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Calendar of Hindu Festivities 2018

Sunday 14 January

Makar Sankrant

Makar Sankrant is the first Hindu festival of the solar calendar year, falling around January 14. It falls at a time when the Sun enters the Zodiac sign of Makar (Capricorn) and when the day and night are of equal duration. Days become longer from this point on so it is a time for celebration.

17 January - 26 January

Magha Gupta Navratri

Sunday 21 January

Vasant Panchami

Dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning and Brahma's wife. The festival marks the beginning of Spring.

Tuesday 13 February

Mahashivratri

Mahashivaratri is a Hindu festival dedicated to Shiva, one of the deities of the Hindu Trinity.

Friday 2 March

Holi

The Hindu spring festival of colors.

18 March - 26 March

Chaitra Navratri

Sunday 25 March

Rama Navami

Birthday of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana.

Saturday 31 March

Hanuman Jayanti

This festival marks the birth of Hanuman, the Monkey God, friend of Lord Rama.

Easter Sunday 1 April

Saturday 14 April

Bikrami Samvat - Varsha-Pratipada

The Hindu Spring New Year celebrated particularly in South India.

Monday 30 April

Buddha Purnima - Vesak

Buddha’s birthday.

13 July - 21 July

Ashadha Gupta Navratri

Friday 27 July

Guru Purnima

Hindu celebration of the ancient Gurus, in particular Sage Ved Vyas. A Guru is seen as a remover of darkness, a teacher. The date is the full moon of the month Asadha.

Sunday 26 August

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan is the Hindu festival that celebrates brotherhood and love. "Raksha Bandhan" means a thread for protection.

Monday 3 September

Janmashtami - Krishna Jayanti

The Janmashtami festival marks the birth of Krishna, the most highly venerated God in the Hindu pantheon.

Sunday 23 September

Ganesh Chaturthi

Hindus celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed God, god of prosperity, prudence and success. Images of Ganesh are worshipped.

Tuesday 9 October

Maha Navaratri (start)

Navaratri (nine nights), dedicated to Durga, symbolises the triumph of good over evil and marks the start of autumn.

Thursday 18 October

Dussera

Celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the evil demon Ravana.

Tuesday 6 November

Diwali

Diwali, the festival of lights, is the most popular of all the festivals from South Asia. It is an occasion for celebrations by Hindus as well as Jains and Sikhs.

Narka-Chaturdashi

On the second day of the Hindu festival of Diwali, it is customary for men to bathe before sunrise. This custom re-enacts the ritual cleansing of Lord Krishna, who had smeared his head with the blood of the filthy demon king, Narkasur, who stole the magnificent earrings of Aditi, the Mother Goddess, and imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of the gods and saints in his disgusting den.