The major vrats (fasting observances) of the Hindu year, sorted by their lunar month from Chaitra through Phalguna. Each entry has a short note, and — where a guide exists on the site — its vrat katha, puja vidhi and greetings.
Chaitra March – April
- Chaitra Navratri Vrat Nine nights of Devi worship that open the Hindu lunar new year. Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Rama Navami Vrat The birth of Lord Rama, kept on Chaitra Shukla Navami. Vrat Food →
- Hanuman Jayanti Vrat The appearance day of Lord Hanuman, on the Chaitra full moon. Puja Vidhi → Vrat Food →
Vaishakha April – May
- Akshaya Tritiya Vrat The "never-diminishing" day — auspicious for new ventures, gold and charity. Vrat Food →
- Narasimha Jayanti Vrat The appearance of Vishnu's man-lion avatar, on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi. Vrat Food →
- Buddha Purnima The birth, enlightenment and nirvana of Gautama Buddha, on the Vaishakha full moon. Vrat Food →
Jyeshtha May – June
- Shani Jayanti Vrat The appearance day of Lord Shani, on Jyeshtha Amavasya. Vrat Food →
- Vat Savitri Vrat Married women fast by the banyan tree for their husband's long life. Vrat Katha → Vrat Food →
- Ganga Dussehra Vrat Celebrates the descent of Goddess Ganga to the earth. Vrat Food →
Ashadha June – July
- Yogini Ekadashi The Krishna-paksha Ekadashi said to cleanse one of the gravest faults. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Devshayani Ekadashi Lord Vishnu reclines into cosmic sleep; the four-month Chaturmas begins. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Guru Purnima Vrat Honours one's guru and the sage Veda Vyasa, on the Ashadha full moon. Vrat Food → Gallery →
Shravana July – August
- Shravan Somvar Vrat (Mondays) The Mondays of Shravan, kept fasting for Lord Shiva. Vrat Food →
- Mangala Gauri Vrat (Tuesdays) The Shravan Tuesdays, kept by women for marital happiness. Vrat Food →
- Hariyali Teej Vrat The monsoon Teej of Parvati, on Shravana Shukla Tritiya. Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Nag Panchami Vrat Worship of the serpent gods (nagas), on Shravana Shukla Panchami. Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Raksha Bandhan / Shravana Purnima The festival of the rakhi, on the Shravana full moon. Vrat Food → Gallery →
Bhadrapada August – September
- Kajari Teej Vrat The Krishna-paksha Teej of Bhadrapada, kept for spouse and family. Vrat Katha → Vrat Food →
- Krishna Janmashtami Vrat The midnight birth of Lord Krishna, on Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami. Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Hartalika Teej Vrat A Parvati fast kept by women on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat Ganeshotsav — the birth of Lord Ganesha, on Shukla Chaturthi. Puja Vidhi → Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Radha Ashtami Vrat The appearance day of Shri Radha, on Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami. Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Anant Chaturdashi Vrat Worship of Ananta (Vishnu) and the day of Ganesh visarjan. Vrat Food →
Ashvina September – October
- Jitiya / Jivitputrika Vrat Mothers fast for the long life and well-being of their children. Vrat Food →
- Sharad Navratri Vrat The autumn nine nights of Devi worship, the grandest Navratri. Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Durga Ashtami Vrat Maha Ashtami of Navratri, the height of Durga worship. Puja Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Maha Navami Vrat The ninth night of Navratri, the eve of Vijayadashami. Puja Vidhi → Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Sharad Purnima Vrat The harvest full moon and Kojagari Lakshmi Puja. Vrat Katha → Vrat Food → Gallery →
Kartika October – November
- Karwa Chauth Vrat Wives fast from sunrise to moonrise for their husband's long life. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Mothers fast for the well-being of their children. Vrat Katha → Vrat Food →
- Dhanteras Vrat The first day of Diwali — worship of Dhanvantari and Lakshmi. Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Narak Chaturdashi Vrat Choti Diwali, marking the slaying of the demon Narakasura. Vrat Food →
- Diwali / Laxmi Puja Vrat The night of Lakshmi Puja, on Kartika Amavasya. Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Govardhan Puja Vrat Worship of Govardhan hill and Annakut, the day after Diwali. Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Bhai Dooj Vrat Sisters honour and pray for the long life of their brothers. Vrat Katha → Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Chhath Puja Vrat A four-day Sun-worship fast, chiefly of Bihar and the east. Vrat Katha → Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Tulsi Vivah Vrat The ceremonial marriage of Tulsi to Lord Vishnu. Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Devutthana Ekadashi Lord Vishnu awakens from cosmic sleep; Chaturmas ends. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
Margashirsha November – December
- Kalabhairav Jayanti Vrat The appearance of Kala Bhairava, the fierce form of Shiva. Vrat Food →
- Vivah Panchami Vrat The marriage day of Lord Rama and Mata Sita. Vrat Food → Gallery →
- Dattatreya Jayanti Vrat The appearance of Lord Dattatreya, on the Margashirsha full moon. Vrat Food → Gallery →
Pausha December – January
- Safala (Saphala) Ekadashi The Krishna-paksha Ekadashi whose fast makes every effort fruitful. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Kept by couples praying for a child and their children's welfare. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Shakambhari Navratri Vrat Eight days of the vegetable-giving Goddess, ending on Pausha Purnima. Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
Magha January – February
- Sakat Chauth Vrat The Magha Sankashti Chaturthi of Ganesha, kept for children's welfare. Vrat Food →
- Shattila Ekadashi The Ekadashi of sesame (til), used six ways for purification and merit. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Vasant Panchami Vrat Worship of Goddess Saraswati and the coming of spring. Puja Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Jaya Ekadashi The Ekadashi of victory, said to free one from lower births. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
Phalguna February – March
- Vijaya Ekadashi The Ekadashi of triumph over obstacles. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Maha Shivratri Vrat The great night of Lord Shiva, kept with an all-night vigil. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Amalaki Ekadashi Worship of the sacred amla tree; it heralds Holi. Vrat Katha → Vrat Vidhi → Vrat Food →
- Holika Dahan Vrat The Holi bonfire, on the Phalguna full moon. Vrat Food →
Lunar months follow the Amanta (new-moon-ending) reckoning; the Gregorian range for each is approximate and shifts year to year. For the exact date and tithi timing of any vrat in your city, open the matching calendar (Ekadashi, Pradosh, Sankashti, Masik Shivaratri, Sankranti or the Amavasya / Purnima Vrat calendars) or the Hindu Calendar (Panchangam).
About the Annual Vrats
A vrat is a vow of fasting and worship kept on a specific tithi (lunar day) in honour of a deity. Across the Hindu year, dozens of vrats recur — some monthly, like Ekadashi, Pradosh and Sankashti Chaturthi, and many tied to a particular lunar month, like Maha Shivratri in Phalguna, Janmashtami in Bhadrapada or Karwa Chauth in Kartika.
This page gathers the year's principal vrats and arranges them by their lunar month, from Chaitra (the start of the Hindu lunar year) to Phalguna. Use it as a map of the festive year; for the exact date in your location, follow the link to the matching calendar or open the Hindu Calendar (Panchangam). For deeper observance, a qualified astrologer can advise the vrat and puja best suited to you.