Within the Smārta tradition, the rhythm of the year is marked above all by festivals that honor the pañcāyatana deities—Śiva, Viṣṇu (especially as Rāma and Kṛṣṇa), Devī, Gaṇeśa, and Sūrya—while being interpreted through an Advaita, non-dual lens. Mahāśivarātri (Śivarātri) is especially revered, as the “great night of Śiva,” with fasting and vigil expressing a contemplative focus on the dissolution of ignorance. Likewise, Janmāṣṭamī and Rāma Navamī, celebrating the births of Kṛṣṇa and Rāma as avatāras of Viṣṇu, are observed with scriptural recitation, devotional worship, and an awareness that these forms ultimately point back to the one Brahman. Festivals of the Divine Mother, particularly Navarātri and Durga Pūjā, hold a central place, honoring Durgā and other forms of Devī as the manifest power (śakti) of the same ultimate reality.

Gaṇeśa Caturthī is another key observance, as Gaṇeśa is one of the pañcāyatana deities and is invoked as the remover of obstacles on the spiritual path. Festivals connected with Sūrya, such as Makara Saṅkrānti and related sun-oriented observances, are also meaningful, since the visible sun is contemplated as a symbol of Brahman and the sustainer of life. Deepāvalī (Dīpāvalī/Diwali) is celebrated with devotion to deities such as Rāma, Kṛṣṇa, and Lakṣmī, while its imagery of light dispelling darkness is naturally read as the light of ātman/Brahman overcoming ignorance. Many Smārtas also participate in other major Hindu festivals, including those like Holi, yet consistently interpret them as celebrations of the one reality manifest in many names and forms.

Beyond deity-specific observances, festivals that honor the guru and the Advaita lineage are especially cherished. Guru Pūrṇimā is kept with particular reverence, recognizing the guru as the living embodiment and revealer of Brahman. Śaṅkara Jayantī, commemorating Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, is marked by recitation of his works, teaching of Advaita Vedānta, and ritual honor to his role in shaping Smārta practice. In many households, regular observances such as Ekādaśī fasts, especially among those inclined toward Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa, further weave the non-dual understanding into the fabric of devotional life. Through this tapestry of festivals, Smārta devotees hold together a rich, multi-deity worship that continually points back to a single, undivided reality.