Panchang · Festivals and vrats
Festivals and vrats in 2012
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 Malda · 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 2012
4 JanWed
Pausha Putrada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha Shukla
6 JanFri
Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
12 JanThu
Lambodara Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
19 JanThu
Shattila EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Krishna (purnimanta) = Pausha Krishna (amanta)
20 JanFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
21 JanSat
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Magha (purnimanta) = Pausha (amanta)
28 JanSat
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Magha
February 2012
3 FebFri
Jaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Shukla
5 FebSun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
10 FebFri
Dwijapriya Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
18 FebSat
Vijaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Krishna (purnimanta) = Magha Krishna (amanta)
19 FebSun
Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
20 FebMon
Maha ShivaratriAlso: Masik Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva, on the Chaturdashi before Phalguna's new moon.
27 FebMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Phalguna
March 2012
4 MarSun
Amalaki EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Shukla
6 MarTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
11 MarSun
Bhalachandra Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
18 MarSun
Papamochani EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Krishna (purnimanta) = Phalguna Krishna (amanta)
19 MarMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
20 MarTue
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Chaitra (purnimanta) = Phalguna (amanta)
28 MarWed
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Chaitra
April 2012
3 AprTue
Kamada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla
4 AprWed
Budha Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
9 AprMon
Vikata Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
16 AprMon
Varuthini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Krishna (purnimanta) = Chaitra Krishna (amanta)
18 AprWed
Budha Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
19 AprThu
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Vaishakha (purnimanta) = Chaitra (amanta)
27 AprFri
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Vaishakha
May 2012
2 MayWed
Mohini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Shukla
3 MayThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
8 MayTue
Angarki Ekadanta Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
16 MayWed
Apara EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Jyeshtha Krishna (purnimanta) = Vaishakha Krishna (amanta)
18 MayFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
19 MaySat
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Jyeshtha (purnimanta) = Vaishakha (amanta)
20 MaySun
Vat SavitriWomen's vow at the banyan, on the Amavasya before Jyeshtha in the north.
26 MaySat
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Jyeshtha
June 2012
1 JunFri
Nirjala EkadashiThe waterless Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Shukla, held equal to all twenty-four.
2 JunSat
Shani Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
7 JunThu
Krishnapingala Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
15 JunFri
Yogini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashadha Krishna (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha Krishna (amanta)
16 JunSat
Shani Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
17 JunSun
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashadha (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha (amanta)
25 JunMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashadha
30 JunSat
Devshayani EkadashiAshadha Shukla Ekadashi, when Vishnu is said to begin his four-month rest.
July 2012
1 JulSun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
6 JulFri
Gajanana Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
9 JulMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
14 JulSat
Kamika EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashadha Krishna (amanta)
16 JulMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
16 JulMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
17 JulTue
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Shravana (purnimanta) = Ashadha (amanta)
23 JulMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
24 JulTue
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Shravana
29 JulSun
Shravana Putrada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Shukla
30 JulMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
30 JulMon
Soma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
August 2012
5 AugSun
Heramba Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
13 AugMon
Aja EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Krishna (purnimanta) = Shravana Krishna (amanta)
15 AugWed
Budha Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
15 AugWed
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Bhadrapada (purnimanta) = Shravana (amanta)
22 AugWed
Adhika Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Adhika Bhadrapada
27 AugMon
Padmini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Adhika Bhadrapada Shukla
29 AugWed
Budha Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
September 2012
4 SepTue
Angarki Adhika Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
12 SepWed
Parama EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Adhika Bhadrapada Krishna
13 SepThu
Guru Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
14 SepFri
Adhika Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Adhika Bhadrapada
18 SepTue
Hartalika TeejWomen's fast for Parvati on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya.
21 SepFri
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Bhadrapada
26 SepWed
Parsva (Parivartini) EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Shukla
27 SepThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
October 2012
3 OctWed
Vighnaraja Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
11 OctThu
Indira EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Krishna (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada Krishna (amanta)
13 OctSat
Shani Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
13 OctSat
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashwina (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada (amanta)
20 OctSat
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashwina
25 OctThu
Papankusha EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Shukla
27 OctSat
Shani Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
November 2012
2 NovFri
Karwa ChauthWives' fast from dawn to moonrise on the Chaturthi after Sharad Purnima.
2 NovFri
Vakratunda Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
7 NovWed
Ahoi AshtamiMothers' fast for their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami (purnimanta), ended at star-rise.
10 NovSat
Rama EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Kartika Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashwina Krishna (amanta)
11 NovSun
Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
12 NovMon
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Kartika (purnimanta) = Ashwina (amanta)
18 NovSun
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Kartika
24 NovSat
Devutthana EkadashiAlso: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi
Kartika Shukla Ekadashi, the end of chaturmasa and the reopening of the wedding season.
25 NovSun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
December 2012
2 DecSun
Ganadhipa Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
9 DecSun
Utpanna EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Krishna (purnimanta) = Kartika Krishna (amanta)
11 DecTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
11 DecTue
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Margashirsha (purnimanta) = Kartika (amanta)
18 DecTue
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Margashirsha
23 DecSun
Mokshada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Shukla
25 DecTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
Plain-language notes are the School’s summaries of common almanac usage, for study. They are not advice.
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