Tamil Festival Calendar 2006
January 2006
14 festivals
Tue
3
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
9
Jan
Ekadashi for blessing of sons and spiritual merit
Wed
11
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Fri
13
Jan
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
14
Jan
Sun's entry into Capricorn - beginning of Uttarayan
Sat
14
Jan
Tamil harvest festival coinciding with Makar Sankranti
Wed
18
Jan
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
18
Jan
Chaturthi for removing obstacles, dedicated to Lord Ganesha
Wed
25
Jan
Ekadashi for victory and success
Thu
26
Jan
India's Republic Day - Constitution came into effect
Fri
27
Jan
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
27
Jan
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
29
Jan
Auspicious Amavasya for silent meditation and holy bath
Sun
29
Jan
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
February 2006
13 festivals
Wed
1
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
2
Feb
Festival marking the arrival of spring, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
Sat
4
Feb
Celebrating the Sun God's chariot — marks change of season
Sun
5
Feb
Remembering Bhishma Pitamah's departure on his chosen day
Wed
8
Feb
Ekadashi that removes sins and grants victory
Fri
10
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
12
Feb
Full Moon fasting day
Sun
12
Feb
Sun enters Aquarius
Fri
17
Feb
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
24
Feb
Ekadashi that destroys all sins
Sat
25
Feb
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sun
26
Feb
The great night of Lord Shiva
Mon
27
Feb
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
March 2006
12 festivals
Fri
10
Mar
Ekadashi celebrated with Amalaki (gooseberry) tree worship
Sun
12
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
13
Mar
Bonfire on the eve of Holi celebrating triumph of devotion
Tue
14
Mar
Festival of colors celebrating spring and victory of good over evil
Tue
14
Mar
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
14
Mar
Sun enters Pisces
Sat
18
Mar
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Wed
22
Mar
Worship of Goddess Sheetala for protection from diseases
Sat
25
Mar
Ekadashi for protection and prosperity
Mon
27
Mar
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
27
Mar
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
29
Mar
Spring Navratri — nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga
April 2006
17 festivals
Sat
1
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
3
Apr
Birthday of River Yamuna
Thu
6
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama
Thu
6
Apr
Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Sat
8
Apr
Ekadashi that fulfills desires
Mon
10
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Tue
11
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
13
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman
Thu
13
Apr
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
14
Apr
Sun enters Aries — beginning of Hindu Solar New Year
Mon
17
Apr
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
23
Apr
Ekadashi that grants unlimited merit
Tue
25
Apr
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Tue
25
Apr
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
27
Apr
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
29
Apr
Extremely auspicious day for new beginnings and charity
Sun
30
Apr
Birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu
May 2006
16 festivals
Mon
1
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Thu
4
May
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Sat
6
May
Birth anniversary of Goddess Sita
Mon
8
May
Ekadashi named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar
Wed
10
May
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Thu
11
May
Appearance day of Lord Narasimha, half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu
Fri
12
May
Birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha
Fri
12
May
Full Moon fasting day
Sat
13
May
Birth anniversary of Devarshi Narada, the divine messenger
Sun
14
May
Sun enters Taurus
Tue
16
May
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
23
May
Ekadashi for spiritual advancement
Thu
25
May
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
26
May
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
26
May
Birth anniversary of Shani Dev, lord of Saturn
Tue
30
May
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
June 2006
12 festivals
Tue
6
Jun
Celebrating the descent of Goddess Ganga to earth
Wed
7
Jun
Most austere Ekadashi - complete fast without water
Fri
9
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
11
Jun
Full Moon fasting day
Thu
15
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Thu
15
Jun
Sun enters Gemini
Wed
21
Jun
Ekadashi during Chaturmas period
Fri
23
Jun
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Fri
23
Jun
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Sun
25
Jun
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Tue
27
Jun
Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri
Thu
29
Jun
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
July 2006
13 festivals
Thu
6
Jul
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep - beginning of Chaturmas
Sat
8
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
10
Jul
Festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers
Mon
10
Jul
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
14
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
16
Jul
Sun enters Cancer — beginning of Dakshinayana (southward journey)
Thu
20
Jul
Ekadashi named after King Aja
Sat
22
Jul
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
22
Jul
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
24
Jul
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
28
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
29
Jul
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sun
30
Jul
Day of serpent worship
August 2006
17 festivals
Sat
5
Aug
Ekadashi for blessing of sons
Mon
7
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
9
Aug
Festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Wed
9
Aug
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
9
Aug
Day the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to sage Vishwamitra
Sat
12
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
15
Aug
India's Independence Day
Tue
15
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
Wed
16
Aug
Sun enters Leo
Sat
19
Aug
Ekadashi for liberation of ancestors
Mon
21
Aug
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
21
Aug
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
23
Aug
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
27
Aug
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Sun
27
Aug
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Mon
28
Aug
Day honoring the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages)
Tue
29
Aug
Birth anniversary of Lord Balarama, elder brother of Krishna
September 2006
17 festivals
Fri
1
Sep
Birth anniversary of Radha, consort of Lord Krishna
Sun
3
Sep
Lord Vishnu turns to his side in cosmic sleep
Tue
5
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Wed
6
Sep
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh Visarjan
Thu
7
Sep
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
8
Sep
Beginning of the 15-day ancestor worship fortnight
Sun
10
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sat
16
Sep
Sun enters Virgo — Vishwakarma Puja day in many regions
Sun
17
Sep
Ekadashi for peace and prosperity
Tue
19
Sep
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Wed
20
Sep
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Thu
21
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
22
Sep
Main day for ancestor worship — last day of Pitrupaksha
Fri
22
Sep
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
23
Sep
Nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga
Tue
26
Sep
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
30
Sep
Eighth day of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga
October 2006
19 festivals
Sun
1
Oct
Ninth day of Navratri, culmination of Durga worship
Mon
2
Oct
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Tue
3
Oct
Ekadashi that destroys sins like an arrow
Fri
6
Oct
Autumn full moon — night of Lakshmi worship and moon bathing
Fri
6
Oct
Full Moon fasting day
Tue
10
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Tue
17
Oct
Birth of Ekadashi Devi
Tue
17
Oct
Sun enters Libra
Wed
18
Oct
Worship of cow and calf
Thu
19
Oct
First day of Diwali festivities — worship of wealth and health
Thu
19
Oct
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Thu
19
Oct
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Fri
20
Oct
Day before Diwali — Krishna's victory over Narakasura
Sat
21
Oct
Festival of lights celebrating victory of good over evil
Sat
21
Oct
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sun
22
Oct
Day after Diwali — celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
Mon
23
Oct
Brother-sister festival — sisters pray for brothers' well-being
Wed
25
Oct
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Tue
31
Oct
Celebrating Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa
November 2006
15 festivals
Wed
1
Nov
Lord Vishnu wakes up - end of Chaturmas, Tulsi Vivah
Thu
2
Nov
Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu
Fri
3
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Sun
5
Nov
Full Moon fasting day
Wed
8
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Sun
12
Nov
Appearance day of Kalabhairava, fierce form of Lord Shiva
Thu
16
Nov
Ekadashi for success in endeavors
Thu
16
Nov
Sun enters Scorpio
Sat
18
Nov
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Sat
18
Nov
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Mon
20
Nov
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Fri
24
Nov
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
Sat
25
Nov
Wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
Thu
30
Nov
Ekadashi that grants liberation, Gita Jayanti
Thu
30
Nov
Day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna
December 2006
10 festivals
Sat
2
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of bright fortnight
Mon
4
Dec
Birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, combined form of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
Mon
4
Dec
Full Moon fasting day
Fri
8
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi vrat for Lord Ganesha
Fri
15
Dec
Ekadashi observed with sesame seeds (tila) offering
Sat
16
Dec
Sun enters Sagittarius
Mon
18
Dec
Pradosh Vrat on the 13th day of dark fortnight
Mon
18
Dec
Monthly Shivaratri on the 14th day of dark fortnight
Wed
20
Dec
New Moon day - Pitru Tarpan
Sat
23
Dec
Monthly Chaturthi on the bright fortnight
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