Panchang · Festivals and vrats
Festivals and vrats in 2038
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 New Delhi · 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 2038
13 JanWed
LohriBonfire festival of Punjab on the evening before Makar Sankranti.
14 JanThu
Makar SankrantiThe Sun's entry into sidereal Makara (Capricorn), around 14 January.
14 JanThu
Thai PongalThe first day of the Tamil solar month Thai, after the Sun enters sidereal Makara.
February 2038
9 FebTue
Vasant PanchamiMagha Shukla Panchami; the day of Saraswati and the first sign of spring.
11 FebThu
Ratha SaptamiMagha Shukla Saptami, kept for the Sun with a bath before dawn.
March 2038
20 MarSat
Holika DahanThe Holi bonfire, lit after dusk on Phalguna Purnima outside Bhadra.
21 MarSun
HoliThe festival of colours, on the day after Holika Dahan.
April 2038
5 AprMon
Ugadi / Gudi PadwaLunar new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada in the Deccan and Maharashtra.
5 AprMon
Chaitra NavratriNine nights of the goddess from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Ram Navami.
7 AprWed
GangaurChaitra Shukla Tritiya, the close of the Gauri worship of Rajasthan.
13 AprTue
Ram NavamiBirth of Rama, observed at midday on Chaitra Shukla Navami.
17 AprSat
Mahavir JayantiBirth of Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi.
19 AprMon
Hanuman JayantiBirth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.
May 2038
7 MayFri
Akshaya TritiyaVaishakha Shukla Tritiya, one of the three and a half 'unbroken' muhurta days.
18 MayTue
Buddha PurnimaVaishakha Purnima, remembered as the birth, awakening and passing of the Buddha.
June 2038
12 JunSat
Ganga DussehraJyeshtha Shukla Dashami, the descent of the Ganga.
July 2038
4 JulSun
Rath YatraThe chariot procession of Jagannath at Puri on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya.
16 JulFri
Guru PurnimaAshadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.
August 2038
5 AugThu
Nag PanchamiShravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.
14 AugSat
Raksha BandhanShravana Purnima; the rakhi is tied in the afternoon, outside Bhadra.
22 AugSun
Krishna JanmashtamiBirth of Krishna at midnight on the Ashtami after Shravana Purnima.
September 2038
2 SepThu
Ganesh ChaturthiInstallation of Ganesha at midday on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.
10 SepFri
OnamKerala's harvest festival on Thiruvonam (Shravana) nakshatra in the month of Chingam.
12 SepSun
Anant ChaturdashiBhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi; the Ananta vow and Ganesha immersion.
14 SepTue
Pitru Paksha beginsThe fortnight of the ancestors, from the day after Bhadrapada Purnima to the new moon.
29 SepWed
Sharad Navratri beginsNine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.
October 2038
5 OctTue
Durga AshtamiEighth day of Sharad Navratri, the principal day of Durga worship.
6 OctWed
Maha NavamiNinth and last night of Sharad Navratri; Ayudha Puja in the south.
7 OctThu
VijayadashamiAshwina Shukla Dashami, kept in the afternoon; Ravana's effigy and the Shami tree.
12 OctTue
Sharad PurnimaThe night of the Ashwina full moon (Kojagari), kept from moonrise.
25 OctMon
DhanterasFirst day of the Diwali season, on the Trayodashi before Ashwina's new moon.
26 OctTue
Kali ChaudasThe night of Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta), kept for Kali in Gujarat.
27 OctWed
Naraka ChaturdashiKartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta): the oil bath before dawn, while the waning Moon is up.
27 OctWed
DiwaliThe festival of lamps and Lakshmi Puja on the new moon that ends Ashwina.
28 OctThu
Govardhan PujaKartika Shukla Pratipada, usually the day after Diwali; the mound of food.
29 OctFri
Bhai DoojKartika Shukla Dwitiya, the brother–sister day that closes Diwali.
November 2038
1 NovMon
Chhath PujaFour-day Sun observance of Bihar, centred on Kartika Shukla Shashthi.
1 NovMon
Skanda ShashthiKartika Shukla Shashthi in the Tamil reckoning, the day of Soorasamharam.
8 NovMon
Tulsi VivahThe ceremonial wedding of the tulsi plant to Vishnu, on Kartika Shukla Dwadashi.
11 NovThu
Kartika PurnimaThe full moon of Kartika; lamps at Varanasi and the birthday of Guru Nanak.
December 2038
7 DecTue
Gita JayantiMargashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, remembered as the day the Gita was spoken.
11 DecSat
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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