Festivals, stories and traditions
Festivals & Vrats
Explore meanings, traditions and Calendar context across 27 articles.
These calculated dates have not been independently verified for every city and day. Confirm observances with your local Panchang; locality and tradition can affect the date. How dates are chosen
Next supported dates from · Monday, 19 October 2026 · Delhi
Understanding Panchang
Major festivals
Akshaya Tritiya / Akha Teej
More than a gold-buying day: discover the meaning of Akshaya Tritiya, charity, devotion and distinctive regional traditions.
Bhai Dooj / Bhaiya Dooj
Sibling blessings and hospitality after Diwali, including the Yama–Yamuna narrative and distinct regional forms.
Chhath Puja
Four days of devotion to Surya and Chhathi Maiya, culminating in sunset and sunrise offerings.
Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi)
Understand Dhanteras, Dhanvantari and Lakshmi–Kubera worship, Yama Deepam, regional Diwali customs and why dates depend on local Panchang rules.
Diwali / Deepavali
Lights, stories and traditions across India, Nepal and the diaspora.
Durga Ashtami
A North India-first guide to Durga Ashtami, Kanya Pujan, Mahagauri, prayers and Ashtami–Navami differences.
Dussehra / Vijayadashami
The victorious tenth day of autumn: Rama, Durga and the many living regional traditions of Dussehra.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Why Ganesha is welcomed on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, from family puja and modak to regional Ganeshotsav and farewell traditions.
Hanuman Jayanti
Celebrate Hanuman’s devotion, courage and service while learning why different regions observe his birth on different days.
Holi
Holi joins the joy of spring and colour with Prahlada’s faith, Krishna devotion and many distinct regional traditions.
Holika Dahan
The evening fire before Holi: Prahlada’s story, Phalguna Purnima, Bhadra and India’s diverse bonfire traditions.
Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna’s birth-night festival: Bhagavata narrative, Nishita and Rohini conventions, Nandotsav and celebrations across India.
Makar Sankranti
A solar festival of Surya devotion, shared harvest foods, charity and diverse regional traditions—including the Gorakhnath Temple Khichdi Mela.
Raksha Bandhan
A thread of affection and mutual care, observed around Shravana Purnima with distinctive family and regional traditions.
Rama Navami
The Chaitra Navami celebration of Rama’s birth, from Ramayana narrative to regional temple and home traditions.
Vasant Panchami / Saraswati Puja
A festival of learning and spring: Saraswati worship, Magha Panchami, Vidyarambha and vibrant regional traditions.
Shiva festivals & vrats
Mahashivratri
An annual night of devotion to Shiva, remembered through worship, vigil, storytelling and reflection.
Masik Shivratri
A monthly night of Shiva devotion on Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi—its meaning, rituals and Nishita-based calendar principles.
Pradosha Vrat
Shiva devotion on the Trayodashi evening, generally twice a lunar month.
Shravana Somvar
A regional series of Shiva-devotional Mondays in Shravana, with different calendars and living traditions.
Shakti celebrations
Guru & Nath traditions
Recurring observances
Amavasya
Understand Amavasya as a recurring new-moon tithi, its ancestor-remembrance customs and distinct regional observances.
Ekadashi
Ekadashi is a twice-monthly lunar observance. Learn Vishnu devotion, Smarta and Vaishnava differences, Parana and named festivals.
Karva Chauth
An annual North Indian lunar vrata of marital wellbeing, community worship and moonrise, with distinct textual and living traditions.
Purnima
Understand the monthly full-moon tithi, family worship, named Purnima festivals and local calendar differences.
How this Panchang is calculated
Times are for the selected city in Indian Standard Time (Asia/Kolkata). Dates are calculated from the Sun and Moon; they are model-computed and not independently certified.
The lunar month follows the North Indian full-moon-ending convention. Observance dates can differ between traditions; some skipped-sunrise assignments remain unresolved.
Moon symbols are indicative shapes at sunrise. Muhurat, Parana and Ghatasthapana timings are not supplied.
Full Calendar methodology & limitations