Panchang · Festivals and vrats
Festivals and vrats in 2008
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 Dallas · change city
Times in Dallas (America/Chicago, CST/CDT).
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 2008
3 JanThu
Saphala EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha Krishna (purnimanta) = Margashirsha Krishna (amanta)
5 JanSat
Shani Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
6 JanSun
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Pausha (purnimanta) = Margashirsha (amanta)
13 JanSun
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Pausha
18 JanFri
Pausha Putrada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha Shukla
19 JanSat
Shani Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
25 JanFri
Lambodara Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
February 2008
2 FebSat
Shattila EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Krishna (purnimanta) = Pausha Krishna (amanta)
4 FebMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
4 FebMon
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Magha (purnimanta) = Pausha (amanta)
11 FebMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Magha
16 FebSat
Jaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Shukla
18 FebMon
Soma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
24 FebSun
Dwijapriya Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
March 2008
3 MarMon
Vijaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Krishna (purnimanta) = Magha Krishna (amanta)
4 MarTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
5 MarWed
Maha ShivaratriAlso: Masik Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva, on the Chaturdashi before Phalguna's new moon.
12 MarWed
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Phalguna
17 MarMon
Amalaki EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Shukla
18 MarTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
24 MarMon
Bhalachandra Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
April 2008
2 AprWed
Papamochani EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Krishna (purnimanta) = Phalguna Krishna (amanta)
3 AprThu
Guru Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
4 AprFri
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Chaitra (purnimanta) = Phalguna (amanta)
10 AprThu
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Chaitra
15 AprTue
Kamada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla
17 AprThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
23 AprWed
Vikata Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
May 2008
1 MayThu
Varuthini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Krishna (purnimanta) = Chaitra Krishna (amanta)
2 MayFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
3 MaySat
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Vaishakha (purnimanta) = Chaitra (amanta)
9 MayFri
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Vaishakha
15 MayThu
Mohini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Shukla
16 MayFri
Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
23 MayFri
Ekadanta Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
31 MaySat
Apara EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Jyeshtha Krishna (purnimanta) = Vaishakha Krishna (amanta)
June 2008
1 JunSun
Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
1 JunSun
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Jyeshtha (purnimanta) = Vaishakha (amanta)
3 JunTue
Vat SavitriWomen's vow at the banyan, on the Amavasya before Jyeshtha in the north.
8 JunSun
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Jyeshtha
13 JunFri
Nirjala EkadashiThe waterless Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Shukla, held equal to all twenty-four.
15 JunSun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
21 JunSat
Krishnapingala Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
29 JunSun
Yogini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashadha Krishna (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha Krishna (amanta)
30 JunMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
July 2008
1 JulTue
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashadha (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha (amanta)
7 JulMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashadha
13 JulSun
Devshayani EkadashiAshadha Shukla Ekadashi, when Vishnu is said to begin his four-month rest.
15 JulTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
21 JulMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
21 JulMon
Gajanana Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
28 JulMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
28 JulMon
Kamika EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashadha Krishna (amanta)
29 JulTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
30 JulWed
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Shravana (purnimanta) = Ashadha (amanta)
August 2008
4 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
6 AugWed
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Shravana
11 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
12 AugTue
Shravana Putrada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Shukla
13 AugWed
Budha Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
19 AugTue
Angarki Heramba Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
26 AugTue
Aja EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Krishna (purnimanta) = Shravana Krishna (amanta)
27 AugWed
Budha Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
28 AugThu
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Bhadrapada (purnimanta) = Shravana (amanta)
September 2008
2 SepTue
Hartalika TeejWomen's fast for Parvati on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya.
4 SepThu
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Bhadrapada
10 SepWed
Parsva (Parivartini) EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Shukla
12 SepFri
Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
17 SepWed
Vighnaraja Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
25 SepThu
Indira EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Krishna (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada Krishna (amanta)
26 SepFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
27 SepSat
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashwina (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada (amanta)
October 2008
4 OctSat
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashwina
10 OctFri
Papankusha EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Shukla
12 OctSun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
17 OctFri
Karwa ChauthWives' fast from dawn to moonrise on the Chaturthi after Sharad Purnima.
17 OctFri
Vakratunda Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
20 OctMon
Ahoi AshtamiMothers' fast for their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami (purnimanta), ended at star-rise.
24 OctFri
Rama EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Kartika Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashwina Krishna (amanta)
25 OctSat
Shani Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
26 OctSun
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Kartika (purnimanta) = Ashwina (amanta)
November 2008
3 NovMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Kartika
9 NovSun
Devutthana EkadashiAlso: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi
Kartika Shukla Ekadashi, the end of chaturmasa and the reopening of the wedding season.
10 NovMon
Soma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
15 NovSat
Ganadhipa Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
22 NovSat
Utpanna EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Krishna (purnimanta) = Kartika Krishna (amanta)
24 NovMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
25 NovTue
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Margashirsha (purnimanta) = Kartika (amanta)
December 2008
3 DecWed
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Margashirsha
8 DecMon
Mokshada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Shukla
10 DecWed
Budha Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
14 DecSun
Akhuratha Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
22 DecMon
Saphala EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha Krishna (purnimanta) = Margashirsha Krishna (amanta)
24 DecWed
Budha Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
25 DecThu
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Pausha (purnimanta) = Margashirsha (amanta)
Plain-language notes are the School’s summaries of common almanac usage, for study. They are not advice.
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