The Holy Days Catalog — Vedic & Hindu Festivals Explained

The Vedic calendar is dense with holy days — over 100 major observances per year across Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta, and regional traditions. KarmaWheel computes each holy day against your local sunrise (so the dates are correct for your location, not generic India dates) and lists them in the Holy Days Calendar.

This article is a reference to the most important holy days you'll see.

Lunar-cycle observances

These recur on every lunar cycle (twice a month or once a month).

Ekadashi — every 11th tithi

The 11th day of each fortnight, both Sukla (waxing) and Krishna (waning). Twenty-four Ekadashis per year. Each has a name and traditional story:

Putrada Ekadashi — "giver of children"
Vaikuntha Ekadashi — "Vaikuntha portal opens"
Mokshada Ekadashi — "moksha-giving"
Devshayani Ekadashi — "Vishnu's sleep begins"
Devotthana Ekadashi — "Vishnu's awakening"
...and many more

Observance: fasting from sunrise to sunrise, mantra recitation (especially Vishnu-related), avoiding grains, charitable giving. The most observed regular Vaishnava practice.

Pradosha — every 13th tithi (Krishna Paksha)

The Krishna Paksha 13th tithi, especially evening. Sacred to Shiva. Observance: evening Shiva worship, abhishekam, recitation of Shiva mantras.

Purnima — full moon

Once a month. Universally auspicious. Specific Purnimas have additional significance:

Guru Purnima — devotion to one's guru
Sharad Purnima — autumn full moon, associated with Lakshmi
Magha Purnima — winter full moon, sacred bathing

Amavasya — new moon

Once a month. Sacred to ancestors (pitris). Observance: ancestor rites (pitri tarpan), charitable food offerings.

Major annual festivals

Mahashivaratri (Maha Shiva Ratri)

The "great night of Shiva" — late winter, on Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Magha. All-night vigil of Shiva worship, mantra recitation, fasting. One of the most-observed Hindu holy days.

Holi

Spring festival of colors, the day after Phalguna Purnima. Celebrates Prahlada's protection by Vishnu, the burning of Holika, the arrival of spring. Observance: bonfires the night before, throwing colored powder the day of.

Rama Navami

Sri Rama's birthday — Sukla Paksha Navami of Chaitra (typically March/April). Observance: reading from the Ramayana, visiting Rama temples, fasting until noon.

Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman's birthday — Chaitra Purnima. Observance: Hanuman Chalisa recitation, visiting Hanuman temples, especially powerful for those with Mars-related challenges.

Akshaya Tritiya

Sukla Paksha Tritiya of Vaishakha (April/May). "Inexhaustible" — anything begun on this day grows endlessly. Observance: starting new ventures, giving to charity, buying gold.

Guru Purnima

Ashadha Purnima (June/July). Devotion to one's spiritual teacher. Observance: visiting one's guru, offering puja, expressing gratitude.

Janmashtami / Krishna Janmashtami

Sri Krishna's birthday — Krishna Paksha Ashtami of Bhadrapada (August/September). All-night vigil, fasting until midnight, then breaking fast. Among the most-observed Vaishnava festivals globally.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Sukla Paksha Chaturthi of Bhadrapada. Birth of Ganesha. Ten-day festival in some regions, especially Maharashtra. Observance: Ganesha installation, daily puja, immersion at festival end.

Navaratri / Durga Puja

Nine nights of the Goddess — usually twice a year (spring and autumn). Each night is dedicated to a different form of the Goddess. Observance: fasting, mantra recitation, special dietary observances. Culminates in Vijayadashami (Dasara) — Goddess's victory.

Diwali (Deepavali)

The festival of lights — Krishna Paksha Amavasya of Karthika (October/November). Multi-day celebration: Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja (the main day), Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj. Observance: lighting lamps, Lakshmi worship, household decoration, family gatherings.

Karthika Purnima

Karthika Purnima — universally auspicious for spiritual practice. Sacred to many deities including Vishnu, Shiva, and Karttikeya.

Geeta Jayanti

Mokshada Ekadashi (December) — birth of the Bhagavad Gita. Reading the Gita on this day is classically auspicious.

Gaura Purnima

Phalguna Purnima — birth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sacred in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. Observance: kirtana, fasting, study of Caitanya Caritamrita.

Vaishnava-specific

The four months of Caturmasya

Ashadha Sukla Ekadashi to Karthika Sukla Ekadashi — the four months when Vishnu is said to "sleep". Traditional restrictions on certain foods (greens, dairy, etc.) and increased spiritual practice.

Vaikuntha Ekadashi

Margashirsha Sukla Ekadashi (December). Classically the day Vaikuntha (Vishnu's abode) opens. Most-significant Ekadashi for many Vaishnava traditions.

Shaiva-specific

Pradosha (twice a month)

The 13th tithi (Krishna Paksha especially). Shiva worship in the evening pradosha-kala (1.5 hours before sunset to 1.5 hours after).

Mahashivaratri

(See above.)

Rudrabhishekam observances

Eleven Rudrams chanted on specific days, especially Mondays (Shiva-day) and during Shravana month.

Shakta-specific

Navaratri