INDIAN FESTIVALS

Dates of Indian Festivals are set according to the Moon calendar and they have to be converted to the Western Calendar each year anew.

Indian Festivals in 2013

Makar Sankranti - January 14 (Monday)

Sun begins to move northwards, release from darkness (ignorance) and return of the light (wisdom, knowledge)

India Republic Day - January 26 (Sunday)

Constitution of India

Paush Purnima - January 27 (Sunday)
Shakambari brings again "green food"

Vasant Panchami - February 15 (Friday)
Birthday of Goddess Sarasvati (Wisdom)

Magh Purnima - February 25 (Monday)
Puja to Lord Satyanarayan and Lord Vishnu

Maha Shivaratri - March 10/11 (Sunday/Monday)
Night of worship and meditation to Lord Shiva

Holi - Phalgun Purnima  - March 24 (Sunday)
Festival of Prahlad (Bhakti), Lord Shiva protects and saves his Bhaktas

Ramayana Week - Spring Navaratri - April 11 (Thursday)
9 days of fasting in honour to the Holy Mother

Rama Navami - April 19/20 (Friday/Saturday)
Birthday of Lord Rama

Hanuman Jayanti (Chaitra Purnima) - April 25 (Thursday)
Festival of Sri Hanumanji (Seva)

Buddha Purnima - May 24/25 (Friday/Saturday)
Celebration of Buddha's Birthday

Vat Savitri Purnima - June 23 (Sunday)
Women pray for their husbands' long life

Guru Purnima - July 22 (Monday)
Festival of the Guru, Birthday of Maharishi Ved-Vyasa

Sri Devpuriji's Mahasamadhi - August 08 (Thursday)
Western Calendar 14.08.

Swamiji's Birthday - August 09 (Friday)
Western Calendar 15.08.

Rakhi Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) - August 20/21 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Festival of brothers and sisters

Sri Krishna Jayanti (Janmashthami) - August 28 (Wednesday)
Birthday of Lord Krishna

Holy Guruji's Birthday - September 08 (Sunday)
(western calendar: September 11, Tuesday)

Ganesh Chaturthi - September 09 (Monday)
Festival of Lord Ganeshji

UN Peace Day September 21 (Saturday)

Peace Prayers at YIDL Peace Trees

Pitr Purnima - September 19 (Thursday)
Remembering of the ancestors

UN Non-Violence Day  October 02(Wednesday)

Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi

Start of Autumn Navaratri - October 05 (Saturday)
9 days of fasting in honour to the Holy Mother

Vijaya Dashami (Dassera) - October 13/14 (Sunday/Monday)
Festival of Holy Mother Durga, day of victory of the good over evil, "Day of Enlightenment"

Sharad Purnima - October 18 (Friday)
Nectar from the Moon (Kheer)

Deepavali (Diwali) - November 03 (Sunday)
Festival of Light, Return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, Birthday of Mahaprabhuji

Lakshmi Puja (Vikram New Year 2070) - November 04 (Monday)
Festival of Goddess Lakshmi (Wealth), Indian New Year

Holy Guruji's Mahasamadhi - November 09 (Saturday)
(western calendar: October 31, Wednesday)

Kartik Purnima (Dev Diwali) - November 17 (Sunday)
Devas descend on Earth to honor Ganga Mata

Margashirsha Purnima - December 17 (Tuesday)
Vishnu and Lakshmi Puja

Sri Mahaprabhujii's Mahasamadhi - December 21, (Saturday)
(western calendar: December 5, Wednesday)

Maha Shivaratri 2014 - February 28 (Friday)
Night of worship and meditation to Lord Shiva