Hindu · 2018 · New Delhi
Hindu Festival & Vrat Calendar 2018
Every major festival, and each Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya, Pradosh, Chaturthi, Shivaratri and Sankranti of the year — worked out day by day from the Panchang for New Delhi.
Tap any festival or vrat to read why it is celebrated, the story behind it and how to celebrate. You can also listen to the stories.
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January 2018
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13SatLohriलोहड़ीPunjab’s winter bonfire festival on the eve of Makar Sankranti. Story →
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14SunMakar Sankranti · Pongal · Uttarayanमकर संक्रांति · पोंगल · उत्तरायणThe Sun enters Capricorn and begins its northward journey: Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Uttarayan, Bihu. Story →
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22MonVasant Panchamiवसंत पंचमीThe arrival of spring and the worship of Saraswati, goddess of learning. Story →
February 2018
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13TueMaha Shivaratriमहाशिवरात्रिThe great night of Shiva: fasting, night-long worship and abhishek. Story →
March 2018
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1ThuHolika Dahanहोलिका दहनThe bonfire on the eve of Holi: Prahlad is saved and Holika burns. Story →
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2FriHoliहोलीThe festival of colours: spring, friendship and the love of Radha and Krishna. Story →
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18SunChaitra Navratri begins · Gudi Padwa · Ugadiचैत्र नवरात्रि आरंभ · गुड़ी पड़वा · उगादिThe Hindu New Year: Navratri of spring begins, with Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in the South. Story →
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25SunRam Navamiराम नवमीThe birthday of Lord Rama, born at midday in Ayodhya. Story →
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31SatHanuman Jayantiहनुमान जयंतीThe birthday of Hanuman, Lord Rama’s devoted helper and the god of strength. Story →
April 2018
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14SatMesha Sankranti · Baisakhiमेष संक्रांति · बैसाखीMesha Sankranti: the solar New Year — Baisakhi, Bohag Bihu, Pana Sankranti, Puthandu, Vishu. Story →
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18WedAkshaya Tritiyaअक्षय तृतीयाThe “never-ending” day: what is begun or given today is believed to grow without end. Story →
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30MonBuddha Purnimaबुद्ध पूर्णिमाThe birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha — all on Vaishakha Purnima. Story →
July 2018
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14SatJagannath Rath Yatraजगन्नाथ रथ यात्राLord Jagannath rides out of his temple in Puri on a giant chariot to meet his devotees. Story →
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27FriGuru Purnimaगुरु पूर्णिमाA day to thank one’s gurus and teachers; also Vyasa Purnima. Story →
August 2018
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13MonHariyali Teejहरियाली तीजThe green festival of the monsoon, celebrating the reunion of Shiva and Parvati. Story →
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15WedNag Panchamiनाग पंचमीSerpents are worshipped and thanked; no digging or ploughing today. Story →
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26SunRaksha Bandhanरक्षा बंधनSisters tie a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists; brothers promise to protect them. Story →
September 2018
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2SunKrishna Janmashtamiकृष्ण जन्माष्टमीThe birth of Lord Krishna at midnight in Mathura. Story →
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12WedHartalika Teejहरतालिका तीजA strict fast by women, remembering Parvati’s penance to win Shiva. Story →
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13ThuGanesh Chaturthiगणेश चतुर्थीThe birthday of Lord Ganesha; ten days of worship begin. Story →
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23SunAnant Chaturdashiअनंत चतुर्दशीWorship of Vishnu as Anant, and the farewell (visarjan) of Ganesha. Story →
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26WedPitru Paksha beginsपितृ पक्ष आरंभFifteen days to remember and feed one’s ancestors (shraddha). Story →
October 2018
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9TueMahalaya Amavasya (Sarva Pitru)महालया अमावस्या (सर्व पितृ)The last and most important day of Pitru Paksha, for all ancestors. Story →
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10WedSharad Navratri beginsशारदीय नवरात्रि आरंभNine nights of the Goddess: Durga is worshipped in her nine forms. Story →
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17WedMaha Navamiमहा नवमीThe ninth day of Navratri: Siddhidatri puja, Ayudha Puja and the Navratri havan. Story →
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17WedDurga Ashtamiदुर्गा अष्टमीThe eighth day of Navratri: Mahagauri puja and Kanya Pujan. Story →
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19FriDussehra (Vijayadashami)दशहरा (विजयादशमी)Vijayadashami: the victory of Rama over Ravana and of Durga over Mahishasura. Story →
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24WedSharad Purnimaशरद पूर्णिमाThe brightest full moon of the year; kheer is left in the moonlight overnight. Story →
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27SatKarwa Chauthकरवा चौथMarried women fast from sunrise to moonrise for their husbands’ long life. Story →
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31WedAhoi Ashtamiअहोई अष्टमीMothers fast for the well-being of their children until the stars appear. Story →
November 2018
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5MonDhanterasधनतेरसThe first day of Diwali: Dhanvantari and Lakshmi are worshipped, and new utensils or gold are bought. Story →
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6TueNarak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali)नरक चतुर्दशी (छोटी दिवाली)Chhoti Diwali: Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura. Story →
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7WedDiwali (Lakshmi Puja)दीपावली (लक्ष्मी पूजा)The festival of lights: Lakshmi puja on the new moon of Kartik, and Rama’s return to Ayodhya. Story →
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8ThuGovardhan Pujaगोवर्धन पूजाKrishna lifted Govardhan hill to shelter Braj; the Annakut feast is offered. Story →
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9FriBhai Doojभाई दूजSisters pray for their brothers’ long life; brothers visit and bring gifts. Story →
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13TueChhath Pujaछठ पूजाFour days of worship of the Sun god and Chhathi Maiya, with offerings at sunset and sunrise. Story →
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19MonDevuthani Ekadashiदेवउठनी एकादशीVishnu wakes from his four-month sleep; weddings can begin again. Tulsi Vivah follows. Story →
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23FriKartik Purnima · Dev Deepawaliकार्तिक पूर्णिमा · देव दीपावलीDev Deepawali: the gods’ own Diwali on the ghats of Varanasi; also Guru Nanak’s birthday. Story →
December 2018
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12WedVivah Panchamiविवाह पंचमीThe wedding anniversary of Rama and Sita. Story →
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19WedGita Jayantiगीता जयंतीThe day Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra. Story →
How the dates are worked out
The calendar is computed, not copied from a list: for every day of the year we find the tithi at sunrise, midday, afternoon, evening (pradosh), moonrise and midnight for your city, on the same ephemeris as our Kundali.
A festival falls on the day its tithi prevails at sunrise (udaya tithi), except where tradition looks at another time: Diwali, Dhanteras, Pradosh and Holika Dahan in the evening; Janmashtami and Shivaratri at midnight; Karwa Chauth and Sankashti at moonrise; Ram Navami and Ganesh Chaturthi at midday; Dussehra and Maha Navami in the afternoon. Holika Dahan moves to the next evening when Bhadra covers the Purnima evening.
Months are amanta (new moon to new moon); a month with no Sankranti is Adhik. North India names the dark half by the next month (purnimanta) — the festival dates are the same. Vaishnava Ekadashi and local custom can differ by a day; for a vow or a ceremony, confirm with your family priest.