Hindu Festival Calendar 2002
January 2002
13 festivals
Wed
2
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
8
Jan
Ekadashi observed with sesame seeds (tila) offering
Thu
10
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
11
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
12
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
13
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
14
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Mon
14
Jan
Tamil harvest festival coinciding with Makar Sankranti
Thu
17
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Sat
26
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
28
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
31
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
February 2002
10 festivals
Sat
9
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
9
Feb
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
11
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
12
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Sat
16
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
17
Feb
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
Tue
19
Feb
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Wed
20
Feb
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Sat
23
Feb
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
Mon
25
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
March 2002
14 festivals
Sat
2
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
9
Mar
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Mon
11
Mar
The great night of Lord Shiva
Mon
11
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
11
Mar
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
13
Mar
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
14
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Sun
17
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
24
Mar
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
Tue
26
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
27
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Thu
28
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Thu
28
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
31
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
April 2002
18 festivals
Thu
4
Apr
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
Sun
7
Apr
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
Wed
10
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
10
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
12
Apr
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
13
Apr
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
Sat
13
Apr
Telugu and Kannada New Year
Sat
13
Apr
Marathi New Year
Sun
14
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Mon
15
Apr
Rajasthani festival celebrating Gauri (Parvati) and Shiva
Tue
16
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
18
Apr
Birthday of River Yamuna
Sun
21
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Sun
21
Apr
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Tue
23
Apr
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
Fri
26
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Fri
26
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
30
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
May 2002
18 festivals
Tue
7
May
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
Thu
9
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
10
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
11
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
12
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
14
May
Extremely auspicious day for new beginnings and charity
Tue
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Wed
15
May
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
Thu
16
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
18
May
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Mon
20
May
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Wed
22
May
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
Fri
24
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Fri
24
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
26
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Sun
26
May
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
26
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Wed
29
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
June 2002
14 festivals
Thu
6
Jun
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Sat
8
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
8
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
10
Jun
Married women fast for husband's longevity (North Indian tradition)
Mon
10
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
10
Jun
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
Fri
14
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
15
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Wed
19
Jun
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Thu
20
Jun
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Sat
22
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
24
Jun
Married women fast for husband's longevity (South/West Indian tradition)
Mon
24
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
28
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
July 2002
12 festivals
Sat
6
Jul
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
Mon
8
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
8
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
10
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
11
Jul
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
Sat
13
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
16
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Sat
20
Jul
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Sun
21
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
23
Jul
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Tue
23
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
28
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
August 2002
17 festivals
Sun
4
Aug
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Tue
6
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
6
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
8
Aug
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
10
Aug
Monsoon festival for married women celebrating Parvati and Shiva's union
Sun
11
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
12
Aug
Day of serpent worship
Thu
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Fri
16
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Sun
18
Aug
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Tue
20
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
22
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Thu
22
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
22
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Sun
25
Aug
Women's festival with singing of Kajari songs
Mon
26
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
30
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
September 2002
16 festivals
Tue
3
Sep
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
Thu
5
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
6
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
9
Sep
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Mon
9
Sep
Women's fasting day with strict nirjala fast for husband's well-being
Tue
10
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
10
Sep
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Wed
11
Sep
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
Fri
13
Sep
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
Mon
16
Sep
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
Mon
16
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Wed
18
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
20
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Sat
21
Sep
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
22
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Wed
25
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
October 2002
18 festivals
Wed
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Wed
2
Oct
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
Fri
4
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
4
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
6
Oct
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
Wed
9
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
12
Oct
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
Sun
13
Oct
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Tue
15
Oct
Victory of Rama over Ravana, end of Navratri
Wed
16
Oct
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
Thu
17
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Fri
18
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
20
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Sun
20
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
25
Oct
Fasting by married women for husband's longevity
Fri
25
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
29
Oct
Mothers fast for the well-being of their children
Thu
31
Oct
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
November 2002
19 festivals
Fri
1
Nov
Worship of cow and calf
Sat
2
Nov
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Sat
2
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
2
Nov
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
3
Nov
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Mon
4
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
5
Nov
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
Wed
6
Nov
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Thu
7
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
9
Nov
Major festival of Bihar/UP dedicated to the Sun God
Thu
14
Nov
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
Fri
15
Nov
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
Sat
16
Nov
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Sat
16
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Sun
17
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
19
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
23
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
26
Nov
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Sat
30
Nov
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
December 2002
14 festivals
Mon
2
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
2
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
3
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
7
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
8
Dec
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
Sat
14
Dec
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Sat
14
Dec
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
Mon
16
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Tue
17
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
19
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Thu
19
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
23
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
31
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
31
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
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