Hindu Festival Dates

Diwali, the festival of lights, falls on the Amavasya of the Kartika month, when lamps are lit and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped at night. It anchors a five-day sequence that begins with Dhanteras and closes with Bhai Dooj, and its date shifts each year with the lunar calendar.

Lakshmi Puja is performed on Diwali night during Pradosh Kaal, when Goddess Lakshmi is invited into homes cleaned and lit for her arrival. The puja muhurta depends on the Amavasya tithi and local sunset, so the timing matters as much as the date.

Dhanteras — Dhanatrayodashi — opens the Diwali festival on the Krishna Trayodashi of Kartika. It is the traditional day for buying gold, silver and new utensils, and for worshipping Lord Dhanvantari for health and prosperity.

Karva Chauth is observed on the Krishna Chaturthi of Kartika, when married women fast from sunrise until moonrise for the long life of their husbands. The fast breaks only after sighting the moon, so the day's moonrise time is central to the vrat.

Chhath Puja, the great sun-worship festival of Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP, is offered to Surya and Chhathi Maiya on the Shukla Shashthi of Kartika. Devotees observe a rigorous 36-hour fast with arghya offered at both the setting and rising sun.

Sharadiya Navaratri begins with Ghatasthapana on the Shukla Pratipada of Ashwin and honours nine forms of Goddess Durga over nine nights. It culminates in Durga Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami.

Durga Ashtami, the eighth day of Sharadiya Navaratri, is the most intense day of Durga worship, marked by Sandhi Puja and Kanya Pujan. Many observers fast through the day and offer pushpanjali to the Goddess.

Vijayadashami — Dussehra — celebrates the victory of good over evil: Rama's triumph over Ravana and Durga's over Mahishasura. Falling on the Dashami after Navaratri, it is a classic muhurta day for new beginnings, Shastra Puja and Vidyarambham.

Holi, the festival of colours, follows Holika Dahan on the Purnima of Phalguna. The bonfire night commemorates Prahlada's protection from Holika, and the next morning erupts in colour as winter formally gives way to spring.

Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva, is observed on the Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalguna with night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek across the four prahars. The Shiva Vasa and Nishita Kaal timings make the panchang essential for this vrat.

Krishna Janmashtami marks the midnight birth of Lord Krishna on the Krishna Ashtami of Bhadrapada, in Rohini nakshatra. The fast is broken after the Nishita-kaal puja, so both tithi and nakshatra timings decide the observance.

Raksha Bandhan falls on the Purnima of Shravana, when sisters tie the rakhi on their brothers' wrists. Tradition avoids tying the rakhi during Bhadra, so the day's Bhadra end-time is the key muhurta detail.

Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Lord Hanuman on the Purnima of Chaitra. Devotees observe the day with Hanuman Chalisa recitals, sindoor offerings and visits to Hanuman temples from sunrise.

Akshaya Tritiya, on the Shukla Tritiya of Vaishakha, is one of the rare self-purifying muhurtas — auspicious for the whole day without panchang correction. It is the classic day for buying gold and starting ventures meant to grow imperishably.

Vasant Panchami, on the Shukla Panchami of Magha, is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. It is the favoured day for Vidyarambham — a child's first letters — and marks the arrival of spring with yellow worn in her honour.

Nag Panchami, on the Shukla Panchami of Shravana, honours the serpent deities. Offerings of milk and turmeric are made to Nag devtas for protection of the family, and it is a principal day for Kaal Sarp dosha remedies.

Ugadi, the lunar new year of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, falls on the Shukla Pratipada of Chaitra. Homes welcome the new samvatsara with ugadi pachhadi — six tastes for the six flavours of the year ahead.

Gudi Padwa, Maharashtra's new year, shares the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada with Ugadi. The gudi — a silk banner on a bamboo staff crowned with an inverted pot — is raised at the doorway at sunrise to invite victory and prosperity.

Ekadashi, the eleventh tithi of each lunar fortnight, is the principal Vaishnava fasting day — twenty-four (or more) times a year, each with its own name and story. This page lists every Ekadashi with its date, computed astronomically.

Pradosh Vrat is observed for Lord Shiva on the Trayodashi of each fortnight, with worship in the pradosh period just after sunset. A Pradosh on Monday (Soma), Tuesday (Bhauma) or Saturday (Shani) carries special significance.

Sankashti Chaturthi, the Krishna Chaturthi of each lunar month, is Lord Ganesha's obstacle-removing fast, broken after moonrise. Each month's Sankashti bears its own name; the Tuesday ones — Angarki — are held most auspicious.