Shaka 1948 (2026 – 2027)
Mar 19, 2026 – Apr 7, 2027
Shaka 1948 — the Shalivahana Shaka year used as the Government of India's National Civil Calendar (since 1957) and as the primary religious year in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Goa. Year begins on Gudi Padwa / Ugadi (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada). 45 festivals listed, grouped by Hindu lunar month.
45
Festivals
12
Lunar Months
1948
Shaka year
2083
VS year
Chaitra
चैत्रMarch – AprilThe first month of the Vikram Samvat. New Year for many regions (Gudi Padwa / Ugadi / Cheti Chand). Spring renewal. Hosts Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti.
Gudi Padwa
Marathi New Year — the Vikram Samvat begins.
Ugadi
Telugu and Kannada New Year — the start of a new yuga.
Ram Navami
राम नवमी
The birth of Lord Rama.
Hanuman Jayanti
हनुमान जयंती
The birth of Hanuman, devotee-warrior of Rama.
Vaishakha
वैशाखApril – MaySacred to Vishnu. Hosts Akshaya Tritiya (an unending-prosperity day) and Buddha Purnima. Considered an auspicious month for weddings.
Bohag Bihu
বহাগ বিহু
Assamese New Year — 7 days of Bihu dance, husori, and the start of spring.
Vishu
വിഷു
Kerala New Year — Vishukkani at first sight, kaineetam coins for blessings.
Puthandu
புத்தாண்டு
Tamil New Year — Maangai-Pachadi at sunrise.
Pohela Boishakh
পহেলা বৈশাখ
Bengali New Year — Halkhata, sweets, and the start of Bangabda.
Akshaya Tritiya
अक्षय तृतीया
The "never-decaying" day — universally auspicious.
Buddha Purnima
Birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of the Buddha — all on the same Vaishakha Purnima.
Jyeshtha
ज्येष्ठMay – JunePre-monsoon heat. Hosts Vat Savitri (married women fast for husbands' longevity) and Ganga Dussehra (descent of Ganga to earth).
Vat Savitri
Married women fast for their husbands' longevity.
Ganga Dussehra
गंगा दशहरा
The day Ganga descended from heaven to earth.
Ambubachi Mela
অম্বুবাচী মেলা
The annual menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya — Tantric pilgrimage at Guwahati.
Ashadha
आषाढ़June – JulyMonsoon arrives. Hosts Devshayani Ekadashi (Vishnu sleeps for 4 months — Chaturmas begins), Guru Purnima, and the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.
Shravana
श्रावणJuly – AugustThe most sacred month for Lord Shiva. Mondays of Shravan are observed as fasts. Hosts Hariyali Teej, Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmashtami.
Aadi Perukku
ஆடிப் பெருக்கு
The 18th day of Aadi month — when rivers swell with monsoon flow.
Raksha Bandhan
रक्षा बंधन
The brother-sister bond, sealed with a rakhi thread.
Krishna Janmashtami
कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी
The birth of Krishna, at midnight in Shravana Krishna Ashtami.
Bhadrapada
भाद्रपदAugust – SeptemberHosts Hartalika Teej, Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganesh Utsav), Vishwakarma Puja. Concludes with Pitru Paksha — a 16-day window for ancestor offerings.
Onam
ഓണം
Kerala's 10-day harvest festival — homecoming of King Mahabali.
Ganesh Chaturthi
गणेश चतुर्थी
Ten days of Ganesha — homecoming, then farewell on Anant Chaturdashi.
Pitru Paksha
पितृ पक्ष
A 16-day window for ancestor offerings — major life events suspended.
Ashwin
आश्विनSeptember – OctoberSharad Navratri (9 nights of the Mother Goddess), Dussehra / Vijayadashami (Ram's victory over Ravana), Sharad Purnima fall in this month.
Sharad Navratri
शरद नवरात्रि
Nine nights of the Mother Goddess.
Dussehra
दशहरा / विजयादशमी
Rama's victory over Ravana — the triumph of dharma.
Sharad Purnima
शरद पूर्णिमा
The brightest full moon of the year — moonlight is said to have nectar properties.
Kartika
कार्तिकOctober – NovemberThe most festival-rich month. Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath, Tulsi Vivah, and Kartik Purnima all fall here.
Kati Bihu
কাতি বিহু
The austere Bihu — small lamps in paddy fields, prayers for the harvest.
Kerala Piravi
കേരളപ്പിറവി
Kerala's birthday — the day the state was formed in 1956.
Dhanteras
धनतेरस
The Diwali week begins — gold and metal purchases peak today.
Naraka Chaturdashi
The night before Diwali — Krishna's defeat of Narakasura.
Diwali
दीपावली
The festival of lights — Lakshmi Puja in every home.
Govardhan Puja
Krishna lifts Mount Govardhan — Annakut feast.
Bhai Dooj
The brother-sister bond, second occasion in the year (after Raksha Bandhan).
Jagaddhatri Puja
জগদ্ধাত্রী পূজা
Bengali Kartik festival — Goddess Jagaddhatri (the world-bearer) worshipped in Chandannagar.
Kartik Purnima
The "Diwali of the gods" — celebrated with diyas in Varanasi.
Karthigai Deepam
கார்த்திகை தீபம்
Tamil festival of lights — the giant flame on Arunachala Hill at Tiruvannamalai.
Margashirsha
मार्गशीर्षNovember – DecemberKrishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: "Among months, I am Margashirsha." Hosts Vivah Panchami (Ram-Sita marriage anniversary) and Geeta Jayanti.
Pausha
पौषDecember – JanuaryColdest month. Sun begins its northward journey at Makar Sankranti (transitioning from Pausha to Magha). Tamil Pongal and Punjabi Lohri fall around the same time.
Bhogi Pandigai
போகி பண்டிகை
The first day of the Tamil 4-day Pongal harvest festival — old things go on the bonfire.
Makar Sankranti
मकर संक्रांति
The sun begins its northward journey — the most auspicious solar event.
Thai Pongal
தைப்பொங்கல்
Tamil Nadu's harvest festival — sweet pongal cooked in a new clay pot facing the rising sun.
Magh Bihu
মাঘ বিহু
Assam's harvest festival — Uruka feast, Meji bonfire, and 7 days of feasting.
Mattu Pongal
மாட்டுப் பொங்கல்
Cattle worship — the third day of Pongal honours the bulls and cows that work the fields.
Magha
माघJanuary – FebruarySacred for ritual bathing in holy rivers (Magha Snan). Hosts Mauni Amavasya, Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja), and the Magh Purnima.
Phalguna
फाल्गुनFebruary – MarchThe closing month. Hosts Maha Shivaratri (Shiva's great night), Holika Dahan (the eve before Holi), and Holi (festival of colours, end of the Hindu year).
Maha Shivaratri
महा शिवरात्रि
The "great night of Shiva" — vigil through all four praharas.
Holika Dahan
होलिका दहन
The bonfire on the eve of Holi — burning of the demoness Holika.
Holi
होली
The festival of colours — last festival of the Hindu year.