Bengali Festival Calendar 1981
January 1981
13 festivals
Thu
1
Jan
Ekadashi observed with sesame seeds (tila) offering
Sat
3
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
4
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
5
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
9
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
13
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Fri
16
Jan
Ekadashi for blessing of sons and spiritual merit
Sat
17
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
19
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
23
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
23
Jan
Chaturthi for removing obstacles, dedicated to Lord Ganesha
Mon
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Sat
31
Jan
Ekadashi for victory and success
February 1981
13 festivals
Mon
2
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
2
Feb
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
4
Feb
Auspicious Amavasya for silent meditation and holy bath
Wed
4
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
8
Feb
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
Sun
8
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
10
Feb
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Wed
11
Feb
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Thu
12
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Sat
14
Feb
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
Mon
16
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
18
Feb
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
22
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
March 1981
14 festivals
Mon
2
Mar
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Wed
4
Mar
The great night of Lord Shiva
Wed
4
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
4
Mar
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
9
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
14
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Sun
15
Mar
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
Wed
18
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
19
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Fri
20
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Fri
20
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
24
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
28
Mar
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
Tue
31
Mar
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
April 1981
15 festivals
Thu
2
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
2
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
4
Apr
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
5
Apr
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
Tue
7
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
9
Apr
Birthday of River Yamuna
Sun
12
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Sun
12
Apr
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Mon
13
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Tue
14
Apr
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
Thu
16
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
18
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Sat
18
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
23
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Thu
30
Apr
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
May 1981
18 festivals
Sat
2
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
2
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
3
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
6
May
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
Thu
7
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
10
May
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Tue
12
May
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Thu
14
May
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
Thu
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Sat
16
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Sat
16
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
18
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Mon
18
May
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
19
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Fri
22
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
29
May
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Sun
31
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
31
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
June 1981
13 festivals
Tue
2
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
2
Jun
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
Fri
5
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
11
Jun
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Fri
12
Jun
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Sun
14
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
14
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Mon
15
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
17
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
21
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
27
Jun
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
Mon
29
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
29
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
July 1981
13 festivals
Wed
1
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
3
Jul
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
Sun
5
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
12
Jul
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Tue
14
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
16
Jul
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Thu
16
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
16
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Mon
20
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
27
Jul
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Tue
28
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
29
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
30
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
August 1981
14 festivals
Mon
3
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
4
Aug
Day of serpent worship
Tue
11
Aug
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Thu
13
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Sat
15
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Sat
15
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
15
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Sun
16
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Fri
21
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
Tue
25
Aug
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
Thu
27
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
27
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
29
Aug
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
September 1981
18 festivals
Tue
1
Sep
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Wed
2
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
3
Sep
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Fri
4
Sep
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
Sun
6
Sep
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
Wed
9
Sep
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
Fri
11
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
12
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Sun
13
Sep
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
14
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Wed
16
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Thu
17
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
23
Sep
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
Fri
25
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
25
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
27
Sep
Main day for ancestor worship — last day of Pitrupaksha
Sun
27
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
28
Sep
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
October 1981
22 festivals
Thu
1
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Tue
6
Oct
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
Wed
7
Oct
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Thu
8
Oct
Victory of Rama over Ravana, end of Navratri
Fri
9
Oct
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
Sun
11
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
13
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Tue
13
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
16
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
17
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Fri
23
Oct
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
Sat
24
Oct
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Sat
24
Oct
Worship of cow and calf
Sun
25
Oct
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Sun
25
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
25
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
26
Oct
Festival of lights celebrating victory of good over evil
Tue
27
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
28
Oct
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
Thu
29
Oct
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Sat
31
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
November 1981
14 festivals
Sat
7
Nov
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
Sat
7
Nov
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
Sun
8
Nov
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Mon
9
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
11
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
14
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
16
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Tue
17
Nov
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Sat
21
Nov
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
Mon
23
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
24
Nov
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
25
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
26
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
30
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
December 1981
13 festivals
Tue
1
Dec
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
Mon
7
Dec
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Mon
7
Dec
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
Wed
9
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
10
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Thu
10
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
14
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
15
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Wed
23
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
23
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
24
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
25
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
30
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
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