Bengali Calendar

Bengali Calendar - Panjika 1999

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

February 1999

Bangabda 1405

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 1999 - festivals and vrats through the year

The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 1999, opening with Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on 14 January and closing with Nabanna on 17 December. Of these, 2 are vrats (fasting observances). October is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Bangabda 1405 – 1406. 1999 carries an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.

January 1999 Poush – Magh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
14 Jan Thu Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti)

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

Krishna Dwadashi
22 Jan Fri Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami)

The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami.

Shukla Panchami

February 1999 Magh – Falgun

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
14 Feb Sun Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Lord Shiva.

Krishna Trayodashi

March 1999 Falgun – Choitro

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Mar Mon Dol Yatra (Holi)

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

Shukla Chaturdashi
24 Mar Wed Ashokashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
25 Mar Thu Basanti Puja

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

Shukla Navami

April 1999 Choitro – Boishakh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
14 Apr Wed Charak Puja & Gajan

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

Krishna Trayodashi
15 Apr Thu Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year)

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

Krishna Chaturdashi
18 Apr Sun Akshay Tritiya

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

Shukla Tritiya

June 1999 Joishtho – Asharh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
19 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
28 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 1999 Asharh – Shrabon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
14 Jul Wed Ratha Yatra

The chariot festival of Lord Jagannath.

Shukla Dwitiya
17 Jul Sat Bipodtarini Vrata Vrat Shukla Panchami
22 Jul Thu Ulto Rath Yatra

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

Shukla Dashami

August 1999 Shrabon – Bhadro

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
17 Aug Tue Manasa Puja

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

Shukla Shashthi
22 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
26 Aug Thu Rakhi Bandhan

Sisters tie the rakhi on Shravana Purnima.

Shukla Purnima

September 1999 Bhadro – Ashshin

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
3 Sep Fri Janmashtami

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.

Krishna Ashtami
4 Sep Sat Nandotsav

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

Krishna Navami
17 Sep Fri Vishwakarma Puja

The divine architect is worshipped as the Sun enters Kanya.

Shukla Saptami
18 Sep Sat Radhashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami

October 1999 Ashshin – Kartik

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
9 Oct Sat Mahalaya

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

Krishna Amavasya
15 Oct Fri Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi

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

Shukla Shashthi
16 Oct Sat Durga Puja — Maha Saptami

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

Shukla Saptami
17 Oct Sun Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami

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

Shukla Saptami
18 Oct Mon Durga Puja — Maha Navami

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

Shukla Ashtami
19 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
24 Oct Sun 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 Purnima

November 1999 Kartik – Ogrohayon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
6 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
7 Nov Sun Kali Puja

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

Krishna Chaturdashi
10 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
16 Nov Tue Goshthashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
16 Nov Tue Kartik Puja

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

Shukla Ashtami
17 Nov Wed Jagaddhatri Puja

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

Shukla Navami

December 1999 Ogrohayon – Poush

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
16 Dec Thu Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) Vrat Shukla Ashtami
17 Dec Fri Nabanna

The Bengali harvest festival of the new rice in Agrahayan.

Shukla Navami

Months of the Bengali Calendar in 1999

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 1999, covering Bangabda 1405 – 1406. 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 1999 14 Jan 1999 14
Magh 15 Jan 1999 12 Feb 1999 29
Falgun 13 Feb 1999 14 Mar 1999 30
Choitro 15 Mar 1999 14 Apr 1999 31
Boishakh 15 Apr 1999 15 May 1999 31
Joishtho 16 May 1999 15 Jun 1999 31
Asharh 16 Jun 1999 16 Jul 1999 31
Shrabon 17 Jul 1999 17 Aug 1999 32
Bhadro 18 Aug 1999 17 Sep 1999 31
Ashshin 18 Sep 1999 17 Oct 1999 30
Kartik 18 Oct 1999 16 Nov 1999 30
Ogrohayon 17 Nov 1999 16 Dec 1999 30
Poush part 17 Dec 1999 31 Dec 1999 15

What happened in the sky in 1999

Beyond the dates the Bengali Calendar lists, 1999 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Jyeshtha, running from 16 May 1999 to 13 June 1999. Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) fell on 22 January, 10 days earlier in the year than in 1998 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.

Eclipses of 1999

Date (IST) Eclipse Bengali date Seen from India
31 Jan 9:47 PM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Magh Purnima Penumbral only
16 Feb 12:03 PM Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days after Maha Shivaratri Falgun Amavasya Not visible
28 Jul 5:03 PM Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Shrabon Purnima Yes - Sutak observed
11 Aug 4:33 PM Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Shrabon Amavasya Yes - Sutak observed

Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.

Guru and Shani in 1999

Date Graha Sign change
13 Jan 3:30 AM Guru (Jupiter) Kumbha → Meena
26 May 4:40 PM Guru (Jupiter) Meena → Mesha

Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Karka on 11 January 1999, carrying the eclipse axis with it.

Frequently asked questions about the Bengali Calendar 1999

How many festivals and vrats does the Bengali Calendar list in 1999?

The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 1999, of which 2 are vrats. The first is Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on Thursday, 14 January 1999, and the last is Nabanna on Friday, 17 December 1999.

What are the main festival dates in the Bengali Calendar for 1999?

The first major observances of 1999 are:

  • Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) - Thursday, 14 January 1999
  • Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) - Friday, 22 January 1999
  • Maha Shivaratri - Sunday, 14 February 1999
  • Dol Yatra (Holi) - Monday, 1 March 1999
  • Ashokashtami - Wednesday, 24 March 1999
  • Basanti Puja - Thursday, 25 March 1999
Which month of 1999 has the most observances in the Bengali Calendar?

October 1999 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 1999 correspond to in the Bengali Calendar?

The Gregorian year 1999 spans Bangabda 1405 – 1406. 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 1999 have an Adhik Maas?

Yes. 1999 carried an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (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 1999 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.

Were there any eclipses in 1999?

1999 had 4 eclipses:

  • 31 January 1999 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
  • 16 February 1999 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
  • 28 July 1999 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 11 August 1999 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed

Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 2 of these were kept in India.

Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1999?

Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1999:

  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 13 January 1999
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 26 May 1999

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 1999?

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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