Festivals, holidays and vrats
Every date is calculated for your city, with the tithi that decides it. Choose a festival below to learn what it means, how to observe it and what to do and avoid.
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Festivals through the Hindu year
Arranged from Chaitra (the new year in North India) around to Phalguna.
Ugadi and Gudi Padwa
Ugadi and Gudi Padwa mark the start of the new Hindu year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, with neem and jaggery, the gudi flag, and fresh beginnings.
चैत्र नवरात्रिChaitra Navratri
Chaitra Navratri is nine nights of Devi worship from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Navami, opening the new year and ending with Ram Navami.
राम नवमीRam Navami
Ram Navami, on Chaitra Shukla Navami, celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, kept with a midday puja, fasting, bhajans and readings of the Ramayana.
महावीर जयंतीMahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi, is the Jain festival marking the birth of Bhagwan Mahavir and his message of ahimsa and compassion.
हनुमान जयंतीHanuman Jayanti
Hanuman Jayanti, on Chaitra Purnima in most of North India, celebrates the birth of Hanuman with the Chalisa, sindoor and prayers for strength and devotion.
अक्षय तृतीयाAkshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya, on Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, is a day of lasting merit, for charity, new beginnings, prayers to Vishnu and Lakshmi, and remembering ancestors.
नृसिंह जयंतीNarasimha Jayanti
Narasimha Jayanti, on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi, marks the appearance of Vishnu as Narasimha at dusk to protect his devotee Prahlad.
वट सावित्री व्रतVat Savitri Vrat
A fast kept by married women for the wellbeing and long life of their husbands, observed beneath a banyan tree in memory of Savitri.
शनि जयंतीShani Jayanti
The birth anniversary of Shani Dev, the planet Saturn, marked with oil offerings, prayer and acts of charity on the new moon day.
गंगा दशहराGanga Dussehra
Celebrates the descent of the river Ganga to earth, marked by bathing, lamp offerings and prayers on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami.
रथ यात्राRath Yatra
The chariot festival of Lord Jagannath at Puri, observed on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya and celebrated by devotees around the world.
देवशयनी एकादशीDevshayani Ekadashi
The Ekadashi of Ashadha Shukla paksha, when Lord Vishnu is said to begin his cosmic sleep and the four months of Chaturmas begin.
गुरु पूर्णिमाGuru Purnima
A day on Ashadha Purnima to honour gurus and teachers, and to remember sage Vyasa, who organised the Vedas and composed the Mahabharata.
नाग पंचमीNag Panchami
A day of worship of serpent deities on Shravana Shukla Panchami, honouring nature, protection and the bond between people and snakes.
वरलक्ष्मी व्रतVaralakshmi Vratam
A vrat kept in Shravana by married women to worship Goddess Lakshmi as the giver of boons, held on the Friday before the full moon.
रक्षा बंधनRaksha Bandhan
A festival of the sibling bond, held on Shravana Purnima, when sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers' wrists and brothers promise care and protection.
कृष्ण जन्माष्टमीKrishna Janmashtami
The birth of Lord Krishna, celebrated with a fast, midnight puja, songs, and Dahi Handi on the Ashtami of the dark half of the monsoon month.
राधा अष्टमीRadha Ashtami
The appearance day of Radha, the beloved of Krishna, observed on Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami with prayer, kirtan and a devotional fast.
हरतालिका तीजHartalika Teej
A fast kept by women on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya in honour of Parvati's devotion to Shiva, prayed for marital harmony and family wellbeing.
गणेश चतुर्थीGanesh Chaturthi
The birth festival of Lord Ganesha, kept on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi with an installed clay idol, daily puja and a farewell immersion.
अनंत चतुर्दशीAnant Chaturdashi
The final day of the Ganesh festival and a Vishnu vrat on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi, marked with the Anant thread and Ganesh visarjan.
शारदीय नवरात्रिSharad Navratri
Nine nights of worship of the Divine Mother, from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami, marked by fasting, prayer, Garba and Dandiya.
दुर्गा पूजाDurga Puja
The Bengali festival of the Goddess Durga, from Mahalaya through Shashthi to Dashami, with community puja, art, food and visarjan.
दशहरा / विजयादशमीDussehra (Vijayadashami)
The tenth day of Ashwin Shukla, celebrating the victory of good over evil through Rama's defeat of Ravana and Durga's victory over Mahishasura.
शरद पूर्णिमाSharad Purnima
The full moon of Ashwin, when families offer kheer to the moonlight, worship Lakshmi in the night and recall Krishna's Raas.
करवा चौथKarwa Chauth
A day-long fast kept by married women for the wellbeing of their husbands, broken after sighting the moon on Kartika Krishna Chaturthi.
अहोई अष्टमीAhoi Ashtami
A fast kept by mothers for the wellbeing of their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami, broken after seeing the stars or the moon.
धनतेरसDhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi)
The first day of Diwali, on Krishna paksha Trayodashi, when families worship Dhanvantari, Lakshmi and Kubera and light a lamp for Yama.
नरक चतुर्दशीNaraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)
The second day of Diwali, on Krishna paksha Chaturdashi, marked by an early oil bath, lamps, and remembrance of Krishna's victory over Narakasura.
दीपावलीDiwali (Deepavali)
The five-day festival of lights, whose main day is Lakshmi Puja on the Amavasya that ends Ashwin, with lamps, rangoli, sweets and family gatherings.
गोवर्धन पूजाGovardhan Puja (Annakut)
Govardhan Puja honours Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill, with a mountain of vegetarian food offered in thanks for nature, cows and the harvest.
बेस्तु वरसBestu Varas (Gujarati New Year)
Bestu Varas is the Gujarati New Year, the first day of the Kartikadi Vikram Samvat, marked with greetings, temple visits and fresh account books.
भाई दूजBhai Dooj (Bhau Beej)
Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond of brothers and sisters, when sisters apply tilak and pray for long life, remembering Yama and Yamuna.
छठ पूजाChhath Puja
Chhath is a four-day vow of strict purity in which devotees fast and offer arghya to the setting and rising sun, thanking Surya and Chhathi Maiya.
अक्षय नवमीAkshaya Navami (Amla Navami)
Akshaya Navami is the ninth day of Kartika's bright half, when the amla tree is worshipped and charity, prayer and ancestor offerings bring lasting merit.
प्रबोधिनी एकादशीPrabodhini Ekadashi (Dev Uthani) and Tulsi Vivah
Prabodhini Ekadashi marks Vishnu waking from his four-month sleep, ends Chaturmas and opens the wedding season, with Tulsi Vivah performed at home.
कार्तिक पूर्णिमाKartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali)
Kartik Purnima, the full moon of Kartika, is a day of holy river baths, lamps, charity and prayers to Shiva and Vishnu, and also Dev Deepawali at Varanasi.
गीता जयंतीGita Jayanti (Mokshada Ekadashi)
Gita Jayanti marks the day Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, observed on Mokshada Ekadashi with recitation, study and a fast.
मकर संक्रांतिMakar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti marks the Sun's entry into Makara (Capricorn) and the start of Uttarayana, celebrated with sesame, jaggery, kites and thanksgiving.
लोहड़ीLohri
Lohri is the Punjabi mid-winter bonfire festival of harvest and new beginnings, celebrated the night before Makar Sankranti.
वसंत पंचमीVasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja)
Vasant Panchami, on Magha Shukla Panchami, welcomes spring and honours Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and the arts.
रथ सप्तमीRatha Saptami
Ratha Saptami, on Magha Shukla Saptami, honours Surya's chariot and the Sun's turn towards a warmer, brighter season.
महाशिवरात्रिMaha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, kept with fasting, a night-long vigil and abhishekam during the Nishita Kaal of the Krishna-paksha Chaturdashi.
होलिका दहनHolika Dahan
Holika Dahan is the bonfire kept on Phalguna Purnima after sunset, outside Bhadra, remembering the victory of faith over arrogance.
होलीHoli
Holi, the day after Holika Dahan, is the spring festival of colours, joy and forgiveness, celebrated with colour, music and shared sweets.
Monthly vrats and observances
Ekadashi
Ekadashi is the fast on the 11th tithi of each fortnight, kept for Vishnu with simple food, prayer and a careful breaking of the fast the next morning.
प्रदोष व्रतPradosh Vrat
Pradosh Vrat is kept on Trayodashi for Shiva, with a fast and worship in the twilight hour after sunset, twice every lunar month.
संकष्टी चतुर्थीSankashti Chaturthi
Sankashti Chaturthi is the monthly Ganesha fast on Krishna Chaturthi, broken after moonrise with prayer and a simple meal.
मासिक शिवरात्रिMasik Shivaratri
Masik Shivaratri is the monthly night of Shiva worship on Krishna Chaturdashi, kept with a fast and a midnight puja.
पूर्णिमा व्रतPurnima Vrat
Purnima Vrat is the monthly full moon fast, often with Satyanarayan puja and katha, holy bathing, charity and moonlit prayer.
अमावस्याAmavasya (New Moon Day)
Amavasya is the new moon day, kept for remembering ancestors, charity, prayer and quiet inward living, with several named Amavasyas through the year.
संक्रांतिSankranti
Sankranti is the moment the Sun enters a new zodiac sign, twelve times a year, marked with a bath, charity and prayer to Surya.
चातुर्मासChaturmas
Chaturmas is the four-month period from Devshayani Ekadashi to Prabodhini Ekadashi, kept with restraint, fasting, study and prayer.
अधिक मासAdhika Masa (Purushottam Maas)
Adhika Masa is the extra lunar month added about every 32.5 months to align the lunar and solar calendars, kept for prayer, japa and charity.
खरमासKharmas (Malmas)
Kharmas is the period when the Sun is in Dhanu or Meena, during which many families avoid weddings and other new auspicious ceremonies.
Looking for a festival of another region, such as Pongal, Onam or Baisakhi? See Regional calendars.