Skip to content
School of Vedic Sciences, FORE

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.

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.

February 2025

  • 2 FebSun

    Vasant Panchami

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

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 and after Phalguna Purnima.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 26 AugTue

    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

    Ashwina Purnima, the full moon of the clear autumn sky, kept at night.

  • 18 OctSat

    Dhanteras

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

  • 19 OctSun

    Naraka Chaturdashi

    The day before Diwali, with an oil bath before dawn while the Moon is up.

  • 20 OctMon

    Diwali

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

  • 22 OctWed

    Govardhan Puja

    The day after Diwali; Kartika Shukla Pratipada and 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.

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.

More from the Panchang