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Panchang · Festivals and vrats

Festivals and vrats in 2025

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 Vancouver · change city

Times in Vancouver (America/Vancouver, PST/PDT).

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 2025

February 2025

  • 2 FebSun

    Vasant Panchami

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

  • 3 FebMon

    Skanda Shashthi

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

  • 4 FebTue

    Ratha Saptami

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

  • 8 FebSat

    Jaya Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Shukla

  • 9 FebSun

    Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 11 FebTue

    Magha Purnima

    Full-moon day · Magha

  • 15 FebSat

    Dwijapriya Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 23 FebSun

    Vijaya Ekadashi

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

  • 25 FebTue

    Maha Shivaratri

    Also: Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 25 FebTue

    Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 27 FebThu

    Magha Amavasya

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

March 2025

  • 4 MarTue

    Skanda Shashthi

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

  • 9 MarSun

    Amalaki Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Shukla

  • 11 MarTue

    Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 13 MarThu

    Holika Dahan

    Also: Phalguna Purnima

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

  • 14 MarFri

    Holi

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

  • 17 MarMon

    Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 25 MarTue

    Papamochani Ekadashi

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

  • 26 MarWed

    Budha Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 27 MarThu

    Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 28 MarFri

    Phalguna Amavasya

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

  • 29 MarSat

    Ugadi / Gudi Padwa

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

  • 29 MarSat

    Chaitra Navratri

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

  • 31 MarMon

    Gangaur

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

April 2025

  • 2 AprWed

    Skanda Shashthi

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

  • 5 AprSat

    Ram Navami

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

  • 8 AprTue

    Kamada Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla

  • 9 AprWed

    Budha Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 10 AprThu

    Mahavir Jayanti

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

  • 12 AprSat

    Hanuman Jayanti

    Also: Chaitra Purnima

    Birth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.

  • 16 AprWed

    Vikata Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 23 AprWed

    Varuthini Ekadashi

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

  • 24 AprThu

    Guru Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 25 AprFri

    Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 27 AprSun

    Chaitra Amavasya

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

  • 29 AprTue

    Akshaya Tritiya

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

May 2025

  • 2 MayFri

    Skanda Shashthi

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

  • 7 MayWed

    Mohini Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Shukla

  • 9 MayFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 12 MayMon

    Buddha Purnima

    Also: Vaishakha Purnima

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

  • 15 MayThu

    Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 23 MayFri

    Apara Ekadashi

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

  • 24 MaySat

    Shani Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 25 MaySun

    Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 26 MayMon

    Vat Savitri

    Also: Vaishakha Amavasya

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

  • 31 MaySat

    Skanda Shashthi

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

June 2025

  • 5 JunThu

    Ganga Dussehra

    Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami, the descent of the Ganga.

  • 6 JunFri

    Nirjala Ekadashi

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

  • 7 JunSat

    Shani Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 10 JunTue

    Vat Purnima

    Full-moon day · Jyeshtha

  • 14 JunSat

    Krishnapingala Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 21 JunSat

    Yogini Ekadashi

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

  • 22 JunSun

    Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 23 JunMon

    Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 24 JunTue

    Jyeshtha Amavasya (Bhaumvati)

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

  • 26 JunThu

    Rath Yatra

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

  • 29 JunSun

    Skanda Shashthi

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

July 2025

  • 6 JulSun

    Devshayani Ekadashi

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

  • 7 JulMon

    Soma Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 10 JulThu

    Guru Purnima

    Ashadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.

  • 13 JulSun

    Gajanana Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 14 JulMon

    Shravan Somvar

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

  • 20 JulSun

    Kamika Ekadashi

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

  • 21 JulMon

    Shravan Somvar

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

  • 21 JulMon

    Soma Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 22 JulTue

    Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 24 JulThu

    Hariyali Amavasya

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

  • 28 JulMon

    Shravan Somvar

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

  • 29 JulTue

    Nag Panchami

    Shravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.

  • 29 JulTue

    Skanda Shashthi

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

August 2025

  • 4 AugMon

    Shravan Somvar

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

  • 4 AugMon

    Shravana Putrada Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Shukla

  • 6 AugWed

    Budha Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 8 AugFri

    Raksha Bandhan

    Also: Shravana Purnima

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

  • 11 AugMon

    Heramba Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 15 AugFri

    Krishna Janmashtami

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

  • 18 AugMon

    Aja Ekadashi

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

  • 20 AugWed

    Budha Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 20 AugWed

    Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 22 AugFri

    Shravana Amavasya

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

  • 25 AugMon

    Hartalika Teej

    Women's fast for Parvati on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya.

  • 26 AugTue

    Ganesh Chaturthi

    Installation of Ganesha at midday on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

  • 28 AugThu

    Skanda Shashthi

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

September 2025

October 2025

  • 1 OctWed

    Vijayadashami

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

  • 2 OctThu

    Papankusha Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Shukla

  • 4 OctSat

    Shani Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 6 OctMon

    Sharad Purnima

    Also: Ashwina Purnima

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

  • 9 OctThu

    Karwa Chauth

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

  • 9 OctThu

    Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 13 OctMon

    Ahoi Ashtami

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

  • 16 OctThu

    Rama Ekadashi

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

  • 18 OctSat

    Dhanteras

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

  • 18 OctSat

    Shani Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 19 OctSun

    Naraka Chaturdashi

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

  • 19 OctSun

    Kali Chaudas

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

  • 19 OctSun

    Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 20 OctMon

    Diwali

    Also: Ashwina Amavasya

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

  • 21 OctTue

    Govardhan Puja

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

  • 22 OctWed

    Bhai Dooj

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

  • 26 OctSun

    Chhath Puja

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

  • 26 OctSun

    Skanda Shashthi

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

November 2025

  • 1 NovSat

    Devutthana Ekadashi

    Also: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi

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

  • 1 NovSat

    Tulsi Vivah

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

  • 2 NovSun

    Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 4 NovTue

    Kartika Purnima

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

  • 7 NovFri

    Ganadhipa Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 15 NovSat

    Utpanna Ekadashi

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

  • 16 NovSun

    Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 17 NovMon

    Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 19 NovWed

    Kartika Amavasya

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

  • 25 NovTue

    Skanda Shashthi

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

  • 30 NovSun

    Gita Jayanti

    Also: Mokshada Ekadashi, 1 Dec

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

December 2025

  • 2 DecTue

    Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 3 DecWed

    Dattatreya Jayanti

    Also: Margashirsha Purnima (vrat and snana-dana), 4 Dec

    Birth of Dattatreya at dusk on Margashirsha Purnima.

  • 4 DecThu

    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 (3 Dec) is the same full moon, kept at dusk.

  • 7 DecSun

    Akhuratha Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 14 DecSun

    Saphala Ekadashi

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

  • 16 DecTue

    Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 17 DecWed

    Masik Shivaratri

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

  • 19 DecFri

    Margashirsha Amavasya

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

  • 25 DecThu

    Skanda Shashthi

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

  • 30 DecTue

    Pausha Putrada Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Pausha Shukla

  • 31 DecWed

    Budha Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

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

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