Hindu Calendar 2024 with Holidays & Festivals

As we step into 2024, it’s exciting to explore the richness of the Hindu calendar, known for its colorful and spiritually significant holidays and festivals. This year promises a kaleidoscope of cultural experiences, each with its unique history and traditions.

Understanding the Hindu Calendar

The Hindu calendar is a lunisolar system, often aligning with the phases of the moon and the position of the sun. It’s different from the Gregorian calendar, which is solar-based. This means Hindu festival dates vary each year when converted to the Gregorian calendar.

January – Pausha / Magha

• Pausha (ends in mid-January): A time for spiritual reflection. Festivals like Lohri and Makar Sankranti are celebrated.
• Magha (starts from mid-January): Known for its emphasis on purity and religious observances, with Vasant Panchami being a notable festival.

February – Magha / Phalguna

• Magha (continues until mid-February): Celebrations like Vasant Panchami continue in this period.
• Phalguna (begins mid-February): Marks the approach of spring. The festival of Holi, celebrating the triumph of good over evil, is the highlight.

March – Phalguna / Chaitra

• Phalguna (ends in mid-March): Concludes with the colorful and joyous celebration of Holi.
• Chaitra (starts from mid-March): Marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year in many regions with festivals like Ugadi and Gudi Padwa.

April – Chaitra / Vaishakha

• Chaitra (continues until mid-April): Navratri and Ram Navami are significant festivals this month.
• Vaishakha (begins mid-April): A month for religious deeds and charity. Akshaya Tritiya, a day of prosperity and good luck, is celebrated.

May – Vaishakha / Jyeshtha

• Vaishakha (continues until mid-May): Religious activities are emphasized.
• Jyeshtha (starts from mid-May): Known for its hot climate and is a time for pilgrimages and spiritual rituals.

June – Jyeshtha / Ashadha

• Jyeshtha (continues until mid-June): Includes the celebration of Ganga Dussehra.
• Ashadha (begins mid-June): A month marked by the onset of the monsoon and is significant for Guru Purnima.

July – Ashadha / Shravana

• Ashadha (continues until mid-July): Celebrations like Guru Purnima take place.
• Shravana (starts from mid-July): A holy month filled with various religious festivities, including Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami. 

August – Shravana / Bhadrapada

• Shravana (continues until mid-August): Celebrations continue with festivals like Raksha Bandhan.
• Bhadrapada (begins mid-August): Known for Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrating Lord Ganesha’s birth.

September – Bhadrapada / Ashwin

• Bhadrapada (continues until mid-September): Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations take place.
• Ashwin (starts from mid-September): Marks the beginning of the auspicious period of Navratri, leading up to Dussehra.

October – Ashwin / Kartik

• Ashwin (continues until mid-October): Navratri and Dussehra are the main highlights.
• Kartik (begins mid-October): Considered the holiest month, it includes Diwali, the festival of lights.

November – Kartik / Margashirsha

• Kartik (continues until mid-November): Celebrations like Diwali and Kartik Purnima occur.
• Margashirsha (starts from mid-November): A quieter month, focusing on spiritual practices and austerities.

December – Margashirsha / Pausha

• Margashirsha (continues until mid-December): A period for religious activities.
• Pausha (begins mid-December): Marked by cold weather, it’s a time for inner reflection, leading to the celebration of festivals like Lohri and Pongal in the following month.