Panchang · Festivals and vrats
Festivals and vrats in 2018
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 Coimbatore · 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 2018
4 JanThu
Lambodara Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
12 JanFri
Shattila EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Krishna (purnimanta) = Pausha Krishna (amanta)
14 JanSun
Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
15 JanMon
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Magha (purnimanta) = Pausha (amanta)
22 JanMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Magha
28 JanSun
Jaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Shukla
29 JanMon
Soma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
February 2018
3 FebSat
Dwijapriya Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
11 FebSun
Vijaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Krishna (purnimanta) = Magha Krishna (amanta)
13 FebTue
Maha ShivaratriAlso: Masik Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva, on the Chaturdashi before Phalguna's new moon.
13 FebTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
21 FebWed
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Phalguna
26 FebMon
Amalaki EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Shukla
27 FebTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
March 2018
5 MarMon
Bhalachandra Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
13 MarTue
Papamochani EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Krishna (purnimanta) = Phalguna Krishna (amanta)
14 MarWed
Budha Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
15 MarThu
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Chaitra (purnimanta) = Phalguna (amanta)
22 MarThu
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Chaitra
27 MarTue
Kamada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla
29 MarThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
April 2018
3 AprTue
Angarki Vikata Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
12 AprThu
Varuthini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Krishna (purnimanta) = Chaitra Krishna (amanta)
13 AprFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
14 AprSat
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Vaishakha (purnimanta) = Chaitra (amanta)
21 AprSat
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Vaishakha
26 AprThu
Mohini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Shukla
27 AprFri
Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
May 2018
3 MayThu
Ekadanta Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
11 MayFri
Apara EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Jyeshtha Krishna (purnimanta) = Vaishakha Krishna (amanta)
13 MaySun
Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
13 MaySun
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Jyeshtha (purnimanta) = Vaishakha (amanta)
15 MayTue
Vat SavitriWomen's vow at the banyan, on the Amavasya before Jyeshtha in the north.
20 MaySun
Adhika Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Adhika Jyeshtha
25 MayFri
Padmini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Adhika Jyeshtha Shukla
26 MaySat
Shani Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
June 2018
2 JunSat
Adhika Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
10 JunSun
Parama EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Adhika Jyeshtha Krishna
11 JunMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
12 JunTue
Adhika Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Adhika Jyeshtha
18 JunMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Jyeshtha
23 JunSat
Nirjala EkadashiThe waterless Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Shukla, held equal to all twenty-four.
25 JunMon
Soma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
July 2018
1 JulSun
Krishnapingala Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
9 JulMon
Yogini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashadha Krishna (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha Krishna (amanta)
10 JulTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
11 JulWed
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashadha (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha (amanta)
17 JulTue
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashadha
23 JulMon
Devshayani EkadashiAshadha Shukla Ekadashi, when Vishnu is said to begin his four-month rest.
24 JulTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
30 JulMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
31 JulTue
Angarki Gajanana Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
August 2018
6 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
8 AugWed
Kamika EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashadha Krishna (amanta)
9 AugThu
Guru Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
9 AugThu
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Shravana (purnimanta) = Ashadha (amanta)
13 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
16 AugThu
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Shravana
20 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
21 AugTue
Shravana Putrada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Shukla
23 AugThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
30 AugThu
Heramba Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
September 2018
6 SepThu
Aja EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Krishna (purnimanta) = Shravana Krishna (amanta)
7 SepFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
8 SepSat
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Bhadrapada (purnimanta) = Shravana (amanta)
12 SepWed
Hartalika TeejWomen's fast for Parvati on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya.
14 SepFri
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Bhadrapada
20 SepThu
Parsva (Parivartini) EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Shukla
22 SepSat
Shani Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
28 SepFri
Vighnaraja Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
October 2018
5 OctFri
Indira EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Krishna (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada Krishna (amanta)
6 OctSat
Shani Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
7 OctSun
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashwina (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada (amanta)
14 OctSun
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashwina
20 OctSat
Papankusha EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Shukla
22 OctMon
Soma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
27 OctSat
Karwa ChauthWives' fast from dawn to moonrise on the Chaturthi after Sharad Purnima.
27 OctSat
Vakratunda Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
31 OctWed
Ahoi AshtamiMothers' fast for their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami (purnimanta), ended at star-rise.
November 2018
3 NovSat
Rama EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Kartika Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashwina Krishna (amanta)
5 NovMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
5 NovMon
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Kartika (purnimanta) = Ashwina (amanta)
13 NovTue
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Kartika
19 NovMon
Devutthana EkadashiAlso: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi
Kartika Shukla Ekadashi, the end of chaturmasa and the reopening of the wedding season.
20 NovTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
26 NovMon
Ganadhipa Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
December 2018
3 DecMon
Utpanna EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Krishna (purnimanta) = Kartika Krishna (amanta)
4 DecTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
5 DecWed
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Margashirsha (purnimanta) = Kartika (amanta)
13 DecThu
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Margashirsha
19 DecWed
Mokshada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Shukla
20 DecThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
25 DecTue
Angarki Akhuratha Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
Plain-language notes are the School’s summaries of common almanac usage, for study. They are not advice.
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