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School of Vedic Sciences, FORE

Panchang · Festivals and vrats

Festivals and vrats in 2023

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.

January 2023

February 2023

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023

  • 1 MayMon

    Mohini Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha

  • 3 MayWed

    Budha Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 5 MayFri

    Buddha Purnima

    Also: Vaishakha Purnima

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

  • 8 MayMon

    Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

  • 15 MayMon

    Apara Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha

  • 17 MayWed

    Budha Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 19 MayFri

    Vat Savitri

    Also: Vaishakha Amavasya

    Women's vow at the banyan, on the Amavasya before Jyeshtha in the north.

  • 31 MayWed

    Nirjala Ekadashi

    The waterless Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Shukla, held equal to all twenty-four.

June 2023

July 2023

August 2023

September 2023

October 2023

November 2023

  • 1 NovWed

    Karwa Chauth

    Wives' fast from dawn to moonrise on the Chaturthi after Sharad Purnima.

  • 1 NovWed

    Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

  • 5 NovSun

    Ahoi Ashtami

    Mothers' fast for their children, eight days before Diwali, ended at star-rise.

  • 9 NovThu

    Rama Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina

  • 10 NovFri

    Dhanteras

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

  • 10 NovFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 11 NovSat

    Naraka Chaturdashi

    The day before Diwali, with an oil bath before dawn while the Moon is up.

  • 12 NovSun

    Diwali

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

  • 13 NovMon

    Ashwina Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Ashwina

  • 14 NovTue

    Govardhan Puja

    The day after Diwali; Kartika Shukla Pratipada and the mound of food.

  • 15 NovWed

    Bhai Dooj

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

  • 18 NovSat

    Chhath Puja

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

  • 23 NovThu

    Devutthana Ekadashi

    Also: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi

    Kartika Shukla Ekadashi, the end of chaturmasa and the reopening of the wedding season.

  • 24 NovFri

    Tulsi Vivah

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

  • 25 NovSat

    Shani Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 27 NovMon

    Kartika Purnima

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

  • 30 NovThu

    Ganadhipa Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

December 2023

Plain-language notes are the School’s summaries of common almanac usage, for study. They are not advice.

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