Festivals and vrats in 2024

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Margashirsha

Bonfire festival of Punjab on the evening before Makar Sankranti.

The Sun's entry into sidereal Makara (Capricorn), around 14 January.

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Full-moon day · Pausha

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Pausha

Magha Shukla Panchami; the day of Saraswati and the first sign of spring.

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Full-moon day · Magha

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha

The great night of Shiva, on the Chaturdashi before Phalguna's new moon.

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Magha

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

The Holi bonfire, lit after dusk on Phalguna Purnima outside Bhadra.

The festival of colours, on and after Phalguna Purnima.

Full-moon day · Phalguna

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Phalguna

Lunar new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada in the Deccan and Maharashtra.

Nine nights of the goddess from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Ram Navami.

Birth of Rama, observed at midday on Chaitra Shukla Navami.

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra

Birth of Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi.

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Also: Chaitra Purnima

Birth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Chaitra

Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, one of the three and a half 'unbroken' muhurta days.

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Also: Vaishakha Purnima

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

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Also: Vaishakha Amavasya

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

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

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Full-moon day · Jyeshtha

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Jyeshtha

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Jyeshtha

The chariot procession of Jagannath at Puri on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya.

Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi, when Vishnu is said to begin his four-month rest.

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Ashadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.

The Mondays of the month of Shravana, kept for Shiva.

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

The Mondays of the month of Shravana, kept for Shiva.

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashadha

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Ashadha

The Mondays of the month of Shravana, kept for Shiva.

Shravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.

The Mondays of the month of Shravana, kept for Shiva.

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

The Mondays of the month of Shravana, kept for Shiva.

Also: Shravana Purnima

Shravana Purnima; the rakhi is tied in the afternoon, outside Bhadra.

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

Birth of Krishna at midnight on the Ashtami after Shravana Purnima.

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Shravana

Women's fast for Parvati on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya.

Installation of Ganesha at midday on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada

Kerala's harvest festival on Thiruvonam (Shravana) nakshatra in the month of Chingam.

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi; the Ananta vow and Ganesha immersion.

The fortnight of the ancestors, from the day after Bhadrapada Purnima to the new moon.

Full-moon day · Bhadrapada

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Bhadrapada

Nine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.

Eighth day of Sharad Navratri, the principal day of Durga worship.

Ninth and last night of Sharad Navratri; Ayudha Puja in the south.

Ashwina Shukla Dashami, kept in the afternoon; Ravana's effigy and the Shami tree.

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Also: Ashwina Purnima

Ashwina Purnima, the full moon of the clear autumn sky, kept at night.

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

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

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina

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

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

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

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

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Ashwina

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

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

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

Also: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi

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

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

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

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

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Kartika

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Kartika

Also: Mokshada Ekadashi

Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, remembered as the day the Gita was spoken.

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

Birth of Dattatreya at dusk on Margashirsha Purnima.

Full-moon day · Margashirsha

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

Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha

Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Margashirsha