Festivals &
Annual Hindu Calendar

Listed below are twenty-two major Hindu festivals, of which seven (highlighted) are most important for Hindus in Britain today. More detailed information on many of these festivals is also available from IES upon request.

Gaura Purnima

Major Hindu Festivals
Makara Sankranti / Lobri	Winter Solstice Festival	January
Vashant Panchami	Spring Festival	Jan/Feb
Saraswati Puja	Worship of the Goddess of Learning.	Jan/Feb
Maha Shiva Ratri	Night Festival in honour of Lord Shiva	Feb/March
Gaura Purnima	Full-moon Festival for the Birthday of Chaitanya	March
Holi	The Coloured-water Spring Festival	March
Chaitra	The Spring New-Year Festival (for some Hindus)	March/April
Rama Navami	The Birthday of Lord Rama	March/April
Hanuman Jayanti	The Birthday of Hanuman	April
Narasimha Jayanti	Appearance of half-man/half-lion Incarnation of Vishnu	April/May
Ganga Puja	Worship of Mother Ganga (River Ganges)	June
Ratha Yatra	The Cart Festival of Lord Jagannatha	June/July
Raksha Bandhana	When sisters tie silk amulets on their brothers' wrists	August
Janmashtami	The Birthday of Lord Krishna	August/Sept
Ganesh Chaturthi	The Birthday of Lord Ganesh	August/Sept
Navaratri	The Festival of Nine Nights (in honour of the Goddess).	Sept/Oct
Durga Puja	Worship of the Consort of Lord Shiva	Sept/Oct
Dussehra	The Celebration of Rama's Victory over Ravana.	October
Lakshmi Puja	Worship of the Goddess of Fortune	Oct/Nov
Diwali	The Festival of Lights and New Year Celebration	Oct/Nov
Govardhana Puja	Worship of the Hill lifted by Lord Krishna	Oct/Nov
Go Puja/ Annakuta	Worship of the Cow and the Festival of Grains	Oct/Nov

Cooking for the thousands of guests at festival time

Ten-headed Ravana, prior to his burning at Dussehra

Annual Hindu Calendar
ACADEMIC YEAR	1997/98	1998/99	1999/2000	2000/01	2001/02	2002/03
Festival	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Makara Sankranti/ Lobri	14/01	14/01	15/01	14/01	14/01	14/01
Vashanta Panchami	01/02	22/01	10/02	29/01	17/02	06/02
Saraswati Puja.	01/02	22/01	10/02	29/01	17/02	06/02
Maha Shiva Ratri	25/02	15/02	04/03	21/02	12/03	01/03
Gaura Purnima/ Holi	12/03	02/03	19/03	09/03	28/03	18/03
Chaitra	28/03	18/03	05/04	25/03	13/04	02/04
Rama Navami	05/04	25/03	12/04	02/04	21/04	11/04
Hanuman Jayanti	11/04	31/04	18/04	07/04	26/04	16/04
Narasimha Jayanti	10/05	29/04	17/05	06/05	25/05	15/05
Ganga Puja	04/06	23/06	11/06	01/05	20/05	09/06
Ratha Yatra in Jagannatha Puri	25/06	14/07	03/07	23/06	12/07	01/07
Raksha Bhandana	07/08	26/08	14/08	03/08	22/08	12/08
Janmashtami	15/08	03/09	23/08	12/08	31/08	20/08
Ganesh Chaturthi	26/08	13/09	01/09	22/08	10/09	31/08
Navaratri	21/09	10/10	28/09	17/10	07/10
Durga Puja	28/09	16/10	04/10	23/10	12/10
Dussehra	01/10	19/10	07/10	26/10	15/10
Diwali/ Lakshmi Puja	20/10	07/11	27/10	14/11	04/11
Govardhana Puja	21/10	08/11	28/10	05/11	05/11
Go Puja/ Annakuta	21/10	08/11	28/10	15/11	05/11

	Actual festival dates may vary from those shown here, but rarely (if ever) by more than one day on either side. This is due to slight variations in calculating the Hindu calendar. Additionally, in Britain especially, some celebrations may also occur at the weekend rather than during the week when many are working. Please be sure to check before arranging visits to temples, etc.
	Navaratri: is a nine-day event (literally "the festival of nine nights"). We have listed here the first day only. For example, for the year 1999, the festivities run from 10th until 18th September inclusive.
	Diwali: Please note that the actual time of the Hindu New Year varies considerably, largely according to region and specific religious affiliation. The 'festival year' is often considered to begin with Ganesh Chaturthi and conclude with Janmashtami. Celebrations often run over five days, two on either side of the date shown. The New Year (for some Hindus) falls on the fourth day (i.e. the day after the date given here)
	Ratha Yatra: Originally performed in Pun, Orissa. Now held annually in London. For more information on this and other festivals which groups may visit, please contact us at head office or get in touch with your local centre.

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Festivals & Annual Hindu Calendar

Festivals &
Annual Hindu Calendar