Hindu Festival Calendar 1976
January 1976
16 festivals
Thu
1
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
5
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
12
Jan
Ekadashi for blessing of sons and spiritual merit
Wed
14
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Wed
14
Jan
Tamil harvest festival coinciding with Makar Sankranti
Wed
14
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
16
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
20
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
20
Jan
Chaturthi for removing obstacles, dedicated to Lord Ganesha
Mon
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Mon
26
Jan
Ekadashi for victory and success
Wed
28
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
28
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
29
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
30
Jan
Auspicious Amavasya for silent meditation and holy bath
Fri
30
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
February 1976
15 festivals
Tue
3
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
4
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
5
Feb
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
Sat
7
Feb
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Sun
8
Feb
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Wed
11
Feb
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
Fri
13
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
13
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Sun
15
Feb
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
18
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
25
Feb
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Fri
27
Feb
The great night of Lord Shiva
Fri
27
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
27
Feb
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
29
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
March 1976
16 festivals
Thu
4
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
12
Mar
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
Sun
14
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Mon
15
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Mon
15
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
16
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Fri
19
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
22
Mar
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
Thu
25
Mar
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
Sat
27
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
28
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
28
Mar
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
30
Mar
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
31
Mar
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
Wed
31
Mar
Telugu and Kannada New Year
Wed
31
Mar
Marathi New Year
April 1976
16 festivals
Fri
2
Apr
Rajasthani festival celebrating Gauri (Parvati) and Shiva
Sat
3
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
5
Apr
Birthday of River Yamuna
Thu
8
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Thu
8
Apr
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Sat
10
Apr
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
Mon
12
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
13
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Wed
14
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Wed
14
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
17
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
24
Apr
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
Mon
26
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
26
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
27
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
28
Apr
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
May 1976
18 festivals
Sat
1
May
Extremely auspicious day for new beginnings and charity
Sun
2
May
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
Mon
3
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
6
May
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Sat
8
May
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Sun
9
May
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
Tue
11
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Tue
11
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
13
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Thu
13
May
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
14
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Fri
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Mon
24
May
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Wed
26
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
26
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
28
May
Married women fast for husband's longevity (North Indian tradition)
Fri
28
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
28
May
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
June 1976
12 festivals
Tue
1
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
7
Jun
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Tue
8
Jun
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Fri
11
Jun
Married women fast for husband's longevity (South/West Indian tradition)
Fri
11
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
14
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Tue
15
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
22
Jun
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
Fri
25
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
25
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
27
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
29
Jun
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
July 1976
14 festivals
Thu
1
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
7
Jul
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Fri
9
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
11
Jul
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Sun
11
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
15
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Thu
15
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Thu
22
Jul
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Sat
24
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
24
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
26
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
29
Jul
Monsoon festival for married women celebrating Parvati and Shiva's union
Fri
30
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
31
Jul
Day of serpent worship
August 1976
19 festivals
Thu
5
Aug
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Sat
7
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
9
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Mon
9
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
9
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Thu
12
Aug
Women's festival with singing of Kajari songs
Fri
13
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Mon
16
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Tue
17
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
Sat
21
Aug
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
Mon
23
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
23
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
25
Aug
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
27
Aug
Women's fasting day with strict nirjala fast for husband's well-being
Sat
28
Aug
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Sat
28
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
29
Aug
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Mon
30
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
September 1976
16 festivals
Wed
1
Sep
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
Sat
4
Sep
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
Mon
6
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
7
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Wed
8
Sep
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
9
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Sun
12
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Thu
16
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Sun
19
Sep
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
Tue
21
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
21
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
23
Sep
Main day for ancestor worship — last day of Pitrupaksha
Thu
23
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
24
Sep
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
Sun
26
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
30
Sep
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
October 1976
24 festivals
Fri
1
Oct
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Sat
2
Oct
Victory of Rama over Ravana, end of Navratri
Sat
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Sun
3
Oct
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
Tue
5
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
7
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Thu
7
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
12
Oct
Fasting by married women for husband's longevity
Tue
12
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
16
Oct
Mothers fast for the well-being of their children
Sat
16
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Tue
19
Oct
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
Wed
20
Oct
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Wed
20
Oct
Worship of cow and calf
Thu
21
Oct
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Thu
21
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
21
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
22
Oct
Festival of lights celebrating victory of good over evil
Fri
22
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
23
Oct
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
Sun
24
Oct
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Tue
26
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
27
Oct
Major festival of Bihar/UP dedicated to the Sun God
Sun
31
Oct
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
November 1976
13 festivals
Tue
2
Nov
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
Wed
3
Nov
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Thu
4
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
6
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
10
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
14
Nov
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Mon
15
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Wed
17
Nov
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
Fri
19
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
19
Nov
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
21
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
24
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
25
Nov
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
December 1976
12 festivals
Wed
1
Dec
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Wed
1
Dec
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
Fri
3
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
4
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
6
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Mon
6
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
10
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
15
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Fri
17
Dec
Ekadashi observed with sesame seeds (tila) offering
Sat
18
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
20
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
24
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
View festivals for a different year or location:
New Search