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Panchang · Festivals and vrats

Festivals and vrats in 2028

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 Coimbatore · 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 2028

  • 14 JanFri

    Lohri

    Bonfire festival of Punjab on the evening before Makar Sankranti.

  • 15 JanSat

    Makar Sankranti

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

  • 15 JanSat

    Thai Pongal

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

February 2028

  • 1 FebTue

    Vasant Panchami

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

  • 3 FebThu

    Ratha Saptami

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

March 2028

  • 10 MarFri

    Holika Dahan

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

  • 11 MarSat

    Holi

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

  • 27 MarMon

    Ugadi / Gudi Padwa

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

  • 27 MarMon

    Chaitra Navratri

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

  • 29 MarWed

    Gangaur

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

April 2028

  • 3 AprMon

    Ram Navami

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

  • 7 AprFri

    Mahavir Jayanti

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

  • 9 AprSun

    Hanuman Jayanti

    Birth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.

  • 27 AprThu

    Akshaya Tritiya

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

May 2028

  • 8 MayMon

    Buddha Purnima

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

June 2028

  • 2 JunFri

    Ganga Dussehra

    Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami, the descent of the Ganga.

  • 24 JunSat

    Rath Yatra

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

July 2028

  • 6 JulThu

    Guru Purnima

    Ashadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.

  • 26 JulWed

    Nag Panchami

    Shravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.

August 2028

  • 5 AugSat

    Raksha Bandhan

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

  • 13 AugSun

    Krishna Janmashtami

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

  • 23 AugWed

    Ganesh Chaturthi

    Installation of Ganesha at midday on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

September 2028

  • 1 SepFri

    Onam

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

  • 2 SepSat

    Anant Chaturdashi

    Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi; the Ananta vow and Ganesha immersion.

  • 4 SepMon

    Pitru Paksha begins

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

  • 19 SepTue

    Sharad Navratri begins

    Nine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.

  • 26 SepTue

    Durga Ashtami

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

  • 27 SepWed

    Maha Navami

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

  • 27 SepWed

    Vijayadashami

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

October 2028

  • 3 OctTue

    Sharad Purnima

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

  • 15 OctSun

    Dhanteras

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

  • 16 OctMon

    Kali Chaudas

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

  • 17 OctTue

    Naraka Chaturdashi

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

  • 17 OctTue

    Diwali

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

  • 18 OctWed

    Govardhan Puja

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

  • 19 OctThu

    Bhai Dooj

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

  • 23 OctMon

    Chhath Puja

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

  • 23 OctMon

    Skanda Shashthi

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

  • 29 OctSun

    Tulsi Vivah

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

November 2028

  • 2 NovThu

    Kartika Purnima

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

  • 27 NovMon

    Gita Jayanti

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

December 2028

Plain-language notes are the School’s summaries of common almanac usage, for study. They are not advice.

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