Bhadrapada
भाद्रपद
August – SeptemberAlso spelled: Bhadra, Bhado
Hosts Hartalika Teej, Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganesh Utsav), Vishwakarma Puja. Concludes with Pitru Paksha — a 16-day window for ancestor offerings.
Nakshatra
Purva Bhadrapada & Uttara Bhadrapada
Where the full moon falls in this month
Presiding deity
Ganesha + Krishna + Pitr (ancestors)
Seasonal element
Late monsoon / dense fertility
Agricultural rhythm
Monsoon fades; rice fields green; ancestor offerings during Pitru Paksha.
Spiritual character
Bhadrapada packs the year's densest spiritual schedule. It opens with Hartalika Teej (women's 24-hour nirjala fast), peaks at Ganesh Chaturthi (10-day Ganeshotsav), and closes in the 16-day Pitru Paksha — when ancestors descend to receive tarpana from descendants.
Key observances this month
- •Hartalika Teej (Shukla Tritiya) — strictest women's fast
- •Ganesh Chaturthi (Shukla Chaturthi) — start of 10-day Ganeshotsav
- •Anant Chaturdashi (Shukla Chaturdashi) — Ganesha visarjan
- •Pitru Paksha (Krishna Pratipada → Amavasya) — 16-day ancestor offering window
Auspicious for
- ✓Removing obstacles (Ganesha)
- ✓Ancestor offerings (Pitru Paksha)
Traditionally avoided
- ✗Marriage
- ✗Gruha pravesh
- ✗New business launches (especially during Pitru Paksha)
- ✗Buying gold or vehicles in Pitru Paksha
Festivals in Bhadrapada
Vikram Samvat 2083
Onam
26 Aug 2026 · Wed
Thiruvonam nakshatra in Malayalam Chingam month
Kerala's 10-day harvest festival — homecoming of King Mahabali.
Hartalika Teej
15 Sept 2026 · Tue
Shukla Tritiya
The strictest of married-women fasts — no food, no water for 24 hours.
Ganesh Chaturthi
16 Sept 2026 · Wed
Shukla Chaturthi
Ten days of Ganesha — homecoming, then farewell on Anant Chaturdashi.
Pitru Paksha
26 Sept 2026 · Sat
Krishna Pratipada to Krishna Amavasya
A 16-day window for ancestor offerings — major life events suspended.
Vikram Samvat 2084
Hartalika Teej
3 Sept 2027 · Fri
Shukla Tritiya
The strictest of married-women fasts — no food, no water for 24 hours.
Ganesh Chaturthi
4 Sept 2027 · Sat
Shukla Chaturthi
Ten days of Ganesha — homecoming, then farewell on Anant Chaturdashi.
Onam
12 Sept 2027 · Sun
Thiruvonam nakshatra in Malayalam Chingam month
Kerala's 10-day harvest festival — homecoming of King Mahabali.
Pitru Paksha
16 Sept 2027 · Thu
Krishna Pratipada to Krishna Amavasya
A 16-day window for ancestor offerings — major life events suspended.