North Indian Festival Calendar 1996
January 1996
16 festivals
Wed
3
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
5
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
9
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
9
Jan
Chaturthi for removing obstacles, dedicated to Lord Ganesha
Sun
14
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Tue
16
Jan
Ekadashi for victory and success
Thu
18
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
18
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
20
Jan
Auspicious Amavasya for silent meditation and holy bath
Sat
20
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
23
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
24
Jan
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
Fri
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Fri
26
Jan
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Sat
27
Jan
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Tue
30
Jan
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
February 1996
10 festivals
Thu
1
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
4
Feb
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
8
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
13
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Thu
15
Feb
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Fri
16
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
17
Feb
The great night of Lord Shiva
Sun
18
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
22
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
29
Feb
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
March 1996
16 festivals
Sat
2
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
4
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Mon
4
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
5
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Fri
8
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
12
Mar
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
Thu
14
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Fri
15
Mar
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
Sun
17
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
17
Mar
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
19
Mar
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
Fri
22
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
24
Mar
Birthday of River Yamuna
Thu
28
Mar
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Thu
28
Mar
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Sat
30
Mar
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
April 1996
15 festivals
Mon
1
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
3
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Wed
3
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
7
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
13
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Sat
13
Apr
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
Mon
15
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
15
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
17
Apr
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
20
Apr
Extremely auspicious day for new beginnings and charity
Sat
20
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
Sun
21
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
24
Apr
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Sat
27
Apr
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Mon
29
Apr
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
May 1996
16 festivals
Wed
1
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Wed
1
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
3
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Fri
3
May
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
3
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Mon
6
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Mon
13
May
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Tue
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Wed
15
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
15
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
17
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
17
May
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
Tue
21
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
27
May
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Tue
28
May
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Thu
30
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
June 1996
13 festivals
Sat
1
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
11
Jun
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
Thu
13
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
13
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
14
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Sat
15
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
17
Jun
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
Wed
19
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
20
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
27
Jun
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Sat
29
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
30
Jun
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Sun
30
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
July 1996
11 festivals
Thu
4
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
10
Jul
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Fri
12
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
13
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
13
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
15
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
16
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Fri
19
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
26
Jul
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Sun
28
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
30
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
August 1996
13 festivals
Fri
2
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
11
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
11
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
13
Aug
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Thu
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Fri
16
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Sun
18
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
19
Aug
Day of serpent worship
Mon
26
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
28
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Wed
28
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
28
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Sat
31
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
September 1996
16 festivals
Wed
4
Sep
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
Sun
8
Sep
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
Tue
10
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
10
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
12
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
16
Sep
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Mon
16
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
16
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Tue
17
Sep
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Wed
18
Sep
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
Fri
20
Sep
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
Mon
23
Sep
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
Wed
25
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Thu
26
Sep
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
27
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Mon
30
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
October 1996
18 festivals
Wed
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Mon
7
Oct
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
Wed
9
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
10
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
10
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sat
12
Oct
Main day for ancestor worship — last day of Pitrupaksha
Sat
12
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
13
Oct
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
Wed
16
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Wed
16
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Sat
19
Oct
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
Sun
20
Oct
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Mon
21
Oct
Victory of Rama over Ravana, end of Navratri
Tue
22
Oct
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
Thu
24
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sat
26
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Sat
26
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
30
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
November 1996
17 festivals
Wed
6
Nov
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
Thu
7
Nov
Worship of cow and calf
Fri
8
Nov
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Fri
8
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
9
Nov
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Sun
10
Nov
Festival of lights celebrating victory of good over evil
Sun
10
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Mon
11
Nov
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
Tue
12
Nov
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Thu
14
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Fri
15
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Tue
19
Nov
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
Wed
20
Nov
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
Thu
21
Nov
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Fri
22
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
24
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
28
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
December 1996
14 festivals
Mon
2
Dec
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Fri
6
Dec
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
Sun
8
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
8
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Tue
10
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
13
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
14
Dec
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
Sun
15
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Fri
20
Dec
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Fri
20
Dec
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
Sun
22
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
24
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Tue
24
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
28
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
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