Hindu Festival Calendar 2009
January 2009
15 festivals
Wed
7
Jan
Ekadashi for blessing of sons and spiritual merit
Sat
10
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
14
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Wed
14
Jan
Tamil harvest festival coinciding with Makar Sankranti
Wed
14
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
14
Jan
Chaturthi for removing obstacles, dedicated to Lord Ganesha
Wed
21
Jan
Ekadashi for victory and success
Fri
23
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
23
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
25
Jan
Auspicious Amavasya for silent meditation and holy bath
Sun
25
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Thu
29
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
30
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
31
Jan
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
February 2009
13 festivals
Sun
1
Feb
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Mon
2
Feb
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Thu
5
Feb
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
Sat
7
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
9
Feb
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
12
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Thu
12
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Fri
20
Feb
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Sun
22
Feb
The great night of Lord Shiva
Sun
22
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
22
Feb
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
24
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
28
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
March 2009
17 festivals
Fri
6
Mar
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
Sun
8
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
10
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Tue
10
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
11
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Sat
14
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
14
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Wed
18
Mar
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
Sun
22
Mar
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
Tue
24
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
24
Mar
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
26
Mar
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
27
Mar
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
Fri
27
Mar
Telugu and Kannada New Year
Fri
27
Mar
Marathi New Year
Sun
29
Mar
Rajasthani festival celebrating Gauri (Parvati) and Shiva
Tue
31
Mar
Birthday of River Yamuna
April 2009
15 festivals
Fri
3
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Fri
3
Apr
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Sun
5
Apr
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
Tue
7
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
9
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Thu
9
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
13
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Mon
13
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
20
Apr
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
Wed
22
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
24
Apr
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
27
Apr
Extremely auspicious day for new beginnings and charity
Mon
27
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
Tue
28
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
30
Apr
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
May 2009
17 festivals
Sat
2
May
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Mon
4
May
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
Wed
6
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Wed
6
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
8
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Fri
8
May
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
9
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Tue
12
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
13
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Thu
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Wed
20
May
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Fri
22
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
22
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
24
May
Married women fast for husband's longevity (North Indian tradition)
Sun
24
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
24
May
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
Wed
27
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
June 2009
13 festivals
Tue
2
Jun
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Wed
3
Jun
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Fri
5
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
7
Jun
Married women fast for husband's longevity (South/West Indian tradition)
Sun
7
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
11
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
14
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Thu
18
Jun
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
Sat
20
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
20
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
22
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
24
Jun
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
Thu
25
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
July 2009
12 festivals
Thu
2
Jul
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Sat
4
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
6
Jul
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Mon
6
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
11
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Thu
16
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Sat
18
Jul
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Mon
20
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
21
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
24
Jul
Monsoon festival for married women celebrating Parvati and Shiva's union
Sat
25
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
26
Jul
Day of serpent worship
August 2009
20 festivals
Sat
1
Aug
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Mon
3
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
5
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Wed
5
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
5
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Sat
8
Aug
Women's festival with singing of Kajari songs
Sun
9
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Thu
13
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
Sat
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Sun
16
Aug
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
Sun
16
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Tue
18
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
18
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
22
Aug
Women's fasting day with strict nirjala fast for husband's well-being
Sun
23
Aug
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Sun
23
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
24
Aug
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Tue
25
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
Thu
27
Aug
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
Sun
30
Aug
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
September 2009
18 festivals
Tue
1
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
2
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
3
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Fri
4
Sep
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
5
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Tue
8
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
14
Sep
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
Wed
16
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
16
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
16
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Fri
18
Sep
Main day for ancestor worship — last day of Pitrupaksha
Fri
18
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
19
Sep
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
Tue
22
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
25
Sep
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
Sun
27
Sep
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Mon
28
Sep
Victory of Rama over Ravana, end of Navratri
Tue
29
Sep
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
October 2009
24 festivals
Thu
1
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Sat
3
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Sat
3
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
7
Oct
Fasting by married women for husband's longevity
Wed
7
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
11
Oct
Mothers fast for the well-being of their children
Wed
14
Oct
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
Wed
14
Oct
Worship of cow and calf
Thu
15
Oct
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Thu
15
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
16
Oct
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Fri
16
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
17
Oct
Festival of lights celebrating victory of good over evil
Sat
17
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
17
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Sun
18
Oct
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
Mon
19
Oct
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Wed
21
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
23
Oct
Major festival of Bihar/UP dedicated to the Sun God
Wed
28
Oct
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
Thu
29
Oct
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
Fri
30
Oct
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Sat
31
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
November 2009
11 festivals
Mon
2
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
8
Nov
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Thu
12
Nov
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
Sat
14
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
14
Nov
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
16
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
16
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Fri
20
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
21
Nov
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
Sat
28
Nov
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Sat
28
Nov
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
December 2009
11 festivals
Tue
1
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Tue
1
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
5
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
11
Dec
Ekadashi observed with sesame seeds (tila) offering
Sun
13
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
14
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
15
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
15
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Sun
20
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
29
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
31
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
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