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Panchang · Festivals and vrats

Festivals and vrats in 2042

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 2042

  • 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.

  • 26 JanSun

    Vasant Panchami

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

  • 28 JanTue

    Ratha Saptami

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

March 2042

  • 6 MarThu

    Holika Dahan

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

  • 7 MarFri

    Holi

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

  • 22 MarSat

    Ugadi / Gudi Padwa

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

  • 22 MarSat

    Chaitra Navratri

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

  • 24 MarMon

    Gangaur

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

  • 29 MarSat

    Ram Navami

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

April 2042

  • 3 AprThu

    Mahavir Jayanti

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

  • 5 AprSat

    Hanuman Jayanti

    Birth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.

  • 22 AprTue

    Akshaya Tritiya

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

May 2042

  • 5 MayMon

    Buddha Purnima

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

  • 29 MayThu

    Ganga Dussehra

    Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami, the descent of the Ganga.

June 2042

  • 19 JunThu

    Rath Yatra

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

July 2042

  • 3 JulThu

    Guru Purnima

    Ashadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.

August 2042

  • 21 AugThu

    Nag Panchami

    Shravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.

  • 29 AugFri

    Onam

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

  • 31 AugSun

    Raksha Bandhan

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

September 2042

  • 6 SepSat

    Krishna Janmashtami

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

  • 18 SepThu

    Ganesh Chaturthi

    Installation of Ganesha at midday on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

  • 28 SepSun

    Anant Chaturdashi

    Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi; the Ananta vow and Ganesha immersion.

  • 29 SepMon

    Pitru Paksha begins

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

October 2042

  • 15 OctWed

    Sharad Navratri begins

    Nine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.

  • 22 OctWed

    Durga Ashtami

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

  • 23 OctThu

    Maha Navami

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

  • 24 OctFri

    Vijayadashami

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

  • 28 OctTue

    Sharad Purnima

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

November 2042

  • 10 NovMon

    Dhanteras

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

  • 10 NovMon

    Kali Chaudas

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

  • 11 NovTue

    Naraka Chaturdashi

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

  • 12 NovWed

    Diwali

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

  • 13 NovThu

    Govardhan Puja

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

  • 14 NovFri

    Bhai Dooj

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

  • 18 NovTue

    Chhath Puja

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

  • 18 NovTue

    Skanda Shashthi

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

  • 24 NovMon

    Tulsi Vivah

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

  • 27 NovThu

    Kartika Purnima

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

December 2042

  • 23 DecTue

    Gita Jayanti

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

  • 26 DecFri

    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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