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.

Makar Sankranti - January 14 (Thursday)
Sun begins to move northwards, release from darkness (ignorance) and return of the light (wisdom, knowledge)

Vasant Panchami - January 20 (Wednesday)
Birthday of Godess Sarasvati (Wisdom)

Maha Shivaratri - February 12 (Friday)
Night of worship and meditation to Lord Siva

Holi - February 28 (Sunday)
Festival of Prahlad (Bhakti), Lord Shiva protects and saves his Bhaktas

Start of Spring - Navaratri - March 15 (Monday)
9 days of fasting in honour to the Holy Mother

Rama Navami - March 24 (Wednesday)
Birthday of Lord Rama

Hanuman Jayanti (Purnima) - March 30 (Tuesday)
Festival of Sri Hanuman

Guru Purnima - July 26 (Monday)
Festival of the Guru, Birthday of Maharishi Ved-Vyasa

Sri Devpuriji's Mahasamadhi - August 11 (Wednesday)
(western calendar: August 14)

Swamiji's Birthday - August 12 (Thursday)
(western calendar: August 15)

Raksha-Bandhan (Purnima) - August 24 (Tuesday)
Festival of brothers and sisters

Sri Krishna Jayanti (Janmashthami) - September 2 (Thursday)
Birthday of Lord Krishna

Holy Guruji's Birthday - September 11 (Saturday)
(western calendar: September 11)

Ganesh Chaturthi - September 11 (Saturday)
Festival of Lord Ganesha

Pitr Purnima - September 23 (Thursday)
Remembering of the ancestors

Gandhi Jayanti - October 2 (Saturday)
Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, International day of non-violence

Start of Autumn Navaratri - October 7 (Thursday)
9 days of fasting in honour to the Holy Mother

Vijaya Dashami (Dasera) - October 16 (Saturday)
Festival of Holy Mother Durga, day of victory of the good over evil, "Day of Enlightenment"

Sharad Purnima - October 22 (Friday)
Nectar full moon (milk rice)

Deepavali (Diwali) / Lakshmi Puja (New Year 2067) - November 5/6 (Friday/Saturday)
Festival of Light, Return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, Birthday of Mahaprabhuji / next day: Festival of Goddess Lakshmi (Wealth), Indian New Year

Holy Guruji's Mahasamadhi - November 13 (Saturday)
(western calendar: October 31, Sunday)

Sri Mahaprabhujii's Mahasamadhi - December 24 (Friday)
(western calendar: December 12, Sunday)