As we step into 2024, it’s exciting to explore the richness of the Hindu calendar, known for its colorful and spiritually significant holidays and festivals. This year promises a kaleidoscope of cultural experiences, each with its unique history and traditions.
Understanding the Hindu Calendar
The Hindu calendar is a lunisolar system, often aligning with the phases of the moon and the position of the sun. It’s different from the Gregorian calendar, which is solar-based. This means Hindu festival dates vary each year when converted to the Gregorian calendar.
January – Pausha / Magha
Pausha (ends in mid-January): A time for spiritual reflection. Festivals like Lohri and Makar Sankranti are celebrated.
Magha (starts from mid-January): Known for its emphasis on purity and religious observances, with Vasant Panchami being a notable festival.
Date
Festival
Jan 01, Monday
New Year’s Day
Jan 12, Friday
Birthday of Swami Vivekananda
Jan 14, Sunday
Makar Sankranti
Jan 15, Monday
Pongal
Jan 16, Tuesday
Vassi Uttarayan
Jan 17, Wednesday
Guru Govindsingh’s Birthday
Jan 24, Wednesday
Hazarat Ali’s Birthday
Jan 26, Friday
Republic Day
February – Magha / Phalguna
Magha (continues until mid-February): Celebrations like Vasant Panchami continue in this period.
Phalguna (begins mid-February): Marks the approach of spring. The festival of Holi, celebrating the triumph of good over evil, is the highlight.
Date
Festival
Feb 14, Wednesday
Basant Panchami
Feb 19, Monday
Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti
Feb 24, Saturday
Guru Ravidas Jayanti, Shab-e-Barat
March – Phalguna / Chaitra
Phalguna (ends in mid-March): Concludes with the colorful and joyous celebration of Holi.
Chaitra (starts from mid-March): Marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year in many regions with festivals like Ugadi and Gudi Padwa.
Date
Festival
Mar 05, Tuesday
Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti
Mar 08, Friday
Maha Shivaratri
Mar 22, Friday
Bihar Diwas
Mar 24, Sunday
Holika Dahan
Mar 25, Monday
Holi
Mar 29, Friday
Good Friday
Mar 31, Sunday
Easter
April – Chaitra / Vaishakha
Chaitra (continues until mid-April): Navratri and Ram Navami are significant festivals this month.
Vaishakha (begins mid-April): A month for religious deeds and charity. Akshaya Tritiya, a day of prosperity and good luck, is celebrated.
Date
Festival
Apr 01, Monday
Annual Closing of Accounts
Apr 05, Friday
Jamat-Ul-Vida, Shab-E-Qadr
Apr 09, Tuesday
Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Gudi Padwa
Apr 11, Thursday
Eid-Ul-Fitr
Apr 14, Sunday
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti, Tamil New Year
Apr 15, Monday
Bengali New Year’s Day
Apr 17, Wednesday
Ram Navmi
Apr 21, Sunday
Mahavir Jayanti
Apr 22, Monday
Hatkeshvar Jayanti
Apr 23, Tuesday
Hanuman Jayanti
May – Vaishakha / Jyeshtha
Vaishakha (continues until mid-May): Religious activities are emphasized.
Jyeshtha (starts from mid-May): Known for its hot climate and is a time for pilgrimages and spiritual rituals.
Date
Festival
May 01, Wednesday
May Day
May 07, Tuesday
Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti
May 10, Friday
Parashuram Jayanti, Akshaya Tritiya
May 12, Sunday
Shree Shankaracharya Jayanti
May 23, Thursday
Budha Purnima
June – Jyeshtha / Ashadha
Jyeshtha (continues until mid-June): Includes the celebration of Ganga Dussehra.
Ashadha (begins mid-June): A month marked by the onset of the monsoon and is significant for Guru Purnima.
Date
Festival
Jun 06, Thursday
Vat Savitri Vrat
Jun 17, Monday
Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)
Jun 22, Saturday
Kabir Jayanti
July – Ashadha / Shravana
Ashadha (continues until mid-July): Celebrations like Guru Purnima take place.
Shravana (starts from mid-July): A holy month filled with various religious festivities, including Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami.
Date
Festival
Jul 07, Sunday
Ratha Yathra
Jul 17, Wednesday
Muharram
Jul 21, Sunday
Guru Purnima
August – Shravana / Bhadrapada
Shravana (continues until mid-August): Celebrations continue with festivals like Raksha Bandhan.
Bhadrapada (begins mid-August): Known for Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrating Lord Ganesha’s birth.
Date
Festival
Aug 07, Wednesday
Hariyali Teej
Aug 15, Thursday
Parsi New Year Day, Independence Day
Aug 19, Monday
Raksha Bandhan
Aug 26, Monday
Krishna Janmashtami
Aug 27, Tuesday
Nand Utsav
September – Bhadrapada / Ashwin
Bhadrapada (continues until mid-September): Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations take place.
Ashwin (starts from mid-September): Marks the beginning of the auspicious period of Navratri, leading up to Dussehra.
Date
Festival
Sep 06, Friday
Hartalika Teej
Sep 07, Saturday
Ganesh Chaturthi
Sep 08, Sunday
Rishi Panchami
Sep 15, Sunday
Onam
Sep 16, Monday
Vishwakarma Jayanti, Milad-Un-Nabi
Sep 17, Tuesday
Anant Chaturdashi
Sep 21, Saturday
Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi
October – Ashwin / Kartik
Ashwin (continues until mid-October): Navratri and Dussehra are the main highlights.
Kartik (begins mid-October): Considered the holiest month, it includes Diwali, the festival of lights.
Date
Festival
Oct 02, Wednesday
Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi, Mahalaya
Oct 03, Thursday
Durga Puja Ghatasthapan
Oct 10, Thursday
Maha Saptami
Oct 11, Friday
Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami
Oct 12, Saturday
Dussehra
Oct 16, Wednesday
Lakshmi Puja
Oct 17, Thursday
Sharad Purnima, Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti
Oct 20, Sunday
Karva Chauth
Oct 29, Tuesday
Dhanteras
Oct 31, Thursday
Kali Puja, Diwali, Naraka Chaturdashi
November – Kartik / Margashirsha
Kartik (continues until mid-November): Celebrations like Diwali and Kartik Purnima occur.
Margashirsha (starts from mid-November): A quieter month, focusing on spiritual practices and austerities.
Date
Festival
Nov 02, Saturday
Gujarati New Year
Nov 03, Sunday
Bhai Dooj
Nov 07, Thursday
Chhath Puja
Nov 10, Sunday
Akshaya Navami
Nov 15, Friday
Dev Diwali, Guru Nanak’s Birthday, Kartika Purnima
December – Margashirsha / Pausha
Margashirsha (continues until mid-December): A period for religious activities.
Pausha (begins mid-December): Marked by cold weather, it’s a time for inner reflection, leading to the celebration of festivals like Lohri and Pongal in the following month.
