Hindu Festival Calendar 1986
January 1986
12 festivals
Mon
6
Jan
Ekadashi observed with sesame seeds (tila) offering
Wed
8
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
8
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
13
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
14
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Tue
14
Jan
Tamil harvest festival coinciding with Makar Sankranti
Tue
21
Jan
Ekadashi for blessing of sons and spiritual merit
Thu
23
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
25
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Wed
29
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
29
Jan
Chaturthi for removing obstacles, dedicated to Lord Ganesha
February 1986
14 festivals
Tue
4
Feb
Ekadashi for victory and success
Thu
6
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
6
Feb
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
8
Feb
Auspicious Amavasya for silent meditation and holy bath
Sat
8
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
12
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
12
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Thu
13
Feb
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
Sat
15
Feb
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Sun
16
Feb
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Thu
20
Feb
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
Sat
22
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
24
Feb
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
27
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
March 1986
13 festivals
Thu
6
Mar
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Sat
8
Mar
The great night of Lord Shiva
Sat
8
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
8
Mar
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
10
Mar
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
14
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
14
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Fri
21
Mar
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
Sun
23
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
25
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Tue
25
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
26
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Sat
29
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
April 1986
19 festivals
Tue
1
Apr
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
Fri
4
Apr
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
Sun
6
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
6
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
8
Apr
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
9
Apr
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
Wed
9
Apr
Telugu and Kannada New Year
Wed
9
Apr
Marathi New Year
Sat
12
Apr
Rajasthani festival celebrating Gauri (Parvati) and Shiva
Sun
13
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Sun
13
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
15
Apr
Birthday of River Yamuna
Fri
18
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Fri
18
Apr
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Sun
20
Apr
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
Tue
22
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
24
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Thu
24
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
27
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
May 1986
17 festivals
Sun
4
May
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
Tue
6
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
6
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
8
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
11
May
Extremely auspicious day for new beginnings and charity
Sun
11
May
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
Mon
12
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Fri
16
May
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Sun
18
May
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Mon
19
May
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
Wed
21
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Wed
21
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
23
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Fri
23
May
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
24
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Mon
26
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
June 1986
14 festivals
Mon
2
Jun
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Wed
4
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
5
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
7
Jun
Married women fast for husband's longevity (North Indian tradition)
Sat
7
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
7
Jun
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
Wed
11
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
15
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Tue
17
Jun
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Wed
18
Jun
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Fri
20
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
21
Jun
Married women fast for husband's longevity (South/West Indian tradition)
Sat
21
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
25
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
July 1986
12 festivals
Wed
2
Jul
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
Fri
4
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
4
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
6
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
8
Jul
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
Thu
10
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
16
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Thu
17
Jul
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Sat
19
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
21
Jul
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Mon
21
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
24
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
August 1986
18 festivals
Fri
1
Aug
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Sun
3
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
3
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
5
Aug
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
8
Aug
Monsoon festival for married women celebrating Parvati and Shiva's union
Sat
9
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
10
Aug
Day of serpent worship
Fri
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Fri
15
Aug
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Sat
16
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Sun
17
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
19
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Tue
19
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
19
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Fri
22
Aug
Women's festival with singing of Kajari songs
Sat
23
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
26
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
Sat
30
Aug
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
September 1986
17 festivals
Mon
1
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
2
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
3
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
6
Sep
Women's fasting day with strict nirjala fast for husband's well-being
Sun
7
Sep
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Sun
7
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
8
Sep
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Tue
9
Sep
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
Thu
11
Sep
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
Sun
14
Sep
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
Mon
15
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
16
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Tue
16
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Wed
17
Sep
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
18
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Sun
21
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
29
Sep
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
October 1986
22 festivals
Wed
1
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
1
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Fri
3
Oct
Main day for ancestor worship — last day of Pitrupaksha
Fri
3
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
4
Oct
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
Fri
10
Oct
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
Sat
11
Oct
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Sun
12
Oct
Victory of Rama over Ravana, end of Navratri
Mon
13
Oct
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
Wed
15
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
17
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Fri
17
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
17
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Tue
21
Oct
Fasting by married women for husband's longevity
Tue
21
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
25
Oct
Mothers fast for the well-being of their children
Wed
29
Oct
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
Thu
30
Oct
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Thu
30
Oct
Worship of cow and calf
Fri
31
Oct
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Fri
31
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
November 1986
17 festivals
Sat
1
Nov
Festival of lights celebrating victory of good over evil
Sat
1
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
2
Nov
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
Mon
3
Nov
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Wed
5
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
6
Nov
Major festival of Bihar/UP dedicated to the Sun God
Mon
10
Nov
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
Tue
11
Nov
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
Wed
12
Nov
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Thu
13
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
15
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
16
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Thu
20
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
24
Nov
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Thu
27
Nov
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
Sat
29
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
29
Nov
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
December 1986
12 festivals
Mon
1
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
4
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
5
Dec
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
Thu
11
Dec
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Thu
11
Dec
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
Sat
13
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
15
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Mon
15
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
16
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Sat
20
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
29
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
30
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
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