Gujarati Festival Calendar 1956
January 1956
13 festivals
Sun
1
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
8
Jan
Ekadashi observed with sesame seeds (tila) offering
Tue
10
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
10
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
12
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
14
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Mon
16
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
23
Jan
Ekadashi for blessing of sons and spiritual merit
Wed
25
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Fri
27
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
30
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
30
Jan
Chaturthi for removing obstacles, dedicated to Lord Ganesha
February 1956
14 festivals
Mon
6
Feb
Ekadashi for victory and success
Thu
9
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
9
Feb
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
11
Feb
Auspicious Amavasya for silent meditation and holy bath
Sat
11
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
13
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Wed
15
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
16
Feb
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
Sat
18
Feb
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Sun
19
Feb
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Wed
22
Feb
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
Thu
23
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
25
Feb
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
29
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
March 1956
13 festivals
Wed
7
Mar
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Fri
9
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
10
Mar
The great night of Lord Shiva
Sat
10
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
10
Mar
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
12
Mar
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
13
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Thu
22
Mar
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
Sat
24
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
25
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Mon
26
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Mon
26
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
30
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
April 1956
16 festivals
Tue
3
Apr
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
Fri
6
Apr
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
Sun
8
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
8
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
10
Apr
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
11
Apr
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
Fri
13
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Sat
14
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
16
Apr
Birthday of River Yamuna
Wed
18
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Wed
18
Apr
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Fri
20
Apr
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
Sun
22
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
24
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Tue
24
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
28
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
May 1956
17 festivals
Sun
6
May
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
Tue
8
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
8
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
10
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
12
May
Extremely auspicious day for new beginnings and charity
Sat
12
May
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
Sun
13
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Wed
16
May
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Fri
18
May
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Sun
20
May
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
Tue
22
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Tue
22
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
24
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Thu
24
May
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
25
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Mon
28
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
June 1956
11 festivals
Mon
4
Jun
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Wed
6
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
6
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
8
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
8
Jun
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
Thu
14
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Sun
17
Jun
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Mon
18
Jun
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Wed
20
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
22
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
27
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
July 1956
12 festivals
Wed
4
Jul
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
Fri
6
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
6
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
7
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
9
Jul
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
Wed
11
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
15
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Wed
18
Jul
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Fri
20
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
22
Jul
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Sun
22
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
26
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
August 1956
17 festivals
Thu
2
Aug
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Sat
4
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
4
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
6
Aug
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
9
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
10
Aug
Day of serpent worship
Wed
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Thu
16
Aug
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Thu
16
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Sat
18
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
20
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
21
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Tue
21
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
21
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Sat
25
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
28
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
Fri
31
Aug
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
September 1956
15 festivals
Sun
2
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
2
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
4
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
7
Sep
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Sat
8
Sep
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Sun
9
Sep
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
Wed
12
Sep
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
Sat
15
Sep
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
Sun
16
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Mon
17
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
18
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Wed
19
Sep
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
20
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Sun
23
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
30
Sep
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
October 1956
21 festivals
Tue
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Tue
2
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
3
Oct
Main day for ancestor worship — last day of Pitrupaksha
Wed
3
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
4
Oct
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
Sun
7
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
11
Oct
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
Fri
12
Oct
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Sat
13
Oct
Victory of Rama over Ravana, end of Navratri
Mon
15
Oct
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
Tue
16
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Wed
17
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
19
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Fri
19
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
23
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
29
Oct
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
Tue
30
Oct
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Tue
30
Oct
Worship of cow and calf
Wed
31
Oct
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Wed
31
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
31
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
November 1956
16 festivals
Thu
1
Nov
Festival of lights celebrating victory of good over evil
Fri
2
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
3
Nov
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
Sun
4
Nov
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Tue
6
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
12
Nov
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
Tue
13
Nov
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
Wed
14
Nov
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Thu
15
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
15
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Sat
17
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
21
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
24
Nov
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Tue
27
Nov
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
Thu
29
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
30
Nov
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
December 1956
13 festivals
Sat
1
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
6
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
7
Dec
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
Thu
13
Dec
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Thu
13
Dec
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
Sat
15
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
15
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Mon
17
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Mon
17
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
20
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
29
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
29
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
31
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
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