Hindu Festival Calendar 2011

Hindus are known for their festivities and rituals. Every month celebrates a bunch of fiesta, most of which are religious. The Hindu Festival Calendar 2011 lists down all the important dates that are celebrated.

Following is a month wise list of Hindu Festivals in 2011:

January

Makar Sankrant (January 14, Friday): Makar Sankrant, also known as Makar Sankranti, is an important festival of the Hindus. The festival commemorates the celebration of the journey of the Sun to enter the northern hemisphere.

• Pongal (January 14, Friday)
• Republic Day (January 26, Wednesday)

February

Vasant Panchami (February 8, Tuesday):

Vasant Panchami is the worshipping of Goddess Saraswati. According to Hindu mythology, Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and education. The holy event also symbolizes the beginning of spring.

• Mauni Amavasya (February 2, Wednesday)

March

Mahashivratri (March 3, Thursday):

Dedicated toward the worshipping of Lord Shiva, Mahashivratri is a very popular Hindu festival. Unmarried women keep a day long fast and only take food after offering devotion to the Almighty. It is believed that this process will help them get the perfect match of their life.

Holi (March 9, Saturday):

Holi, also known as “the festival of colors”, is the festival that marks the beginning of Spring. This is considered to be the most lively festival of India celebrated with a lot of energy, fun and vigor.

April

Swaminarayan Jayanti (April 12, Tuesday):

This is a very important day for the followers of Swaminarayan. The day marks his birthday and is observed through multiple rituals of offering prayers to the Lord.

Rama Navami (April 12, Tuesday)

This is the celebration of the birth of Lord Rama, a very important deity of Hindus. Rama is believed to be the incarnation of Vishnu. Reading verses from the legendary Hindu epic, Ramayana, is a common practice of the day.

Hanuman Jayanti (April 18, Monday):

Lord Hanuman, who was an ardent follower of Rama, was born on this day as per the Hindu mythology. Also known as the Monkey God, Hanuman, is a very important character of Ramayana, who had been with Rama through every thick and thin. He played a very important role in saving Sita from Ravana.

• Bikrami Samvat (Hindu New Year) (April 4, Monday)
• Baisakhi (April 14, Thursday)
• Mahavir Jayanti (April 17, Sunday)
• Hanuman Jayanti (April 18, Monday)

May

Buddha Jayanti / Buddha Purnima (May 17, Tuesday):

More popularly known as Buddha Purnima, Buddha Jayanti is marked as the celebration of birth of Lord Buddha. This is the most sacred festivals of Buddhists, although largely the Hindus observe it. The festival is observed on the full moon night falling on the fourth lunar month usually in April or May.

June

• Ganga Dussehra (June 21, Tuesday)

July

• Rath Yatra (July 3, Sunday)
• Guru Poornima (July 15, Friday)

August

Raksha Bandhan (August 13, Saturday)

Raksha Bandhan is the celebration of unity, brotherhood and love. A very important festival of the Hindus, the common tradition is that the sisters tie a sacred thread known as “Rakhi” on their brother’s wrist praying for their good health and well-being.

Janmashtami - Krishna Jayanti (August 22, Monday):

The holy birth of Lord Krishna is popularly known as Janamashtami. Common traditions of the festival include breaking of clay pots filled with milk or curd, which are hung high. Men climb on each other’s shoulders to reach up to the height in order to break the clay pots. Rituals like worshipping of Lord Krishna by offering him home made sweets commemorates the day.

• Naag Panchami (August 4, Thursday)
• Independence Day (August 15, Monday)
• Sri Krishna Janmashtami (August 22, Monday)

September

Navaratri (start) (September 28, Wednesday):

Navaratri (nine nights) symbolises the triumph of good over evil and marks the start of autumn.

• Ganesh Chaturathi (September 1, Thursday)
• Onam (September 1, Thursday)
• Navaratra Begins (September 28, Wednesday)

October

Dussera (October 6, Thursday):

Dussera is the festival of conquering the good over evil. It is said that on this day Lord Rama killed the demon Ravana to bring in peace to the world.

Diwali (October 26, Wednesday):

Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is the most largely celebrated festivals of the Hindus. The occasion is marked with worshipping of Goddess Lakshimi, the goddess of wealth, and firework displays.

• Gandhi Jayanti (October 2, Sunday)
• Dussehra (October 6, Thursday)
• Karva Chauth (October 16, Sunday)
• Dhan Teras (October 24, Monday)
• Govardhan Puja (October 27, Thursday)
• Bhai Duj (October 28, Friday)