Bengali Festival Calendar 1997
January 1997
11 festivals
Sun
5
Jan
Ekadashi observed with sesame seeds (tila) offering
Tue
7
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
8
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
12
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
14
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Sat
18
Jan
Ekadashi for blessing of sons and spiritual merit
Mon
20
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
23
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Mon
27
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
27
Jan
Chaturthi for removing obstacles, dedicated to Lord Ganesha
February 1997
14 festivals
Mon
3
Feb
Ekadashi for victory and success
Wed
5
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
5
Feb
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
7
Feb
Auspicious Amavasya for silent meditation and holy bath
Fri
7
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
10
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
11
Feb
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
Wed
12
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Thu
13
Feb
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Fri
14
Feb
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Mon
17
Feb
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
Wed
19
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
21
Feb
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
26
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
March 1997
12 festivals
Wed
5
Mar
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Fri
7
Mar
The great night of Lord Shiva
Sat
8
Mar
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
12
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
14
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Wed
19
Mar
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
Fri
21
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
23
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Sun
23
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
24
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Thu
27
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
31
Mar
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
April 1997
14 festivals
Thu
3
Apr
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
Sat
5
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
5
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
7
Apr
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
Thu
10
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
12
Apr
Birthday of River Yamuna
Sun
13
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Tue
15
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Tue
15
Apr
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Fri
18
Apr
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
Sun
20
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
22
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Tue
22
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
26
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
May 1997
16 festivals
Fri
2
May
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
Sun
4
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
4
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
6
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
9
May
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
Sat
10
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
13
May
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Wed
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Thu
15
May
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Sat
17
May
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
Mon
19
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
20
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Wed
21
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Wed
21
May
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
22
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Sun
25
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
June 1997
11 festivals
Sun
1
Jun
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Tue
3
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
4
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
4
Jun
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
Sun
8
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
14
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Sun
15
Jun
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Mon
16
Jun
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Wed
18
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
20
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
30
Jun
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
July 1997
13 festivals
Wed
2
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
2
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
4
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
6
Jul
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
Tue
8
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
16
Jul
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Wed
16
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Sat
19
Jul
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Sat
19
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
23
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
29
Jul
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Thu
31
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
31
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
August 1997
16 festivals
Fri
1
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
2
Aug
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
7
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
8
Aug
Day of serpent worship
Thu
14
Aug
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Fri
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Sat
16
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
16
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Mon
18
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Mon
18
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
18
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Thu
21
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
24
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
Thu
28
Aug
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
Sat
30
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
30
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
September 1997
17 festivals
Mon
1
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
5
Sep
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Fri
5
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
7
Sep
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Mon
8
Sep
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
Wed
10
Sep
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
Fri
12
Sep
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
Sun
14
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
15
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Tue
16
Sep
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
16
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Wed
17
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Fri
19
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
26
Sep
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
Sun
28
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
29
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
29
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
October 1997
22 festivals
Wed
1
Oct
Main day for ancestor worship — last day of Pitrupaksha
Wed
1
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
2
Oct
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
Thu
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Sun
5
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
9
Oct
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
Fri
10
Oct
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Sat
11
Oct
Victory of Rama over Ravana, end of Navratri
Sun
12
Oct
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
Wed
15
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Wed
15
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
17
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Sun
19
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
26
Oct
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
Mon
27
Oct
Worship of cow and calf
Tue
28
Oct
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Tue
28
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
29
Oct
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Wed
29
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
30
Oct
Festival of lights celebrating victory of good over evil
Thu
30
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
31
Oct
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
November 1997
14 festivals
Sun
2
Nov
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Tue
4
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
9
Nov
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
Mon
10
Nov
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
Tue
11
Nov
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Wed
12
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
14
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
16
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Mon
17
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
21
Nov
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Tue
25
Nov
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
Thu
27
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
27
Nov
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
29
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
December 1997
12 festivals
Wed
3
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
4
Dec
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
Tue
9
Dec
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Tue
9
Dec
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
Thu
11
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
13
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Sat
13
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
15
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Wed
17
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
27
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
27
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
29
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
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