Kumbha Sankranti
Sankranti — Solar transit into a new zodiac sign; auspicious for charity and sacred bath.
Sankranti moment - 13 February 2016, 2:25 pm
Thursday
Jaya Ekadashi
Liberates from ghostly existence (preta yoni).
Tithi ends - 18 February 2016, 9:33 pm
Saturday
Shani Pradosh (Shukla — Saturday)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 6:14 pm to 7:44 pm
Monday
Purnima (Full Moon)
Purnima — Full Moon day, auspicious for Satyanarayan Puja and sacred baths.
Friday
Sankashti Chaturthi
Sankashti Chaturthi — Ganesha fast on Krishna Chaturthi, break fast after moonrise.
Moonrise - 26 February 2016, 9:28 pm
Saturday
Sankashti Chaturthi
Sankashti Chaturthi — Ganesha fast on Krishna Chaturthi, break fast after moonrise.
Moonrise - 27 February 2016, 10:19 pm
Ram Navami
Ram Navami — Birthday of Lord Ram. Puja at Madhyahna (midday), Ram Katha, fast.
Sunday
Kamada Ekadashi
Grants all wishes and liberates from sins.
Tithi ends - 18 April 2016, 1:06 am
Tuesday
Mahavir Jayanti
Tuesday
Pradosh Vrat (Shukla)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 6:49 pm to 8:19 pm
Friday
Hanuman Jayanti
Purnima — Full Moon day, auspicious for Satyanarayan Puja and sacred baths.
Tuesday
Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi (Tuesday)
Sankashti Chaturthi — Ganesha fast on Krishna Chaturthi, break fast after moonrise.
Moonrise - 26 April 2016, 10:26 pm
Amavasya (New Moon)
Amavasya — New Moon; sacred for Pitru Tarpan (ancestral rites) and Shradh.
Monday
Ganesh Chaturthi (Vinayaka Chaturthi)
Ganesh Chaturthi — installation of Ganesha idol; 10-day festival. Madhyahna Kaal most auspicious.
Tuesday
Parsva Ekadashi
Ekadashi Vrat — sacred to Lord Vishnu. Fast from sunrise; break fast next day at Parana time.
Tithi ends - 13 September 2016, 7:56 am
Thursday
Ganesh Visarjan (Anant Chaturdashi)
Friday
Purnima (Full Moon)
Purnima — Full Moon day, auspicious for Satyanarayan Puja and sacred baths.
Friday
Kanya Sankranti
Sankranti — Solar transit into a new zodiac sign; auspicious for charity and sacred bath.
Sankranti moment - 16 September 2016, 6:37 pm
Tuesday
Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi (Tuesday)
Sankashti Chaturthi — Ganesha fast on Krishna Chaturthi, break fast after moonrise.
Moonrise - 20 September 2016, 9:12 pm
Monday
Indira Ekadashi
Liberates ancestors from hell; Pitru Paksha Ekadashi.
Tithi ends - 27 September 2016, 1:03 am
Wednesday
Pradosh Vrat (Krishna)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 6:10 pm to 7:40 pm
Thursday
Masik Shivaratri
Masik Shivratri — Monthly Shiva fast on Krishna Chaturdashi, night vigil and puja.
Friday
Amavasya (New Moon)
Amavasya — New Moon; sacred for Pitru Tarpan (ancestral rites) and Shradh.
Sharad Navratri — Day 5 · Skandamata
Sharada Navratri — 9 nights of Goddess worship, Ashvin Shukla 1–9. Culminates in Dussehra.
Friday
Sharad Navratri — Day 6 · Katyayani
Sharada Navratri — 9 nights of Goddess worship, Ashvin Shukla 1–9. Culminates in Dussehra.
Saturday
Sharad Navratri — Day 7 · Kalaratri
Sharada Navratri — 9 nights of Goddess worship, Ashvin Shukla 1–9. Culminates in Dussehra.
Sunday
Sharad Navratri — Maha Ashtami (Day 8) · Mahagauri
Sharada Navratri — 9 nights of Goddess worship, Ashvin Shukla 1–9. Culminates in Dussehra.
Monday
Maha Navami (Saraswati Visarjan)
Sharada Navratri — 9 nights of Goddess worship, Ashvin Shukla 1–9. Culminates in Dussehra.
Monday
Sharad Navratri — Maha Navami (Day 9) · Siddhidatri
Sharada Navratri — 9 nights of Goddess worship, Ashvin Shukla 1–9. Culminates in Dussehra.
Tuesday
Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
Vijayadashami — Ram's victory over Ravana, Aparahna kaal most auspicious.
Wednesday
Papankusha Ekadashi
Destroys all sins like a goad destroys an elephant.
Tithi ends - 12 October 2016, 9:14 pm
Friday
Pradosh Vrat (Shukla)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 5:52 pm to 7:22 pm
Sunday
Sharad Purnima (Kojagari Purnima)
Purnima — Full Moon day, auspicious for Satyanarayan Puja and sacred baths.
Monday
Tula Sankranti
Sankranti — Solar transit into a new zodiac sign; auspicious for charity and sacred bath.
Sankranti moment - 17 October 2016, 6:34 am
Wednesday
Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth — married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for husband's longevity. Moon sighting is key.
Moonrise - 19 October 2016, 8:45 pm
Wednesday
Sankashti Chaturthi
Sankashti Chaturthi — Ganesha fast on Krishna Chaturthi, break fast after moonrise.
Moonrise - 19 October 2016, 8:45 pm
Wednesday
Rama Ekadashi
Removes all sins, equal to Ashvamedha Yajna.
Tithi ends - 26 October 2016, 2:30 pm
Thursday
Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi)
Dhanteras — worship of Dhanvantari and Lakshmi, auspicious purchase of gold/silver/utensils.
Friday
Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi)
Dhanteras — worship of Dhanvantari and Lakshmi, auspicious purchase of gold/silver/utensils.
Friday
Pradosh Vrat (Krishna)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 5:39 pm to 7:09 pm
Friday
Masik Shivaratri
Masik Shivratri — Monthly Shiva fast on Krishna Chaturdashi, night vigil and puja.
Devutthana Ekadashi (Prabodhini Ekadashi)
Ekadashi Vrat — sacred to Lord Vishnu. Fast from sunrise; break fast next day at Parana time.
Tithi ends - 11 November 2016, 9:12 am
Saturday
Shani Pradosh (Shukla — Saturday)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 5:28 pm to 6:58 pm
Monday
Kartik Purnima (Dev Diwali)
Purnima — Full Moon day, auspicious for Satyanarayan Puja and sacred baths.
Wednesday
Vrishchika Sankranti
Sankranti — Solar transit into a new zodiac sign; auspicious for charity and sacred bath.
Sankranti moment - 16 November 2016, 6:20 am
Thursday
Utpanna Ekadashi
Birth of Ekadashi Devi; first Ekadashi ever observed.
Friday
Utpanna Ekadashi
Birth of Ekadashi Devi; first Ekadashi ever observed.
Tithi ends - 25 November 2016, 7:41 am
Sunday
Pradosh Vrat (Krishna)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 5:24 pm to 6:54 pm
Sunday
Masik Shivaratri
Masik Shivratri — Monthly Shiva fast on Krishna Chaturdashi, night vigil and puja.
Tuesday
Amavasya (New Moon)
Amavasya — New Moon; sacred for Pitru Tarpan (ancestral rites) and Shradh.
Mokshada Ekadashi (Gita Jayanti)
Grants liberation (Moksha); Gita Jayanti on same day.
Tithi ends - 10 December 2016, 7:44 pm
Monday
Som Pradosh (Shukla — Monday)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 5:25 pm to 6:55 pm
Thursday
Dhanu Sankranti
Sankranti — Solar transit into a new zodiac sign; auspicious for charity and sacred bath.
Sankranti moment - 15 December 2016, 8:57 pm
Saturday
Sankashti Chaturthi
Sankashti Chaturthi — Ganesha fast on Krishna Chaturthi, break fast after moonrise.
Moonrise - 17 December 2016, 9:10 pm
Saturday
Saphala Ekadashi
Makes all efforts successful; removes misfortune.
Tithi ends - 25 December 2016, 3:32 am
Monday
Som Pradosh (Krishna — Monday)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 5:31 pm to 7:01 pm
Tuesday
Pradosh Vrat (Krishna)
Pradosh Vrat — Shiva worship at Pradosh Kaal (1h 36m after sunset) on Trayodashi.
Pradosh Kaal - 5:32 pm to 7:02 pm
Tuesday
Masik Shivaratri
Masik Shivratri — Monthly Shiva fast on Krishna Chaturdashi, night vigil and puja.
Thursday
Amavasya (New Moon)
Amavasya — New Moon; sacred for Pitru Tarpan (ancestral rites) and Shradh.
About the 2016 festival dates
Hindu festival dates are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar — they are determined by the tithi, and a tithi begins and ends at a specific moment rather than at midnight. A festival is therefore assigned to the day on which its governing tithi prevails at the relevant time, which is sunrise for most observances but moonrise, sunset or midnight for others. This is why a festival can fall on different dates in different regions. The dates listed here are a single national set, computed rather than copied from a printed panchang; where your family or local temple observes a different day, follow that tradition.
Open any festival date to see that day's full panchang, including the specific muhurat window its ritual requires — Pradosh Kaal for Lakshmi Puja, Nishita Kaal for Janmashtami, Madhyahna for Ganesh Chaturthi, and the post-Bhadra window for Raksha Bandhan and Holika Dahan.