Computed from tithi, not looked up
Festival Calendar
Each date is worked out from the lunar month and tithi for the year, using amanta reckoning — which is why the Krishna-paksha festivals sit where they do.
- 14 Jan Makar Sankranti Sun enters sidereal Capricorn. Harvest and the start of Uttarayana.
- 11 Feb Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja; an auspicious day for beginning study.
- 20 Feb Magh Purnima Ritual bathing at Prayag; the close of Magha Mela.
- 06 Mar Maha Shivratri The great night of Shiva. Fasting and night-long vigil.
- 22 Mar Holika Dahan The bonfire on Phalgun Purnima, the eve of Holi.
- 23 Mar Holi The festival of colour, the day after Holika Dahan.
- 07 Apr Ugadi / Gudi Padwa Lunar new year in the Deccan and Maharashtra.
- 15 Apr Ram Navami Birth of Sri Rama, at midday.
- 20 Apr Hanuman Jayanti Birth of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima.
- 09 May Akshaya Tritiya The most auspicious day of the year for buying gold and beginning ventures.
- 04 Jun Vat Savitri Married women fast for their husbands' longevity.
- 18 Jul Guru Purnima Honouring the teacher; the start of Chaturmas.
- 06 Aug Nag Panchami Worship of serpents; the day for Kaal Sarp remedies.
- 17 Aug Raksha Bandhan The thread tied by a sister on Shravana Purnima.
- 25 Aug Krishna Janmashtami Birth of Krishna at midnight in Rohini nakshatra.
- 04 Sep Ganesh Chaturthi Installation of Ganesha; ten days of worship.
- 16 Sep Pitru Paksha begins Fifteen days of ancestral offerings and tarpan.
- 30 Sep Sarva Pitru Amavasya The final and most important day for shraddha.
- 30 Sep Navratri begins Nine nights of the Goddess.
- 07 Oct Durga Ashtami The eighth night; Kanya Pujan.
- 10 Oct Vijayadashami Dussehra. One of the three unconditionally auspicious days of the year.
- 19 Oct Karva Chauth Wives fast from sunrise until moonrise.
- 27 Oct Dhanteras Dhanvantari's day; buying metal is auspicious.
- 28 Oct Naraka Chaturdashi Chhoti Diwali; the abhyanga snan before dawn.
- 29 Oct Diwali Lakshmi Puja on Kartik Amavasya, in the evening.
- 30 Oct Govardhan Puja Annakut, the day after Diwali.
- 31 Oct Bhai Dooj Sisters apply tilak for their brothers.
- 04 Nov Chhath Puja Offerings to the setting and rising Sun.
- 10 Nov Dev Uthani Ekadashi Vishnu wakes; the wedding season opens.
- 14 Nov Kartik Purnima Dev Deepawali; bathing in sacred rivers.