Bengali Calendar

Bengali Calendar - Panjika 1972

The Bengali festival calendar (Panjika). Bengali festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.

February 1972

Bangabda 1378

Magh – Falgun

Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Timings shown for New Delhi (IST) at sunrise - use the city box at the top to change it. Solar months begin by each tradition's own Sankranti rule (same-day, next-day, sunset or aparahna). Era years and lunar month names follow standard Vedic calculations and may differ slightly from regional almanacs around an Adhik Maas.

Bengali Calendar 1972 - festivals and vrats through the year

The Bengali Calendar lists 34 dates in 1972, opening with Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on 15 January and closing with Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) on 15 December. Of these, 2 are vrats (fasting observances). October is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Bangabda 1378 – 1379. 1972 carries an Adhik Maas (Vaishakha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.

January 1972 Poush – Magh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
15 Jan Sat Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti)

The Bengali harvest festival on the Sun's entry into Makara, with pithe-puli.

Krishna Chaturdashi
20 Jan Thu Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami)

The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami.

Shukla Chaturthi

February 1972 Magh – Falgun

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
13 Feb Sun Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Lord Shiva.

Krishna Trayodashi
28 Feb Mon Dol Yatra (Holi)

The swing festival of Krishna on Phalguna Purnima, Bengal's Holi.

Shukla Chaturdashi

March 1972 Falgun – Choitro

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
22 Mar Wed Ashokashtami

On Chaitra Shukla Ashtami, Goddess Durga is worshipped and ashoka flower buds are taken to ward off grief.

Shukla Ashtami
23 Mar Thu Basanti Puja

The springtime Durga Puja of Chaitra — the original worship of Durga — culminating on Maha Navami.

Shukla Navami

April 1972 Choitro – Boishakh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
13 Apr Thu Charak Puja & Gajan

On the last day of the Bengali year, devotees of Shiva perform the Gajan austerities and the spinning Charak rite.

Krishna Amavasya
14 Apr Fri Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year)

The Bengali solar new year, welcomed with Halkhata, sweets and visits to family and temples.

Shukla Pratipada

May 1972 Boishakh – Joishtho

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
15 May Mon Akshay Tritiya

Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, an auspicious day for new ventures and Jagannath's Chandan Yatra.

Shukla Tritiya

June 1972 Joishtho – Asharh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
17 Jun Sat Jamai Sasthi

Mothers-in-law worship Goddess Sasthi and honour their sons-in-law (jamai) with a grand feast, on Jyeshtha Shukla Shashthi.

Shukla Shashthi
26 Jun Mon Snana Yatra

On Deva Snana Purnima, Lord Jagannath is given a grand ceremonial bath before retiring into seclusion ahead of Rath Yatra.

Shukla Purnima

July 1972 Asharh – Shrabon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
12 Jul Wed Ratha Yatra

The chariot festival of Lord Jagannath.

Shukla Dwitiya
15 Jul Sat Bipodtarini Vrata Vrat Shukla Panchami
20 Jul Thu Ulto Rath Yatra

The return chariot festival (Bahuda Yatra), when Lord Jagannath journeys back to his temple.

Shukla Dashami

August 1972 Shrabon – Bhadro

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
16 Aug Wed Manasa Puja

The serpent goddess Manasa is worshipped on the last day of Shravan for protection from snakes and for fertility.

Shukla Saptami
20 Aug Sun Jhulan Yatra (Hindola) Begins

The swing festival of Radha and Krishna — beautifully decorated swings are rocked through to Jhulan Purnima; in Gujarat temples the same hindola (swing) darshan is held.

Shukla Ekadashi
24 Aug Thu Rakhi Bandhan

Sisters tie the rakhi on Shravana Purnima.

Shukla Purnima
31 Aug Thu Janmashtami

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.

Krishna Saptami

September 1972 Bhadro – Ashshin

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Sep Fri Nandotsav

The day after Janmashtami, celebrating Nanda Maharaj's joy at the birth of baby Krishna with sweets and revelry.

Krishna Navami
16 Sep Sat Radhashtami

The birth of Radha, Krishna's beloved, celebrated with worship and fasting fifteen days after Janmashtami.

Shukla Ashtami

October 1972 Ashshin – Kartik

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
6 Oct Fri Mahalaya

The new moon closing Pitru Paksha, when Devi is invoked at dawn.

Krishna Chaturdashi
13 Oct Fri Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi

Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.

Shukla Shashthi
14 Oct Sat Durga Puja — Maha Saptami

Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.

Shukla Saptami
15 Oct Sun Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami

The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.

Shukla Ashtami
16 Oct Mon Durga Puja — Maha Navami

The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.

Shukla Ashtami
17 Oct Tue Bijoya Dashami (Sindur Khela)

The tenth and final day of Durga Puja — married women smear one another with vermilion in Sindur Khela before the idols are carried out for immersion (Bisarjan).

Shukla Navami
21 Oct Sat Kojagari Lakshmi Puja

On the Sharad Purnima night, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped through a vigil for prosperity; in Rajasthan, Jodhpur keeps the night with the Marwar Festival of folk music and dance.

Shukla Chaturdashi

November 1972 Kartik – Ogrohayon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
4 Nov Sat Bhoot Chaturdashi

On the eve of Kali Puja, fourteen lamps are lit and fourteen leafy greens eaten to honour ancestors and ward off evil spirits.

Krishna Chaturdashi
5 Nov Sun Kali Puja

On Diwali's new-moon night, Goddess Kali is worshipped through the night across Bengal.

Krishna Amavasya
8 Nov Wed Bhai Phota

The Bengali brother–sister festival on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya — sisters place a sandalwood phota (tilak) on their brothers' foreheads and pray for their long life.

Shukla Dwitiya
14 Nov Tue Goshthashtami

On Kartik Shukla Ashtami, cows and Lord Krishna as Gopala are honoured for their nurture and protection.

Shukla Ashtami
15 Nov Wed Jagaddhatri Puja

Goddess Jagaddhatri, a serene form of Durga, is worshipped on Kartik Shukla Navami.

Shukla Navami
15 Nov Wed Kartik Puja

On the last day of the Bengali month of Kartik, Lord Kartikeya is worshipped, especially by families praying for sons.

Shukla Navami

December 1972 Ogrohayon – Poush

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
15 Dec Fri Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) Vrat Shukla Navami

Months of the Bengali Calendar in 1972

The Bengali Calendar does not begin its year on 1 January, so each of its months straddles two Gregorian ones. These are the months that ran through 1972, covering Bangabda 1378 – 1379. A month marked part is one the Gregorian year cuts short at its own start or end.

Month Begins Ends Days
Poush part 1 Jan 1972 14 Jan 1972 14
Magh 15 Jan 1972 13 Feb 1972 30
Falgun 14 Feb 1972 13 Mar 1972 29
Choitro 14 Mar 1972 13 Apr 1972 31
Boishakh 14 Apr 1972 14 May 1972 31
Joishtho 15 May 1972 14 Jun 1972 31
Asharh 15 Jun 1972 15 Jul 1972 31
Shrabon 16 Jul 1972 16 Aug 1972 32
Bhadro 17 Aug 1972 16 Sep 1972 31
Ashshin 17 Sep 1972 16 Oct 1972 30
Kartik 17 Oct 1972 15 Nov 1972 30
Ogrohayon 16 Nov 1972 15 Dec 1972 30
Poush part 16 Dec 1972 31 Dec 1972 16

What happened in the sky in 1972

Beyond the dates the Bengali Calendar lists, 1972 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 1 was above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Vaishakha, running from 14 April 1972 to 13 May 1972. Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) fell on 15 January, 1 day later in the year than in 1971 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.

Eclipses of 1972

Date (IST) Eclipse Bengali date Seen from India
16 Jan 4:32 PM Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day after Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) Magh Amavasya Not visible
30 Jan 4:23 PM Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Magh Purnima Yes - Sutak observed
11 Jul 1:15 AM Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Ratha Yatra Asharh Shukla Pratipada Not visible
26 Jul 12:45 PM Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Shrabon Purnima Not visible

Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these.

Guru and Shani in 1972

Date Graha Sign change
6 Jan 7:30 AM Guru (Jupiter) Vrishchika → Dhanu

Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Dhanu on 5 September 1972, carrying the eclipse axis with it.

Frequently asked questions about the Bengali Calendar 1972

How many festivals and vrats does the Bengali Calendar list in 1972?

The Bengali Calendar lists 34 dates in 1972, of which 2 are vrats. The first is Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on Saturday, 15 January 1972, and the last is Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) on Friday, 15 December 1972.

What are the main festival dates in the Bengali Calendar for 1972?

The first major observances of 1972 are:

  • Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) - Saturday, 15 January 1972
  • Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) - Thursday, 20 January 1972
  • Maha Shivaratri - Sunday, 13 February 1972
  • Dol Yatra (Holi) - Monday, 28 February 1972
  • Ashokashtami - Wednesday, 22 March 1972
  • Basanti Puja - Thursday, 23 March 1972
Which month of 1972 has the most observances in the Bengali Calendar?

October 1972 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Mahalaya, Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi, Durga Puja — Maha Saptami, Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami, Durga Puja — Maha Navami, Bijoya Dashami (Sindur Khela), Kojagari Lakshmi Puja.

Which traditional year does 1972 correspond to in the Bengali Calendar?

The Gregorian year 1972 spans Bangabda 1378 – 1379. The traditional year does not begin on 1 January, so one Gregorian year usually covers the end of one era year and the start of the next.

Did 1972 have an Adhik Maas?

Yes. 1972 carried an Adhik Maas (Vaishakha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month inserted roughly every third year to keep the lunar calendar in step with the solar one. Festivals falling after it shift later in the Gregorian year, which is why 1972 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.

Were there any eclipses in 1972?

1972 had 4 eclipses:

  • 16 January 1972 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
  • 30 January 1972 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 11 July 1972 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
  • 26 July 1972 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India

Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 1 of these was kept in India.

Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1972?

Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1972:

  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Dhanu on 6 January 1972

Jupiter takes about a year to cross one sign and Saturn about two and a half, so these transits colour the whole year rather than a single week.

How do I see the tithi and nakshatra for a specific date in 1972?

Use the month grid above: pick a month from the selector, then tap any day to open its full panchang - tithi with start and end times, nakshatra, yoga, karana, sunrise and sunset, and the inauspicious periods (Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda, Gulika Kalam). Set your city in the box at the top first, because these timings are sunrise-based and shift with location. The Bengali Calendar - Panjika opens on the current month.

About the Bengali Calendar - Panjika

The Bengali festival calendar (Panjika). Bengali festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.

Each day lists its tithi and paksha, the nakshatra, the weekday (vaar) and any festivals or vrats. Tap any day to see the full panchang for that date - tithi start and end times, nakshatra, yoga, karana, sunrise and sunset, and the inauspicious periods (Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda, Gulika Kalam). Use the month and year selectors to browse any year in the archive or plan ahead into the coming years.

This calendar names the tithi and festivals for each day. For sunrise, Rahu Kalam and muhurat windows on a chosen date, open the Panchang. Other regional calendars are on the Calendars index. Fast stories live under Vrat Katha.

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