Hindu Festival Calendar 2015 helps you to map the Hindu traditional festivals that are dated based on astrological ‘tithi’ and ‘nakshatras’ on the modern day calendar.
It also helps to keep you aware of the traditions and significance of the festivals, some of which are celebrated with much pomp while others are region specific.
Most of the holidays are celebrated with immense glory. Some holidays are still well known in today’s generation, while others are losing their charm and importance due to the busy life. Some are public holidays in India while others are celebrated by banks and other corporates. Here is the comprehensive list of the holidays which represents the Hindu traditions.
We present a very vast month by month list of Hindu Festivals in 2015 that will not only help you mark holidays in your calendar, but also gently remind you of the traditional Hindu traditions and rituals –
| 1st January 2015 (Thursday) | Pushya (Paush) Putrada Ekadashi | This festival is observed by people aspiring for a progeny. However couples with children can also celebrate this festival to pray for the wellbeing of them. |
| 5th January 2015 (Monday) | Pushya (Paush) Purnima | This is an auspicious day when it is traditionally considered a good omen to begin with formal education. |
| 15th January 2015 (Thursday) | Makar Sankranti, Uttarayana Sankranti , Pongal, Maghi, Lohri, Bhogali Bihu. | This day formally marks the advent of Spring in India. This day is referred to by different names in different parts of the country. This festival is generally considered very auspicious in most parts of India and is also celebrated as the harvest festival in some States. |
| 20th January 2015 (Tuesday) | Mauni Amavas | This falls on the New Moon Day of the Hindu month of Magh. It is believed to be the day of conjunction of the Sun and the Moon. Silent prayer on this day is believed to help attaining spiritual discipline. Holy bath is also practiced. |
| 24th January 2015 (Saturday) | Vasant Panchami | This is the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of the Hindu month Maagh. On this day Goddess Saraswati is worshipped for knowledge, enlightenment and empowerment. |
| 27th January 2015 (Tuesday) | Bhishma Ashtami | This festival pays tribute to Bhishma (respected character of Mahabharata). Devotees pray mostly in the temples of Lord Vishnu (including the ISKON temples) aspiring to attain integrity, honesty and sincerity like Bhishma. |
| )3rd February 2015 (Tuesday) | Maagh Purnima | This day is considered very auspicious according to traditional Hindu beliefs, and is widely marked by holy dip bath. It is also the custom to offer libation to ancestors. Donation to the needy is also a custom. |
| 13th February 2015 (Friday) | Kumbha Sankranti | This day marks the beginning of the Hindu Solar Calendar and it is celebrated on Kumbha Sankranti. As per Hindu traditions, it is considered to be a very auspicious day. |
| 17th February 2015 (Tuesday) | Maha ShivaRatri | This is the day when prayers are made in reverence to Lord Shiva. Observing this vrat is believed to help devotees attain moksha (salvation) and get relieved of all sins. |
| 05th March 2015 (Thursday) | Holika Dahan/ Jalanevali Holi/ Chhoti Holi | This is a day when the burning of the Holy Fire is believed to burn away all that this evil. According to Mythology, Demon Holika was killed on this day by an incarnation of Lord Vishnu; and people burn the edifice of Holika to mark the occasion. |
| 06th March 2015 (Friday) | Holi | This is celebrated with much pomp and gaiety on the last full moon day of the Hindu month Phalgun. The colorful festival of Holi marks the advent of spring. |
| 21st March 2015 (Saturday) | Yugadi , Gudi Padwa | Yuga means era. Adi means beginning. Consequently, Yugadi marks the beginning of New Year. It is celebrated mostly in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In Maharashtra this day is celebratedas Gudi Padwa. |
| 22nd March 2015 (Sunday) | Gauri Puja/Gangaur | This festival is believed to bring in fortune and marital fidelity and bliss; and is more widely celebrated in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. |
| 28th March 2015 (Saturday) | Rama Navami | This marks the end of the nine days of vrat to commemorate the Chaitra Navratri, and also marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ram, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. |
| 14th April 2015 (Tuesday) | Solar New Year – Baisakh/ Bohag Bihu/ Vishu/ Pahela Baisakh (Nabo Barsho)/ Navreh. | This is the solar New Year and it also marks the regional New Year celebrations in many part of India and is observed with much pomp and gaiety. It is known by various names in various parts of the country — in Punjab it is called Baisakh, in Assam it is called Bohag Bihu, in Kerala it is called Vishu, in Bengal it is called Pahela Baisakh (Nabo Barsho)and in Kashmir it is called Navreh. |
| 04th April 2015 (Saturday) | Hanuman Jayanti | This day commemorates the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara God to whom devotees pray for strength and energy. |
| 20th April 2015 (Monday) | Parashuram Jayanti | This is the day to commemorate the birth of Parashuram who is believed to be the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. |
| 21st April 2015 (Tuesday) | Akshaya Tritiya/ Akha Teej | This is one of the most auspicious day according to traditional Hindu beliefs. It is believed that by praying on this day devotees may be blessed with indestructible virtues. It is often a common practice to donate to charity on this day. |
| 4th May 2015 (Monday) | Buddha Purnima | This day marks three very important events of the Life of Lord Buddha who too is believed to be an incarnation of Vishbu; the three events being — the Birth, Enlightenment and Nirvana of Lord Buddha. |
| 17th May 2015 (Sunday) | Vat Savitri Vrat | Vat Savitri Vrat is essentially performed my married women who pray for the overall well being of their husband. |
| 18th May 2015 (Monday) | Shani Jayanti | Shani Jayanti is believed to be the day when Lord Shani was born. |
| 28th May 2015 (Thursday) | Ganga Dussehra | The first ten days of the Hindu month Jayeshtha is commemorated by the devotees as the period when the descent of the celestial river Ganga on the earth occurred. This auspicious occasion is marked by various rituals and the celebrations continue till the tenth day of Dussehra. |
| 29th May 2015 (Friday) | Nirjala Ekadashi | This is considered to be the most auspicious of all the twenty four eleventh day fasting observed through the year. This fasting is even waterless and is believed to secure many boons. |
| 2nd June 2015 (Tuesday) | Vat Purnima Vrat | On this day married women perform rituals to pray for the long life of their husband. |
| 18th July 2015 (Saturday) | Jagannath Rathyatra | This chariot festival commemorates the yearly visit of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and Goddess Subhadra to their aunt’s place and is celebrated with much pomp in many parts of the country. |
| 27th July 2015 (Monday) | Dev Shayani Ekadashi or Hari Shayani Ekadashi or Padma Ekadasi | This is the beginning of the four month period that marks the duration of the monsoon season in India. It is believed that during this time Lord Vishnu is goes to Ksheer Sagar to rest on Shesh Naga. This four month period is considered to be auspicious and goes by the name of Chatur-Masa. |
| 31st July 2015 (Friday) | Guru Purnima | This is the day when devotees show reverence to religious preachers and disciples worship their Guru on this day. |
| 17th August 2015 (Monday) | Hariyali Teej | Women pray to Goddess Parvati aspiring for a marriage that is as immortal and strong as that of Shiva-Parvati. |
| 19th August 2015 (Wednesday) | Nag Panchami | It is believed that worshipping snakes on this day brings in good fortune. |
| 28th August 2015 (Friday) | Varalakshmi Vrat | Married women worship the Goddess of boons to seek overall wellbeing of their family and also for progeny. |
| 29th August 2015 (Saturday) | Raksha Bandhan | Sisters tie Rakhi (a decorative thread) around their brothers’ wrist to commemorate the special bonding between them. |
| 1st September 2015 (Tuesday) | Kajari/ Kajli Teej | Married women fast on this day to pray for the long life and wellbeing of their husband. |
| 5th September 2015 (Saturday) | Janmashtami | This day commemorated as the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna who is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. |
| 16th September 2015 (Wednesday) | Hartalika Teej | This Vrat is observed on the day when devotees believe that Goddess Parvati became the consort of Lord Shiva and women pray for marital bliss. |
| 17th September 2015 (Thursday) | Ganesh Chaturthi | This is the day when Lord Ganesha is believed to have been born. It is considered to be an auspicious day to make new beginnings. |
| 18th September 2015 (Friday) | Rishi Panchami | This is observed to commemorate the Great Sages who have taught people the right path through their great deeds. |
| 21st September 2015 (Monday) | Radha Ashtami | This day is believed to be the birthday of Radha, Lord Krishna’s Divine Consort. |
| 24th September 2015 (Thursday) | Parsva Ekadashi or Vamana Ekadasi | This is the day of Vamana incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is also believed that on this day Lord Vishnu changes his side during his sleep. |
| 27th September 2015 (Sunday) | Ganesh Visarjan , Anant Chaturdashi | Anant Chaturdashi is the day on which Anant Dev, a form of Lord Vishnu is worshipped especially by those aspiring to revive opulence. This is also the concluding day of Ganesh Puja and the idols are immersed with great fanfare. |
| 12th October 2015 (Monday) | Sarva-Pitru Amavasya/ Mahalaya Amavasya | This is the day when people pray to show respect to the departed souls of their forefathers. |
| 13th October 2015 (Tuesday) | Sharad Navratri or Maha Navaratri begins | This marks the beginning of the nine day long worship of different forms of Goddess Durga. |
| 22nd October 2015 (Thursday) | Dussehra | Dussehra commemorates the day when Lord Ram defeated the ten headed Demon King Ravana. This is celebrated with much fanfare all over India where people burn edifices of Ravana and enact Ramleela, the life story of Ram, apart from prayers. |
| 23rd October 2015 (Friday) and 24th October 2015 (Saturday) | Papankusha Ekadashi | On this day Lord Vishnu is worshipped to get relieved of all sins. |
| 27th October 2015 (Tuesday) | Sharad Purnima or Kojagari Poornima. | Sharad Purnima or Kojagari Poornima is the day to worship Goddess Lakshmi at night to pray for for peace, happiness and prosperity. |
| 30th October 2015 (Friday) | Karwa Chauth | This is a fast observed exclusively by married women praying for the long life, happiness and prosperity of their husband. |
| 3rd November 2015 (Tuesday) | Ahoi Ashtami | This is a fast observed by mothers for the well being and long life of their son/sons. |
| 7th November 2015 (Saturday) | Rama Ekadashi | Observing this fast is believed to guide the devotee to the path of salvation. |
| 9th November 2015 (Monday) | Dhan Teras/ Dhana Trayodashi | On this day Goddess Lakshmi and/or Lord Kubera is worshipped for prosperity. It is a custom to by precious metal on this day. |
| 10th November 2015 (Tuesday) | Narak Chaturdashi/ Kali Chaudus/ Chhoti Deewali | This is the day when Goddess Kali killed Narakasura (a demon) and is worshipped to attain Shakti (strength) to conquer all evils. |
| 11th November 2015 (Wednesday) | Diwali or Deepavali | Known as the Festival of Lights, this occasion is a celebration to eradicate the darkness from our souls and fill up the mind with enlightenment. |
| 12th November 2015 (Thursday) | Gowardhan Puja/ Annakut | Lord Krishna is worshipped on this day by devotees who aspire to be protected by Him. |
| 13th November 2015 (Friday) | Bhaiya Duj/ Bhai dooj/ Bhatri Dwitiya/ Bhau Bij/ Bhai Tika/ Bhai Phota | This is observed by sisters for the well being and longevity of their brothers. |
| 17th November 2015 (Tuesday) | Chhath Puja or Surya Shashti | This is the occasion of paying reverence to the Sun God and is observed for four days. |
| 21st November 2015 (Saturday) | Kansa Vadh | It is believed that on this day Lord Krishna killed his evil uncle King Kansa, and reinstated virtue over vice. |
| 22nd November 2015 (Sunday) | Prabodhini Ekadasi or Devutthana Ekadashi | This brings an end to the four month Chatur-Masa period. It is also believed that on this day Lord Vishnu awakens after his resting period and returns to Vaikunth. |
| 23rd November 2015 (Monday) | Tulasi Vivah | This commemorates the day when holy Tulsi plant was wedded to Lord Vishnu. |
| 25th November 2015 (Wednesday) | Kartik Purnima | This day is believed to be the birthday of the following — Matsya, an incarnation of Vishnu; the war-God Kartikeya, the son of Shiva; and Vrinda, the personification of holy plant Tulsi and is also the beloved of Vishnu. Also this is the day when Radha-Krishna are believed to play the divine Rasa-Leela. |
| 3rd December 2015 (Thursday) | Kalabhairav Jayanti | This is the day that commemorates Kalabhairav, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. |
| 7th December 2015 (Monday) | Utpanna Ekadashi | This is the birthday of Mata Ekadashi who was evoked from the body of Vishnu to kill demon Mura and save the world. |
| 16th December 2015 (Wednesday) | Vivah Panchami, | This is the day when the wedding of Ram and Sita is believed to have happened. |
| Dhanu Sankranti or Dhanu Yatra | Dhanu Sankranti or Dhanu Yatra celebrates the journey of Lord Krishna to Mathura and the day when the Sun enters the Dhanu Raashi (Sagittarius). | |
| 21st December 2015 (Monday) | Gita Jayanti , Mokshada Ekadashi | Gita Jayanti is the celebration of the origin Bhagavad Gita. |
| Praying on Mokshada Ekadasi is believed to bless devotees with moksha (liberation) and fulfillment even in worldly life. | ||
| 24th December 2015 (Thursday) | Dattatreya Jayanti | This is the birthday God Dattatreya, a combined incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (Shiva). |
| 25th December 2015 (Friday) | Margashirsha Purnima | Unmarried girls bathe in river Yamuna on this day tto be blessed with a groom they covet. |