Festivals

Akshaya Tritiya: a day of giving and fresh starts

Akshaya Tritiya is Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya. Per Nirnaya Sindhu, the Tritiya taken is the one present in the forenoon, and if on both days,...

Bhai Dooj: a brother's meal at his sister's home

Bhai Dooj (Yama Dvitiya) is Kartika Shukla Dvitiya, the fifth day of Diwali. Dharmasindhu gives its story: Yamuna fed her brother Yama at he...

Chhath Puja: offerings to the setting and rising Sun

Chhath is the vrat of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya on Kartika Shukla Shashthi: four days, from nahay-khay to the dawn offering. The setting Sun...

Dhanteras: the first lamp of Diwali

Dhanteras is the evening of Krishna Trayodashi, the first of Diwali's five days. The texts ask for a lamp in Yama's name outside the door th...

Diwali: the new-moon night of lamps

Diwali is the new-moon night: the last night of Ashvina in amanta calendars and Kartika's in purnimanta ones. Lamps and Lakshmi puja belong...

Vijayadashami: the day of victory

Vijayadashami or Dussehra is Ashvina Shukla Dashami, the day after Navratri. Per Dharmasindhu, the Dashami taken is the one present in the a...

Ganesh Chaturthi: Ganapati comes home

Ganesh Chaturthi is Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, when Ganapati is installed in homes and pandals. Per Dharmasindhu, the vrat is kept on the...

Govardhan Puja: the hill, the cows and Annakut

Govardhan Puja falls on Kartika Shukla Pratipada, the day after Diwali: worship of Govardhan (or a hill shaped from cow dung or food), of co...

Guru Purnima: the day of Vyasa and of teachers

Guru Purnima is Ashadha's full moon. Dharmasindhu and Nirnaya Sindhu give Vyasa puja on this Purnima, taking the Purnima that lasts three mu...

Hanuman Jayanti: a day of devotion and service

In north India Hanuman Jayanti is kept on Chaitra Purnima; some regions keep other days, such as the Krishna Chaturdashi before Diwali, or d...

Holi: Holika's fire and the day of colours

Holi is a two-part festival: Holika Dahan on the evening of Phalguna Purnima, and the colour Holi the next morning. Per Dharmasindhu, the fi...

Krishna Janmashtami: the midnight birth

Janmashtami is Krishna Ashtami of Bhadrapada (amanta Shravana), the night of Krishna's birth. Per Dharmasindhu, the Ashtami taken is the one...

Karwa Chauth: a fast until moonrise

Karwa Chauth (‘Karaka Chaturthi’ in Dharmasindhu) is the Krishna Chaturthi of Kartika (amanta Ashvina). Per the text, the Chaturthi taken is...

Maha Shivratri: Shiva's night

Maha Shivratri is the night of Krishna Chaturdashi in Magha (purnimanta Phalguna). Per Dharmasindhu, the Chaturdashi taken is the one presen...

Makar Sankranti: the Sun enters Makara

Makar Sankranti is the day the Sun (in sidereal reckoning) enters Makara, nowadays about 14 or 15 January. Per Dharmasindhu, if the entry is...

Sharad Navratri: the Goddess's nine nights

Sharad Navratri is the Goddess's nine nights, Ashvina Shukla Pratipada to Navami. Per Dharmasindhu, the start (ghatasthapana) is on the Prat...

Raksha Bandhan: the day of the protective thread

Raksha Bandhan falls on Shravana Purnima. Per Dharmasindhu, the rakhi is tied in a Bhadra-free Purnima, in the afternoon (aparahna) or eveni...

Ram Navami: Rama's birth at midday

Ram Navami is Chaitra Shukla Navami, Rama's birthday and the last day of Chaitra Navratri. Per Dharmasindhu, Rama was born in Punarvasu naks...

Sharad Purnima: the night of Kojagara

Sharad Purnima is Ashvina's full moon, which Dharmasindhu calls the ‘Kojagara vrata’. The Purnima taken is the one present at nishitha, i.e....

Vasant Panchami: a day of spring and learning

Vasant Panchami is Magha Shukla Panchami, which Dharmasindhu calls the start of the spring festival. Today it is mainly Saraswati puja: yell...