Panchang · Festivals and vrats
Festivals and vrats in 2031
Each date is worked out from the lunar day, the Moon’s nakshatra or the Sun’s entry into a sign, by the sunrise of the chosen city. Open a festival to read how its date was fixed.
Dates for Port Blair · change city
Month names: the rules use the amanta month, which ends at the new moon (as in South and West India). In the dark half of the month North India’s purnimanta calendar has already moved to the next month, so dark-half entries show both names, for example Kamika Ekadashi: Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashadha Krishna (amanta). Shravan Somvar follows the purnimanta month, as Delhi almanacs print it.
January 2031
13 JanMon
LohriBonfire festival of Punjab on the evening before Makar Sankranti.
14 JanTue
Makar SankrantiThe Sun's entry into sidereal Makara (Capricorn), around 14 January.
15 JanWed
Thai PongalThe first day of the Tamil solar month Thai, after the Sun enters sidereal Makara.
27 JanMon
Vasant PanchamiMagha Shukla Panchami; the day of Saraswati and the first sign of spring.
29 JanWed
Ratha SaptamiMagha Shukla Saptami, kept for the Sun with a bath before dawn.
March 2031
8 MarSat
Holika DahanThe Holi bonfire, lit after dusk on Phalguna Purnima outside Bhadra.
9 MarSun
HoliThe festival of colours, on the day after Holika Dahan.
24 MarMon
Ugadi / Gudi PadwaLunar new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada in the Deccan and Maharashtra.
24 MarMon
Chaitra NavratriNine nights of the goddess from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Ram Navami.
26 MarWed
GangaurChaitra Shukla Tritiya, the close of the Gauri worship of Rajasthan.
April 2031
1 AprTue
Ram NavamiBirth of Rama, observed at midday on Chaitra Shukla Navami.
5 AprSat
Mahavir JayantiBirth of Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi.
7 AprMon
Hanuman JayantiBirth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.
24 AprThu
Akshaya TritiyaVaishakha Shukla Tritiya, one of the three and a half 'unbroken' muhurta days.
May 2031
7 MayWed
Buddha PurnimaVaishakha Purnima, remembered as the birth, awakening and passing of the Buddha.
June 2031
1 JunSun
Ganga DussehraJyeshtha Shukla Dashami, the descent of the Ganga.
22 JunSun
Rath YatraThe chariot procession of Jagannath at Puri on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya.
July 2031
4 JulFri
Guru PurnimaAshadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.
24 JulThu
Nag PanchamiShravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.
August 2031
3 AugSun
Raksha BandhanShravana Purnima; the rakhi is tied in the afternoon, outside Bhadra.
9 AugSat
Krishna JanmashtamiBirth of Krishna at midnight on the Ashtami after Shravana Purnima.
30 AugSat
OnamKerala's harvest festival on Thiruvonam (Shravana) nakshatra in the month of Chingam.
September 2031
20 SepSat
Ganesh ChaturthiInstallation of Ganesha at midday on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.
29 SepMon
Anant ChaturdashiBhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi; the Ananta vow and Ganesha immersion.
October 2031
1 OctWed
Pitru Paksha beginsThe fortnight of the ancestors, from the day after Bhadrapada Purnima to the new moon.
17 OctFri
Sharad Navratri beginsNine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.
23 OctThu
Durga AshtamiEighth day of Sharad Navratri, the principal day of Durga worship.
24 OctFri
Maha NavamiNinth and last night of Sharad Navratri; Ayudha Puja in the south.
25 OctSat
VijayadashamiAshwina Shukla Dashami, kept in the afternoon; Ravana's effigy and the Shami tree.
29 OctWed
Sharad PurnimaThe night of the Ashwina full moon (Kojagari), kept from moonrise.
November 2031
12 NovWed
DhanterasFirst day of the Diwali season, on the Trayodashi before Ashwina's new moon.
13 NovThu
Naraka ChaturdashiKartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta): the oil bath before dawn, while the waning Moon is up.
13 NovThu
Kali ChaudasThe night of Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta), kept for Kali in Gujarat.
14 NovFri
DiwaliThe festival of lamps and Lakshmi Puja on the new moon that ends Ashwina.
15 NovSat
Govardhan PujaKartika Shukla Pratipada, usually the day after Diwali; the mound of food.
16 NovSun
Bhai DoojKartika Shukla Dwitiya, the brother–sister day that closes Diwali.
19 NovWed
Chhath PujaFour-day Sun observance of Bihar, centred on Kartika Shukla Shashthi.
19 NovWed
Skanda ShashthiKartika Shukla Shashthi in the Tamil reckoning, the day of Soorasamharam.
25 NovTue
Tulsi VivahThe ceremonial wedding of the tulsi plant to Vishnu, on Kartika Shukla Dwadashi.
28 NovFri
Kartika PurnimaThe full moon of Kartika; lamps at Varanasi and the birthday of Guru Nanak.
December 2031
24 DecWed
Gita JayantiMargashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, remembered as the day the Gita was spoken.
28 DecSun
Dattatreya JayantiBirth of Dattatreya at dusk on Margashirsha Purnima.
Plain-language notes are the School’s summaries of common almanac usage, for study. They are not advice.
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