2016 Hindu Festivals charts the customary dates as per the dictates of the Hindu calendar on the modern day Gregorian calendar for your ease, and furthermore provides a brief a brief depiction to edify about the traditions and ceremonies.
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 15th January 2016 (Friday) | Makar Sankranti, Uttarayana Sankranti , Pongal, Maghi, Lohri, Bhogali Bihu. | This is the important day that marks the start of Spring all over India. |
| 20th January 2016 (Wednesday) | Pushya (Paush) Putrada Ekadashi | This is the day where people pray for having children or for the well-being of their child. |
| 23rd January 2016 (Saturday) | Pushya (Paush) Purnima | This is the best day to start all forms of formal education. |
| 8th February 2016 (Tuesday) | Mauni Amavas | This is an important day for practicing discipline in your spiritual life. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 12th February 2016 (Friday) | Vasant Panchami | This is the day where the Goddess Saraswati is worshiped by people attempting to obtain insight and knowledge. |
| 15th February 2016 (Monday) | Bhishma Ashtami | This is the day where people pray to Lord Vishnu in an attempt to gain sincerity, honesty and candor that is a trademark for Bhishma, who is a loved character from the Mahabharata. |
| 22nd February 2016 (Monday) | Maagh Purnima | This is an important day where everyone pays ritualistic tributes to their ancestors. |
| 13th February 2016 (Saturday) | Kumbha Sankranti | This is an important day as it marks the start of the Solar calendar. |
| 7th March 2016 (Tuesday) | Maha ShivaRatri | This is the day where people pray for forgiveness of their sins and seeking salvation from Lord Shiva. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 23rd March 2016 (Wednesday) | Holika Dahan/ Jalanevali Holi/ Chhoti Holi | This was the day when Demon Holika had been killed and the people now burn edifices to mark sending the evil away from them. |
| 24th March 2016 (Thursday) | Holi | This is also called the Festival of Colors and people will smear and throw colors on everyone else in welcoming celebration for spring. |
| 8th April 2016 (Saturday) | Yugadi , Gudi Padwa | This is the start of the Andhra Pradesh’s traditional New Year as well as in Maharashtra as well. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9th April 2016 (Saturday) | Gauri Puja/Gangaur | This holiday is observed in a few parts of India and it is believed that praying on this specific day will give you a happy life when married. |
| 15th April 2016 (Friday) | Rama Navami | This is the birthday one of the incarnations of the beloved Lord Vishnu, Lord Ram. |
| 14th April 2016 (Thursday) | Solar New Year – Baisakh/ Bohag Bihu/ Vishu/ Pahela Baisakh (Nabo Barsho)/ Navreh. | This is the New Year for Kashmir, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Punjab. It is a huge celebration that everyone celebrates. |
| 22nd April 2016 (Friday) | Hanuman Jayanti | This is the birthday celebration of the God Vanara. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 8th May 2016 (Sunday) | Parashuram Jayanti | This day is celebrated as Parashuram’s birthday, which is the 6th incarnation of the Lord Vishnu. |
| 9th April 2016 (Monday) | Akshaya Tritiya/ Akha Teej | This is one of the most important days that brings with it blessings on various virtues that aren’t possible to destroy. |
| 21st May 2016 (Saturday) | Buddha Purnima | This is the day of celebrating the birthday, Nirvana and wisdom of Lord Buddha. |
| 4th June 2016 (Saturday) | Vat Savitri Vrat | This is the day where all married men pray for the well-being of their husband’s. |
| 5th June 2016 | ||
| (Sunday) | Shani Jayanti | This day celebrates the birthday of Lord Shani. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 14th June 2016 (Tuesday) | Ganga Dussehra | This is the special day when the river Ganga, which is a celestial entity is worshiped. |
| 16th June 2016 (Thursday) | Nirjala Ekadashi | This is a day where people fast, and often without water, to seek gifts. |
| 19th June 2016 (Sunday) | Vat Purnima Vrat | This is the day where all married women pray that their spouse lives a long life. |
| 6th July 2016 (Wednesday) | Jagannath Rathyatra | This is a chariot celebration that is commemorated every year and Goddess Subhadra, Lord Balaram and Lord Jagannath are also worshiped. |
| 15th July 2016 (Friday) | Dev Shayani Ekadashi or Hari Shayani Ekadashi or Padma Ekadasi | This is the starting date of the 4 month time frame that is called Chatur-Masa. |
| 19th July 2016 (Tuesday) | Guru Purnima | On this day all of the disciples pay their teachers, whether they are religious or not, tribute. |
| 5th August 2016 (Friday) | Hariyali Teej | On this day the women pray that their marital bond will remain strong. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7th August 2016 (Wednesday) | Nag Panchami | During this time people are looking for good fortune through snake worship. |
| 12th August 2016 (Friday) | Varalakshmi Vrat | This is another day when the married women pray to have children and also for their family’s well-being. |
| 18th August 2016 (Thursday) | Raksha Bandhan | This is a day that celebrates the bonds between sisters and brothers. |
| 21st August 2016 (Sunday) | Kajari/ Kajli Teej | This is a day where married women fast for the well-being and long life of their husband.husband. |
| 25th August 2016 | ||
| (Thursday) | ||
| Janmashtami | This day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna, who was another incarnation of Lord Vishnu. | |
| 4th September 2016 | ||
| (Sunday) | Hartalika Teej | On this day the women will pray for a marital bond that is fulfilling. |
| 5th September 2016 | ||
| (Monday) | Ganesh Chaturthi | This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha and it is thought to be a good time to start any new beginnings. |
| 6th September 2016 | ||
| (Tuesday) | Rishi Panchami | This is the day where the great sages all over the country are honored for guiding everyone through the right path of life. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9th September 2016 (Friday) | Radha Ashtami | This is the birthday of Radha, who is known to be the divine consort of Lord Krishna. |
| 13th September 2016 (Tuesday) | Parsva Ekadashi or Vamana Ekadasi | This day is when Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Vamana. |
| 15th September 2016 (Thursday) | Ganesh Visarjan, Anant Chaturdashi | This is the last day of the Ganesh Puja and the day when Anant Dev is worshiped for those seeking prosperity. |
| 30th September 2016 (Friday) | Sarva-Pitru Amavasya/ Mahalaya Amavasya | This day is spent paying tribute to their departed relatives by the living ones. |
| 1st October 2016 (Saturday) | Sharad Navratri or Maha Navaratri begins | This is the starting date of the 9 days that are spent worshiping the various forms of Goddess Durga. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 11th October 2016 (Tuesday) | Dussehra | Mythology says that this is the day that Ram defeated Ravana and people celebrate this day to signify that everything is good. |
| 12th October 2016 (Wednesday) | Papankusha Ekadashi | This is the day where people ask Lord Vishnu to forgive their sins through worship. |
| 15th October 2016 (Saturday) | Sharad Purnima or Kojagari Poornima. | This is the day where Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped by people who are looking for prosperity, contentment and serenity. |
| 19th October 2016 (Wednesday) | Karwa Chauth | This is a fast that is observed by married women who are praying for their husband to be happy and have a long life. |
| 22nd October 2016 (Saturday) | Ahoi Ashtami | This is the day where mothers fast for their son(s) well-being. |
| 26th October 2016 (Wednesday) | Rama Ekadashi | This is the day that believe believe that they can attain salvation by observing certain rituals. |
| 28th October 2016 (Friday) | Dhan Teras/ Dhana Trayodashi | On this day people buy precious metals and worship Lord Kubera and/or Goddess Lakshmi. |
| 29th October 2016 (Saturday) | Narak Chaturdashi/ Kali Chaudus/ Chhoti Deewali | On this day the people ask for strength by worshiping Goddess Kali. |
| 30th October 2016 (Sunday) | Diwali or Deepavali | This is the day where a huge celebration is held to get rid of all darkness from one’s life. |
| 31st October 2016 (Monday) | Gowardhan Puja/ Annakut | This is the day people seek protection by worshiping Lord Krisna. |
| 1st November 2016 (Tuesday) | Bhaiya Duj/ Bhai dooj/ Bhatri Dwitiya/ Bhau Bij/ Bhai Tika/ Bhai Phota | This is the day where the sisters pray for their brothers to have a long and happy life. |
| 6th November 2016 (Sunday) | Chhath Puja or Surya Shashti | This is the day where the Sun God is prayed to. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10th November 2016 (Thursday) | Prabodhini Ekadasi or Devutthana Ekadashi | This is the ending day of the 4 month period of Chatur-Masa. |
| Date | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10th December 2016 (Saturday) | Gita Jayanti , Mokshada Ekadashi | This is the day when the Bhagavad Gita is thought to have been written. This is the day when praying can help you to achieve salvation. |
| 13th December 2016 (Tuesday) | Dattatreya Jayanti | This is the birthday of God Dattatreya, who is a mixture of Maheswara (Shiva), Vishnu and Brahma. |
| 13th December 2016 (Tuesday) | Margashirsha Purnima | This is the day where the unmarried females bath in the river Yamuna while praying to get their choice groom. |