Panchang · Festivals and vrats
Festivals and vrats in 2021
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 Houston · change city
Times in Houston (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 2021
1 JanFri
Akhuratha Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
9 JanSat
Saphala EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha Krishna (purnimanta) = Margashirsha Krishna (amanta)
10 JanSun
Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
11 JanMon
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Pausha (purnimanta) = Margashirsha (amanta)
18 JanMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Pausha
24 JanSun
Pausha Putrada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha Shukla
25 JanMon
Soma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
31 JanSun
Lambodara Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
February 2021
7 FebSun
Shattila EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Krishna (purnimanta) = Pausha Krishna (amanta)
8 FebMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
9 FebTue
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Magha (purnimanta) = Pausha (amanta)
17 FebWed
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Magha
22 FebMon
Jaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Shukla
24 FebWed
Budha Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
March 2021
1 MarMon
Dwijapriya Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
8 MarMon
Vijaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Krishna (purnimanta) = Magha Krishna (amanta)
10 MarWed
Budha Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
11 MarThu
Maha ShivaratriAlso: Masik Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva, on the Chaturdashi before Phalguna's new moon.
18 MarThu
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Phalguna
24 MarWed
Amalaki EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Shukla
26 MarFri
Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
31 MarWed
Bhalachandra Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
April 2021
7 AprWed
Papamochani EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Krishna (purnimanta) = Phalguna Krishna (amanta)
8 AprThu
Guru Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
9 AprFri
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Chaitra (purnimanta) = Phalguna (amanta)
17 AprSat
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Chaitra
23 AprFri
Kamada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla
24 AprSat
Shani Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
29 AprThu
Vikata Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
May 2021
6 MayThu
Varuthini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Krishna (purnimanta) = Chaitra Krishna (amanta)
8 MaySat
Shani Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
9 MaySun
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Vaishakha (purnimanta) = Chaitra (amanta)
17 MayMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Vaishakha
22 MaySat
Mohini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Shukla
23 MaySun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
28 MayFri
Ekadanta Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
June 2021
5 JunSat
Apara EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Jyeshtha Krishna (purnimanta) = Vaishakha Krishna (amanta)
7 JunMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
7 JunMon
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Jyeshtha (purnimanta) = Vaishakha (amanta)
9 JunWed
Vat SavitriWomen's vow at the banyan, on the Amavasya before Jyeshtha in the north.
15 JunTue
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Jyeshtha
20 JunSun
Nirjala EkadashiThe waterless Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Shukla, held equal to all twenty-four.
22 JunTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
27 JunSun
Krishnapingala Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
July 2021
5 JulMon
Yogini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashadha Krishna (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha Krishna (amanta)
6 JulTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
7 JulWed
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashadha (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha (amanta)
15 JulThu
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashadha
20 JulTue
Devshayani EkadashiAshadha Shukla Ekadashi, when Vishnu is said to begin his four-month rest.
21 JulWed
Budha Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
26 JulMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
26 JulMon
Gajanana Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
August 2021
2 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
3 AugTue
Kamika EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashadha Krishna (amanta)
5 AugThu
Guru Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
6 AugFri
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Shravana (purnimanta) = Ashadha (amanta)
9 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
13 AugFri
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Shravana
16 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
18 AugWed
Shravana Putrada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Shukla
19 AugThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
25 AugWed
Heramba Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
September 2021
2 SepThu
Aja EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Krishna (purnimanta) = Shravana Krishna (amanta)
4 SepSat
Shani Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
4 SepSat
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Bhadrapada (purnimanta) = Shravana (amanta)
9 SepThu
Hartalika TeejWomen's fast for Parvati on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya.
11 SepSat
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Bhadrapada
16 SepThu
Parsva (Parivartini) EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Shukla
18 SepSat
Shani Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
24 SepFri
Vighnaraja Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
October 2021
2 OctSat
Indira EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Krishna (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada Krishna (amanta)
3 OctSun
Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
4 OctMon
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashwina (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada (amanta)
10 OctSun
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashwina
16 OctSat
Papankusha EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Shukla
17 OctSun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
23 OctSat
Karwa ChauthWives' fast from dawn to moonrise on the Chaturthi after Sharad Purnima.
23 OctSat
Vakratunda Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
28 OctThu
Ahoi AshtamiMothers' fast for their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami (purnimanta), ended at star-rise.
31 OctSun
Rama EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Kartika Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashwina Krishna (amanta)
November 2021
2 NovTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
2 NovTue
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Kartika (purnimanta) = Ashwina (amanta)
9 NovTue
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Kartika
14 NovSun
Devutthana EkadashiAlso: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi
Kartika Shukla Ekadashi, the end of chaturmasa and the reopening of the wedding season.
16 NovTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
22 NovMon
Ganadhipa Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
30 NovTue
Utpanna EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Krishna (purnimanta) = Kartika Krishna (amanta)
December 2021
1 DecWed
Budha Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
2 DecThu
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Margashirsha (purnimanta) = Kartika (amanta)
8 DecWed
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Margashirsha
14 DecTue
Mokshada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Shukla
15 DecWed
Budha Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
22 DecWed
Akhuratha Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
29 DecWed
Saphala EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha Krishna (purnimanta) = Margashirsha Krishna (amanta)
31 DecFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
31 DecFri
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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