North Indian Festival Calendar 1979
January 1979
14 festivals
Mon
1
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
8
Jan
Ekadashi for blessing of sons and spiritual merit
Wed
10
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
12
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
14
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Wed
17
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
17
Jan
Chaturthi for removing obstacles, dedicated to Lord Ganesha
Wed
24
Jan
Ekadashi for victory and success
Fri
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Fri
26
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
26
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
27
Jan
Auspicious Amavasya for silent meditation and holy bath
Sat
27
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
31
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
February 1979
13 festivals
Thu
1
Feb
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
Sat
3
Feb
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Sun
4
Feb
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Wed
7
Feb
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
Fri
9
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
11
Feb
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
12
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Thu
15
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Thu
22
Feb
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Sat
24
Feb
The great night of Lord Shiva
Sat
24
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
24
Feb
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
26
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
March 1979
14 festivals
Thu
1
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
8
Mar
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
Sun
11
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
12
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Tue
13
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Tue
13
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
14
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Sat
17
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
21
Mar
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
Sat
24
Mar
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
Mon
26
Mar
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
27
Mar
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Wed
28
Mar
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
Sat
31
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
April 1979
16 festivals
Mon
2
Apr
Birthday of River Yamuna
Thu
5
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Thu
5
Apr
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Sat
7
Apr
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
Mon
9
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
12
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Thu
12
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
14
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Mon
16
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
22
Apr
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
Tue
24
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
24
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
26
Apr
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
28
Apr
Extremely auspicious day for new beginnings and charity
Sat
28
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
Sun
29
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
May 1979
16 festivals
Thu
3
May
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Sat
5
May
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Mon
7
May
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
Wed
9
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Wed
9
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
11
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Fri
11
May
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
12
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Mon
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Tue
15
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
21
May
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Wed
23
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
23
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
25
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
25
May
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
Tue
29
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
June 1979
12 festivals
Tue
5
Jun
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Wed
6
Jun
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Fri
8
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
10
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
13
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
15
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Wed
20
Jun
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
Fri
22
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
22
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
24
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
26
Jun
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
Thu
28
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
July 1979
13 festivals
Thu
5
Jul
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Sat
7
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
9
Jul
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Mon
9
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
12
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
16
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Thu
19
Jul
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Sat
21
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
21
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
23
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
27
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
28
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
29
Jul
Day of serpent worship
August 1979
18 festivals
Sat
4
Aug
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Tue
7
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Tue
7
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
7
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Sat
11
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
14
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
Wed
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Fri
17
Aug
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
Fri
17
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Sun
19
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
20
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
20
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
22
Aug
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
26
Aug
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Sun
26
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
27
Aug
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Tue
28
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
Thu
30
Aug
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
September 1979
17 festivals
Sun
2
Sep
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
Tue
4
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
5
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Thu
6
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Sun
9
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
16
Sep
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
Mon
17
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Tue
18
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
18
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
19
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
20
Sep
Main day for ancestor worship — last day of Pitrupaksha
Thu
20
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
22
Sep
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
Tue
25
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
28
Sep
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
Sat
29
Sep
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Sun
30
Sep
Victory of Rama over Ravana, end of Navratri
October 1979
20 festivals
Mon
1
Oct
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
Tue
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Wed
3
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
5
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Fri
5
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Mon
8
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
16
Oct
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
Wed
17
Oct
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Wed
17
Oct
Worship of cow and calf
Wed
17
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Thu
18
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
18
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
19
Oct
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Sat
20
Oct
Festival of lights celebrating victory of good over evil
Sat
20
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
21
Oct
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
Mon
22
Oct
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Wed
24
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
30
Oct
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
Wed
31
Oct
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
November 1979
13 festivals
Thu
1
Nov
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Sat
3
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
7
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
11
Nov
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Thu
15
Nov
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
Fri
16
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Sat
17
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
17
Nov
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
19
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
23
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
24
Nov
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
Thu
29
Nov
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Thu
29
Nov
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
December 1979
11 festivals
Sat
1
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
3
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Mon
3
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
7
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
14
Dec
Ekadashi observed with sesame seeds (tila) offering
Sun
16
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
16
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Mon
17
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
18
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
22
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
30
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
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