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Panchang · Festivals and vrats

Festivals and vrats in 2037

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 2037

  • 1 JanThu

    Pausha Purnima (Shakambhari)

    Full-moon day · Pausha

  • 4 JanSun

    Lambodara Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 11 JanSun

    Shattila Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Krishna (purnimanta) = Pausha Krishna (amanta)

  • 12 JanMon

    Lohri

    Bonfire festival of Punjab on the evening before Makar Sankranti.

  • 13 JanTue

    Makar Sankranti

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

  • 13 JanTue

    Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 13 JanTue

    Masik Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Magha (purnimanta) = Pausha (amanta)

  • 14 JanWed

    Thai Pongal

    The first day of the Tamil solar month Thai, after the Sun enters sidereal Makara.

  • 15 JanThu

    Mauni Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Magha Amavasya (purnimanta) = Pausha Amavasya (amanta)

  • 21 JanWed

    Vasant Panchami

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

  • 21 JanWed

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Magha

  • 23 JanFri

    Ratha Saptami

    Magha Shukla Saptami, kept for the Sun with a bath before dawn.

  • 27 JanTue

    Jaya Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Shukla

  • 28 JanWed

    Budha Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 31 JanSat

    Magha Purnima

    Full-moon day · Magha

February 2037

  • 2 FebMon

    Dwijapriya Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 10 FebTue

    Vijaya Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Krishna (purnimanta) = Magha Krishna (amanta)

  • 11 FebWed

    Budha Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 12 FebThu

    Maha Shivaratri

    Also: Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 14 FebSat

    Magha Amavasya (Shani)

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Phalguna Amavasya (purnimanta) = Magha Amavasya (amanta)

  • 20 FebFri

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Phalguna

  • 26 FebThu

    Amalaki Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Shukla

  • 27 FebFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

March 2037

  • 1 MarSun

    Holika Dahan

    Also: Phalguna Purnima

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

  • 2 MarMon

    Holi

    The festival of colours, on the day after Holika Dahan.

  • 4 MarWed

    Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 11 MarWed

    Papamochani Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Krishna (purnimanta) = Phalguna Krishna (amanta)

  • 13 MarFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 14 MarSat

    Masik Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Chaitra (purnimanta) = Phalguna (amanta)

  • 16 MarMon

    Phalguna Amavasya (Somvati)

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Chaitra Amavasya (purnimanta) = Phalguna Amavasya (amanta)

  • 17 MarTue

    Ugadi / Gudi Padwa

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

  • 17 MarTue

    Chaitra Navratri

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

  • 19 MarThu

    Gangaur

    Chaitra Shukla Tritiya, the close of the Gauri worship of Rajasthan.

  • 22 MarSun

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Chaitra

  • 25 MarWed

    Ram Navami

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

  • 27 MarFri

    Kamada Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla

  • 28 MarSat

    Shani Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 29 MarSun

    Mahavir Jayanti

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

  • 30 MarMon

    Hanuman Jayanti

    Also: Chaitra Purnima

    Birth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.

April 2037

  • 2 AprThu

    Vikata Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 10 AprFri

    Varuthini Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Krishna (purnimanta) = Chaitra Krishna (amanta)

  • 12 AprSun

    Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 13 AprMon

    Masik Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Vaishakha (purnimanta) = Chaitra (amanta)

  • 15 AprWed

    Chaitra Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Vaishakha Amavasya (purnimanta) = Chaitra Amavasya (amanta)

  • 18 AprSat

    Akshaya Tritiya

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

  • 20 AprMon

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Vaishakha

  • 25 AprSat

    Mohini Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Shukla

  • 26 AprSun

    Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 29 AprWed

    Buddha Purnima

    Also: Vaishakha Purnima

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

May 2037

June 2037

July 2037

  • 8 JulWed

    Yogini Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashadha Krishna (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha Krishna (amanta)

  • 10 JulFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 10 JulFri

    Masik Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashadha (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha (amanta)

  • 12 JulSun

    Jyeshtha Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Ashadha Amavasya (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha Amavasya (amanta)

  • 14 JulTue

    Rath Yatra

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

  • 17 JulFri

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashadha

  • 22 JulWed

    Devshayani Ekadashi

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

  • 24 JulFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 26 JulSun

    Guru Purnima

    Ashadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.

  • 27 JulMon

    Shravan Somvar

    The Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.

  • 30 JulThu

    Gajanana Sankashti Chaturthi

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

August 2037

  • 3 AugMon

    Shravan Somvar

    The Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.

  • 7 AugFri

    Kamika Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashadha Krishna (amanta)

  • 8 AugSat

    Shani Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 9 AugSun

    Masik Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Shravana (purnimanta) = Ashadha (amanta)

  • 10 AugMon

    Shravan Somvar

    The Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.

  • 10 AugMon

    Hariyali Amavasya (Somvati)

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Shravana Amavasya (purnimanta) = Ashadha Amavasya (amanta)

  • 15 AugSat

    Nag Panchami

    Shravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.

  • 15 AugSat

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Shravana

  • 17 AugMon

    Shravan Somvar

    The Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.

  • 20 AugThu

    Shravana Putrada Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Shukla

  • 22 AugSat

    Shani Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 23 AugSun

    Onam

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

  • 24 AugMon

    Shravan Somvar

    The Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.

  • 25 AugTue

    Raksha Bandhan

    Also: Shravana Purnima

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

  • 28 AugFri

    Heramba Sankashti Chaturthi

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

September 2037

October 2037

  • 5 OctMon

    Indira Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Krishna (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada Krishna (amanta)

  • 6 OctTue

    Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 7 OctWed

    Masik Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashwina (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada (amanta)

  • 8 OctThu

    Mahalaya / Sarvapitri Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Ashwina Amavasya (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada Amavasya (amanta)

  • 9 OctFri

    Sharad Navratri begins

    Nine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.

  • 13 OctTue

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashwina

  • 15 OctThu

    Durga Ashtami

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

  • 17 OctSat

    Maha Navami

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

  • 17 OctSat

    Vijayadashami

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

  • 19 OctMon

    Papankusha Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Shukla

  • 20 OctTue

    Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 23 OctFri

    Sharad Purnima

    Also: Ashwina Purnima

    The night of the Ashwina full moon (Kojagari), kept from moonrise.

  • 27 OctTue

    Karwa Chauth

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

  • 27 OctTue

    Angarki Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 31 OctSat

    Ahoi Ashtami

    Mothers' fast for their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami (purnimanta), ended at star-rise.

November 2037

  • 3 NovTue

    Rama Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Kartika Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashwina Krishna (amanta)

  • 4 NovWed

    Dhanteras

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

  • 4 NovWed

    Budha Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 5 NovThu

    Kali Chaudas

    The night of Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta), kept for Kali in Gujarat.

  • 5 NovThu

    Masik Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Kartika (purnimanta) = Ashwina (amanta)

  • 6 NovFri

    Naraka Chaturdashi

    Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta): the oil bath before dawn, while the waning Moon is up.

  • 6 NovFri

    Diwali

    Also: Ashwina Amavasya

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

  • 7 NovSat

    Govardhan Puja

    Kartika Shukla Pratipada, usually the day after Diwali; the mound of food.

  • 8 NovSun

    Bhai Dooj

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

  • 12 NovThu

    Chhath Puja

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

  • 12 NovThu

    Skanda Shashthi

    Kartika Shukla Shashthi in the Tamil reckoning, the day of Soorasamharam.

  • 17 NovTue

    Devutthana Ekadashi

    Also: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi

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

  • 18 NovWed

    Tulsi Vivah

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

  • 19 NovThu

    Guru Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 22 NovSun

    Kartika Purnima

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

  • 25 NovWed

    Ganadhipa Sankashti Chaturthi

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

December 2037

  • 2 DecWed

    Utpanna Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Krishna (purnimanta) = Kartika Krishna (amanta)

  • 4 DecFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 4 DecFri

    Masik Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Margashirsha (purnimanta) = Kartika (amanta)

  • 6 DecSun

    Kartika Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Margashirsha Amavasya (purnimanta) = Kartika Amavasya (amanta)

  • 11 DecFri

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Margashirsha

  • 17 DecThu

    Gita Jayanti

    Also: Mokshada Ekadashi

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

  • 19 DecSat

    Shani Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 21 DecMon

    Dattatreya Jayanti

    Also: Margashirsha Purnima (vrat and snana-dana), 22 Dec

    Birth of Dattatreya at dusk on Margashirsha Purnima.

  • 22 DecTue

    Margashirsha Purnima

    Full-moon day · Margashirsha

    Purnima is running at sunrise: the day for the Purnima vrat and for bathing and gifts (snana-dana). Dattatreya Jayanti (21 Dec) is the same full moon, kept at dusk.

  • 25 DecFri

    Akhuratha Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth 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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