Hindu Festival Calendar 2016 covers all the major Hindu celebrations and observances. Hindus observe their traditional festivals as per the traditional Hindu calendar which is a solar based calendar.
However, for official purposes everywhere the modern day Gregorian calendar is used. Now the dates of the Hindu festival keep changing each year for they are determined as per the Hindu almanac.
For those who celebrate these festivals, to help you plot the occurrences, we at 123NewNear have provided the dates as per modern day calendar.
To keep the tradition alive we have also included a brief description of each of the festivities.
So, here goes the Hindu Festival Calendar 2016 –
| Name of the Festival | Date of the Festival | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Makar Sankranti, Uttarayana Sankranti , Pongal, Maghi, Lohri, Bhogali Bihu. | Jan-15 | This is considered to be an auspicious day for the Hindus. This is when Spring season begins according to Hindu beliefs. This day is celebrated as harvest festival in various parts of the country. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Pushya (Paush) Putrada Ekadashi | Jan-20 | This is the day when people pray before God for the wellbeing of their children. |
| (Wednesday) | ||
| Pushya (Paush) Purnima | Jan-24 | This day is considered auspicious to begin education in a formal manner. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Mauni Amavas | Feb-08 | This is a day when observed piously is believed to bring spiritual gains. |
| (Monday) | ||
| Vasant Panchami | Feb-12 | This is the day to worship Goddess Saraswati for knowledge and enlightenment. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Kumbha Sankranti | Feb-13 | This is the first day of the traditional Solar calendar and is considered to be very auspicious. |
| (Saturday) | ||
| Bhishma Ashtami | Feb-15 | Bhishma is a respected character of the epic Mahabharata who is known for his sincerity, honesty, dignity and integrity. On this day people pray to Lord Vishnu so that they are blessed with virtues like that of Bhisma. |
| (Monday) | ||
| Maagh Purnima | Feb-22 | This is the day to pay tribute to one’s ancestors. |
| (Monday) | ||
| Maha ShivaRatri | Mar-07 | People pray to Lord Shiva on this day for salvation and redemption from sins. |
| (Monday) | ||
| Holika Dahan/ Jalanevali Holi/ Chhoti Holi | Mar-23 | As per Hindu mythology this is the day when Demon Holika was killed. People burn edifices to symbolize victory of virtue over vice. |
| (Wednesday) | ||
| Holi | Mar-24 | A colorful festival to enjoy Spring Season. |
| (Thursday) | ||
| Yugadi , Gudi Padwa | Apr-08 | On this day begins the traditional New Year in the Indian States of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Gauri Puja/Gangaur | Apr-10 | People worship deities on this day seeking happiness in wedded life. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Solar New Year – Baisakh/ Bohag Bihu/ Vishu/ Pahela Baisakh (Nabo Barsho)/ Navreh. | Apr-13 | Traditional regional New Year as observed in the States of Punjab, Assam, Kerala, Bengal and Kashmir. |
| (Wednesday) | ||
| Rama Navami | Apr-15 | This marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ram, who is considered an incarnation of Vishnu. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Hanuman Jayanti | Apr-22 | This day celebrates the birth anniversary of Hanuman, the Vanara God. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Parashuram Jayanti | May-08 | This is the birth anniversary of Parashuram, who is considered to be the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Akshaya Tritiya/ Akha Teej | May-09 | This is one of the most auspicious days as per Hindu calendar. It is believed that worshipping on this day endows one with virtues that can never be destroyed. |
| (Monday) | ||
| Buddha Purnima | May-21 | This is the day that marks the Birth, Enlightenment and Nirvana of Lord Buddha. |
| (Saturday) | ||
| Vat Savitri Vrat | Jun-04 | Performed by married women who pray for the wellbeing of their husband. |
| (Saturday) | ||
| Shani Jayanti | Jun-05 | Birth anniversary of Lord Shani. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Ganga Dussehra | Jun-14 | People worship the celestial river Ganga. |
| (Tuesday) | ||
| Nirjala Ekadashi | Jun-16 | Going without food and even water on this day is believed to help attain salvation. |
| (Thursday) | ||
| Vat Purnima Vrat | Jun-19 | Married women pray for the long life of their husband. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Jagannath Rathyatra | Jul-06 | The very renowned chariot festival is observed to worship Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and Goddess Subhadra. |
| (Wednesday) | ||
| Dev Shayani Ekadashi or Hari Shayani Ekadashi or Padma Ekadasi | Jul-15 | From this day begins the four month period of Chatur-Masa. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Guru Purnima | Jul-19 | The day when disciples pay homage to their teacher or Guru. |
| (Tuesday) | ||
| Hariyali Teej | Aug-05 | This is the day when women pray for happiness in marriage. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Nag Panchami | Aug-07 | People worship Snakes on this day seeking good fortune. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Varalakshmi Vrat | Aug-12 | Married women pray on this day seeking wellbeing of family, especially children. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Raksha Bandhan | Aug-18 | A day that celebrates the bond of love between brothers and sisters. |
| (Thursday) | ||
| Kajari/ Kajli Teej | Aug-21 | On this day married women fast seeking long life and overall wellbeing of husband. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Janmashtami | Aug-25 | This is the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. |
| (Thursday) | ||
| Hartalika Teej | Sep-04 | This is the day when women worship so that they have a happy and fulfilling marriage. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Sep-05 | Celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, and the day is considered to be auspicious for new beginnings. |
| (Monday) | ||
| Rishi Panchami | Sep-06 | This day pays homage to all the saints who have always been a guiding star in people’s life. |
| (Tuesday) | ||
| Radha Ashtami | Sep-09 | This is the day when it is believed that Radha, Lord Krishna’s Divine Consort, was born. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Parsva Ekadashi or Vamana Ekadasi, Onam | Sep-13 | This is the day when Lord Vishnu appeared in his Vamana incarnation. |
| (Tuesday) | ||
| Ganesh Visarjan , Anant Chaturdashi | Sep-15 | This is the concluding day of Ganesh puja. On this day Anant Dev is worshipped to seek opulence. |
| (Thursday) | ||
| Sarva-Pitru Amavasya/ Mahalaya Amavasya | Sep-30 | People pray to pay homage to their departed ancestors. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Sharad Navratri or Maha Navaratri begins | Oct-02 | This marks the beginning of the nine days of worshipping Goddess Durga in various forms. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Dussehra | Oct-11 | According to mythology this is the day when Ravana was defeated by Lord Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. People celebrate this day to establish good over evil. |
| (Tuesday) | ||
| Papankusha Ekadashi | Oct-12 | People worship Lord Vishnu and ask forgiveness from all sins ever committed. |
| (Wednesday) | ||
| Sharad Purnima or Kojagari Poornima. | Oct-15 | A day to worship Goddess Lakshmi seeking peace, contentment and prosperity in the household. |
| (Saturday) | ||
| Karwa Chauth | Oct-19 | Fasting is observed by married women for the longevity and wellbeing of husband. |
| (Wednesday) | ||
| Ahoi Ashtami | Oct-22 | Mothers fast for the wellbeing of their son/ sons. |
| (Saturday) | ||
| Rama Ekadashi | Oct-26 | People believe that observing rituals on this day helps to attain salvation. |
| (Wednesday) | ||
| Dhan Teras/ Dhana Trayodashi | Oct-28 | People seek prosperity round the year by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and/or Lord Kubera. It is also a custom to buy any precious metal. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Narak Chaturdashi/ Kali Chaudus/ Chhoti Deewali | Oct-29 | This is the day when Goddess Kali is worshipped for strength. |
| (Saturday) | ||
| Diwali or Deepavali | Oct-30 | A festival of lights when people worship to erase all kinds of darkness from one’s life. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Gowardhan Puja/ Annakut | Oct-31 | People worship Lord Krishna asking for protection. |
| (Monday) | ||
| Bhaiya Duj/ Bhai dooj/ Bhatri Dwitiya/ Bhau Bij/ Bhai Tika/ Bhai Phota | Nov-01 | Sisters pray on this day for the happiness and long life of brother/ brothers. |
| (Tuesday) | ||
| Chhath Puja or Surya Shashti | Nov-06 | People worship the Sun God. |
| (Sunday) | ||
| Prabodhini Ekadasi or Devutthana Ekadashi | Nov-11 | The four months of Chatur-Masa ends. |
| (Friday) | ||
| Gita Jayanti | Dec-10 | This is the day when Bhagavad Gita is believed to have been originated. |
| (Saturday) | ||
| Praying on this day brings salvation. | ||
| Mokshada Ekadashi | ||
| Dattatreya Jayanti, | The birthday of God Dattatreya, who is a combination of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (Shiva). | |
| Dec-13 | ||
| (Tuesday) | Unmarried girls bathe in river Yamuna and pray so that they get a groom as per their wish. | |
| Margashirsha Purnima | ||
| Saphala Ekadasi (Pausha Krishna Ekadashi) | Dec-24 | Observed in the waning phase of the moon in the Indian month of Pausha, this is the day when devotees worship Lord Vishnu for salvation. |
| (Saturday) |