उत्सव · Festivals
The sacred year, festival by festival
त्योहार — कथा, महत्व और परंपरा
The stories, rituals and dates behind the festivals that light up the Hindu year — with puja samagri and aartis for each.
पंचांग · Coming up
Upcoming festivals
As per Drik Panchang (New Delhi). Tap a festival to read its story and prepare its puja.
- Sakat Chauthसकट चौथMagha · Krishna Chaturthi — Mothers fast for their children and worship Lord Ganesha at moonrise.
- Makar Sankranti · Pongalमकर संक्रांति · पोंगलThe Sun enters Capricorn — kites, til-gud and the harvest festival of Pongal.
- Mauni Amavasyaमौनी अमावस्याMagha · Krishna Amavasya — A day of silence and holy dips — especially sacred at Prayagraj.
- Vasant Panchami · Saraswati Pujaवसंत पंचमी · सरस्वती पूजाMagha · Shukla Panchami — Welcoming spring and worshipping Maa Saraswati, goddess of learning.
- Ratha Saptamiरथ सप्तमीMagha · Shukla Saptami — Birthday of Surya Dev — worship of the Sun at dawn.
- Bhishma Ashtamiभीष्म अष्टमीMagha · Shukla Ashtami — Remembering Bhishma Pitamah, who left his body on this day.
- Maha Shivaratriमहाशिवरात्रिPhalguna · Krishna Chaturdashi — The great night of Lord Shiva — fasting, abhishek and all-night jagran.
- Holika Dahanहोलिका दहनPhalguna · Shukla Purnima — The bonfire of good over evil, remembering Prahlad and Holika.
- HoliहोलीChaitra · Krishna Pratipada — The festival of colours, love and the victory of devotion.
- Sheetala Ashtami · Basodaशीतला अष्टमी · बसौड़ाChaitra · Krishna Ashtami — Worship of Maa Sheetala with food cooked the day before.
- Hindu New Year · Gudi Padwa · Ugadiनव संवत्सर · गुड़ी पड़वा · उगादीChaitra · Shukla Pratipada — The Hindu lunar new year begins with Chaitra Shukla Pratipada.
- Chaitra Navratri beginsचैत्र नवरात्रि प्रारंभChaitra · Shukla Pratipada — Nine nights of worship of Maa Durga in spring, ending on Ram Navami.
- GangaurगणगौरChaitra · Shukla Tritiya — Women worship Gauri (Parvati) for marital bliss — a Rajasthani favourite.
- Ram Navamiराम नवमीChaitra · Shukla Navami — The birth of Lord Rama at noon in Ayodhya.
- Hanuman Jayantiहनुमान जयंतीChaitra · Shukla Purnima — The birth of Lord Hanuman — Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand.
- Mesha Sankranti · Baisakhi · Vishuमेष संक्रांति · बैसाखीThe solar new year — Baisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu and Pohela Boishakh.
- Parashurama Jayantiपरशुराम जयंतीVaishakha · Shukla Tritiya — The birth of Bhagwan Parashurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu.
- Akshaya Tritiyaअक्षय तृतीयाVaishakha · Shukla Tritiya — The day of unending blessings — new beginnings, daan and gold.
- Sita Navamiसीता नवमीVaishakha · Shukla Navami — The appearance day of Maa Sita.
- Narasimha Jayantiनृसिंह जयंतीVaishakha · Shukla Chaturdashi — Lord Narasimha appears to protect Prahlad.
- Buddha Purnimaबुद्ध पूर्णिमाVaishakha · Shukla Purnima — The birth, enlightenment and nirvana of Gautama Buddha.
- Vat Savitri Vratवट सावित्री व्रतJyeshtha · Krishna Amavasya — Married women worship the banyan tree, remembering Savitri and Satyavan.
- Shani Jayantiशनि जयंतीJyeshtha · Krishna Amavasya — The birth of Shani Dev — oil, sesame and service.
- Ganga Dussehraगंगा दशहराJyeshtha · Shukla Dashami — Maa Ganga descends to earth — holy dips and Ganga aarti.
- Vat Purnima Vratवट पूर्णिमा व्रतJyeshtha · Shukla Purnima — The Purnima observance of the Savitri vrat (western India).
- Jagannath Rath Yatraजगन्नाथ रथ यात्राAshadha · Shukla Dwitiya — Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra ride their chariots in Puri.
- Guru Purnimaगुरु पूर्णिमाAshadha · Shukla Purnima — Honouring the guru — and Ved Vyasa, who compiled the Vedas.
- Hariyali Teejहरियाली तीजShravana · Shukla Tritiya — Swings, green bangles and worship of Shiva–Parvati in the monsoon.
- Nag Panchamiनाग पंचमीShravana · Shukla Panchami — Worship of the serpent deities with milk and flowers.
- Onam (Thiruvonam)ओणमKerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali.