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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 Dindigul · 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

    Lohri

    Bonfire festival of Punjab on the evening before Makar Sankranti.

  • 14 JanTue

    Makar Sankranti

    The Sun's entry into sidereal Makara (Capricorn), around 14 January.

  • 15 JanWed

    Thai Pongal

    The first day of the Tamil solar month Thai, after the Sun enters sidereal Makara.

  • 27 JanMon

    Vasant Panchami

    Magha Shukla Panchami; the day of Saraswati and the first sign of spring.

  • 29 JanWed

    Ratha Saptami

    Magha Shukla Saptami, kept for the Sun with a bath before dawn.

March 2031

  • 8 MarSat

    Holika Dahan

    The Holi bonfire, lit after dusk on Phalguna Purnima outside Bhadra.

  • 9 MarSun

    Holi

    The festival of colours, on the day after Holika Dahan.

  • 24 MarMon

    Ugadi / Gudi Padwa

    Lunar new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada in the Deccan and Maharashtra.

  • 24 MarMon

    Chaitra Navratri

    Nine nights of the goddess from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Ram Navami.

  • 26 MarWed

    Gangaur

    Chaitra Shukla Tritiya, the close of the Gauri worship of Rajasthan.

April 2031

  • 1 AprTue

    Ram Navami

    Birth of Rama, observed at midday on Chaitra Shukla Navami.

  • 5 AprSat

    Mahavir Jayanti

    Birth of Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi.

  • 7 AprMon

    Hanuman Jayanti

    Birth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.

  • 24 AprThu

    Akshaya Tritiya

    Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, one of the three and a half 'unbroken' muhurta days.

May 2031

  • 7 MayWed

    Buddha Purnima

    Vaishakha Purnima, remembered as the birth, awakening and passing of the Buddha.

  • 31 MaySat

    Ganga Dussehra

    Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami, the descent of the Ganga.

June 2031

  • 22 JunSun

    Rath Yatra

    The chariot procession of Jagannath at Puri on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya.

July 2031

  • 4 JulFri

    Guru Purnima

    Ashadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.

  • 24 JulThu

    Nag Panchami

    Shravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.

August 2031

  • 3 AugSun

    Raksha Bandhan

    Shravana Purnima; the rakhi is tied in the afternoon, outside Bhadra.

  • 9 AugSat

    Krishna Janmashtami

    Birth of Krishna at midnight on the Ashtami after Shravana Purnima.

  • 30 AugSat

    Onam

    Kerala's harvest festival on Thiruvonam (Shravana) nakshatra in the month of Chingam.

September 2031

  • 20 SepSat

    Ganesh Chaturthi

    Installation of Ganesha at midday on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

  • 29 SepMon

    Anant Chaturdashi

    Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi; the Ananta vow and Ganesha immersion.

October 2031

  • 1 OctWed

    Pitru Paksha begins

    The fortnight of the ancestors, from the day after Bhadrapada Purnima to the new moon.

  • 17 OctFri

    Sharad Navratri begins

    Nine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.

  • 23 OctThu

    Durga Ashtami

    Eighth day of Sharad Navratri, the principal day of Durga worship.

  • 24 OctFri

    Maha Navami

    Ninth and last night of Sharad Navratri; Ayudha Puja in the south.

  • 25 OctSat

    Vijayadashami

    Ashwina Shukla Dashami, kept in the afternoon; Ravana's effigy and the Shami tree.

  • 29 OctWed

    Sharad Purnima

    The night of the Ashwina full moon (Kojagari), kept from moonrise.

November 2031

  • 12 NovWed

    Dhanteras

    First day of the Diwali season, on the Trayodashi before Ashwina's new moon.

  • 13 NovThu

    Naraka Chaturdashi

    Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta): the oil bath before dawn, while the waning Moon is up.

  • 13 NovThu

    Kali Chaudas

    The night of Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta), kept for Kali in Gujarat.

  • 14 NovFri

    Diwali

    The festival of lamps and Lakshmi Puja on the new moon that ends Ashwina.

  • 15 NovSat

    Govardhan Puja

    Kartika Shukla Pratipada, usually the day after Diwali; the mound of food.

  • 16 NovSun

    Bhai Dooj

    Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, the brother–sister day that closes Diwali.

  • 19 NovWed

    Chhath Puja

    Four-day Sun observance of Bihar, centred on Kartika Shukla Shashthi.

  • 19 NovWed

    Skanda Shashthi

    Kartika Shukla Shashthi in the Tamil reckoning, the day of Soorasamharam.

  • 25 NovTue

    Tulsi Vivah

    The ceremonial wedding of the tulsi plant to Vishnu, on Kartika Shukla Dwadashi.

  • 28 NovFri

    Kartika Purnima

    The full moon of Kartika; lamps at Varanasi and the birthday of Guru Nanak.

December 2031

  • 24 DecWed

    Gita Jayanti

    Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, remembered as the day the Gita was spoken.

  • 28 DecSun

    Dattatreya Jayanti

    Birth 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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