dogeats.in safety page. That gave 111 distinct foods. Food choices are a dogeats.in editorial selection. A food can appear at more than one festival.
Verdicts (safe, caution, unsafe) come from each food page as published in October 2026. Our editorial team builds these verdicts from veterinary sources including the ASPCA, AKC, Merck Veterinary Manual and VCA.
Festival dates come from the DoPT Office Memorandum F.No. 12/2/2023-JCA dated 16 July 2026 for 2027, as forwarded by the Department of Posts. For 2026 we used the DoPT list as reproduced in the PFRDA office order of 17 July 2025 and the Uttarakhand CGEWCC list.
Lohri, Teej and Sharad Navratri are not on the central lists. We placed them by their link to listed dates: Lohri the evening before Makar Sankranti, Teej with Raksha Bandhan and Navratri ending at Dussehra.
Sources
- Department of Posts letter of 8 September 2026 forwarding DoPT O.M. No. 12/2/2023-JCA of 16 July 2026, Gazetted and restricted holiday dates for 2027
- PFRDA office order PFRDA/3292/223/HR/106, 17 July 2025: holidays for 2026, Gazetted and restricted holiday dates for 2026, following the DoPT list
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: People foods to avoid feeding your pets, Risks of chocolate, raisins, onion, garlic, nuts and dairy for dogs
- Also consulted: CGEWCC Dehradun: gazetted holidays 2026 for central government offices in Uttarakhand, US Food and Drug Administration: Paws off xylitol, Merck Veterinary Manual: Pancreatitis in dogs and cats, dogeats.in food pages for each of the 111 festival foods, dogeats.in Diwali dog food safety guide.
Cite, embed and download
This report, its data and its images are free to reuse under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Credit dogeats.in with a link to this page. Every chart has its own embed code, every table has a CSV and an image download, and the images below are ready for social posts, slides and articles.
Cite this report
Link to this report
Every chart and table as an image
