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Panchang · Festivals and vrats

Festivals and vrats in 2025

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 Baleshwar · 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 2025

  • 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.

  • 14 JanTue

    Thai Pongal

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

February 2025

  • 3 FebMon

    Vasant Panchami

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

  • 4 FebTue

    Ratha Saptami

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

March 2025

  • 13 MarThu

    Holika Dahan

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

  • 14 MarFri

    Holi

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

  • 30 MarSun

    Ugadi / Gudi Padwa

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

  • 30 MarSun

    Chaitra Navratri

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

April 2025

  • 1 AprTue

    Gangaur

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

  • 6 AprSun

    Ram Navami

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

  • 10 AprThu

    Mahavir Jayanti

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

  • 12 AprSat

    Hanuman Jayanti

    Birth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.

  • 30 AprWed

    Akshaya Tritiya

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

May 2025

  • 12 MayMon

    Buddha Purnima

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

June 2025

  • 5 JunThu

    Ganga Dussehra

    Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami, the descent of the Ganga.

  • 27 JunFri

    Rath Yatra

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

July 2025

  • 10 JulThu

    Guru Purnima

    Ashadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.

  • 29 JulTue

    Nag Panchami

    Shravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.

August 2025

  • 9 AugSat

    Raksha Bandhan

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

  • 15 AugFri

    Krishna Janmashtami

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

  • 27 AugWed

    Ganesh Chaturthi

    Installation of Ganesha at midday on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

September 2025

  • 5 SepFri

    Onam

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

  • 6 SepSat

    Anant Chaturdashi

    Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi; the Ananta vow and Ganesha immersion.

  • 8 SepMon

    Pitru Paksha begins

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

  • 22 SepMon

    Sharad Navratri begins

    Nine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.

  • 30 SepTue

    Durga Ashtami

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

October 2025

  • 1 OctWed

    Maha Navami

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

  • 2 OctThu

    Vijayadashami

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

  • 6 OctMon

    Sharad Purnima

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

  • 18 OctSat

    Dhanteras

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

  • 19 OctSun

    Kali Chaudas

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

  • 20 OctMon

    Naraka Chaturdashi

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

  • 20 OctMon

    Diwali

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

  • 22 OctWed

    Govardhan Puja

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

  • 23 OctThu

    Bhai Dooj

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

  • 27 OctMon

    Chhath Puja

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

  • 27 OctMon

    Skanda Shashthi

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

November 2025

  • 2 NovSun

    Tulsi Vivah

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

  • 5 NovWed

    Kartika Purnima

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

December 2025

  • 1 DecMon

    Gita Jayanti

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

  • 4 DecThu

    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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