Bengali Calendar - Panjika 2004
The Bengali festival calendar (Panjika). Bengali festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
July 2004
Bangabda 1411
Asharh – Shrabon
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 2004 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 2004, opening with Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on 15 January and closing with Nabanna on 20 December. Of these, 2 are vrats (fasting observances). October is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Bangabda 1410 – 1411. 2004 carries an Adhik Maas (Shravana (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 2004 Poush – Magh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan | Thu |
Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) The Bengali harvest festival on the Sun's entry into Makara, with pithe-puli. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 26 Jan | Mon |
Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami)
The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
February 2004 Magh – Falgun
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Feb | Wed |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 2004 Falgun – Choitro
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar | Sat |
Dol Yatra (Holi) The swing festival of Krishna on Phalguna Purnima, Bengal's Holi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 29 Mar | Mon |
Ashokashtami On Chaitra Shukla Ashtami, Goddess Durga is worshipped and ashoka flower buds are taken to ward off grief. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 30 Mar | Tue |
Basanti Puja The springtime Durga Puja of Chaitra — the original worship of Durga — culminating on Maha Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
April 2004 Choitro – Boishakh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr | Tue |
Charak Puja & Gajan On the last day of the Bengali year, devotees of Shiva perform the Gajan austerities and the spinning Charak rite. |
Krishna Navami |
| 14 Apr | Wed |
Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) The Bengali solar new year, welcomed with Halkhata, sweets and visits to family and temples. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 22 Apr | Thu |
Akshay Tritiya Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, an auspicious day for new ventures and Jagannath's Chandan Yatra. |
Shukla Tritiya |
May 2004 Boishakh – Joishtho
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 May | Tue |
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 |
June 2004 Joishtho – Asharh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jun | Thu |
Snana Yatra On Deva Snana Purnima, Lord Jagannath is given a grand ceremonial bath before retiring into seclusion ahead of Rath Yatra. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 19 Jun | Sat |
Ratha Yatra The chariot festival of Lord Jagannath. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 26 Jun | Sat | Bipodtarini Vrata Vrat | Shukla Ashtami |
| 28 Jun | Mon |
Ulto Rath Yatra The return chariot festival (Bahuda Yatra), when Lord Jagannath journeys back to his temple. |
Shukla Dashami |
August 2004 Shrabon – Bhadro
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug | Mon |
Manasa Puja
The serpent goddess Manasa is worshipped on the last day of Shravan for protection from snakes and for fertility. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 26 Aug | Thu |
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 |
| 30 Aug | Mon |
Rakhi Bandhan Sisters tie the rakhi on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
September 2004 Bhadro – Ashshin
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep | Tue |
Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 8 Sep | Wed |
Nandotsav The day after Janmashtami, celebrating Nanda Maharaj's joy at the birth of baby Krishna with sweets and revelry. |
Krishna Navami |
| 16 Sep | Thu |
Vishwakarma Puja The divine architect is worshipped as the Sun enters Kanya. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 22 Sep | Wed |
Radhashtami The birth of Radha, Krishna's beloved, celebrated with worship and fasting fifteen days after Janmashtami. |
Shukla Ashtami |
October 2004 Ashshin – Kartik
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct | Wed |
Mahalaya The new moon closing Pitru Paksha, when Devi is invoked at dawn. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 19 Oct | Tue |
Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi
Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 20 Oct | Wed |
Durga Puja — Maha Saptami Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 21 Oct | Thu |
Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 22 Oct | Fri |
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 |
| 22 Oct | Fri |
Durga Puja — Maha Navami The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship. |
Shukla Navami |
| 27 Oct | Wed |
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 2004 Kartik – Ogrohayon
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov | Thu |
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 |
| 12 Nov | Fri |
Kali Puja
On Diwali's new-moon night, Goddess Kali is worshipped through the night across Bengal. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 14 Nov | Sun |
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 |
Kartik Puja On the last day of the Bengali month of Kartik, Lord Kartikeya is worshipped, especially by families praying for sons. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 19 Nov | Fri |
Goshthashtami On Kartik Shukla Ashtami, cows and Lord Krishna as Gopala are honoured for their nurture and protection. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 20 Nov | Sat |
Jagaddhatri Puja Goddess Jagaddhatri, a serene form of Durga, is worshipped on Kartik Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
December 2004 Ogrohayon – Poush
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec | Wed | Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) Vrat | Shukla Chaturthi |
| 20 Dec | Mon |
Nabanna The Bengali harvest festival of the new rice in Agrahayan. |
Shukla Navami |
Months of the Bengali Calendar in 2004
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 2004, covering Bangabda 1410 – 1411. 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 2004 | 14 Jan 2004 | 14 |
| Magh | 15 Jan 2004 | 13 Feb 2004 | 30 |
| Falgun | 14 Feb 2004 | 14 Mar 2004 | 30 |
| Choitro | 15 Mar 2004 | 13 Apr 2004 | 30 |
| Boishakh | 14 Apr 2004 | 14 May 2004 | 31 |
| Joishtho | 15 May 2004 | 14 Jun 2004 | 31 |
| Asharh | 15 Jun 2004 | 16 Jul 2004 | 32 |
| Shrabon | 17 Jul 2004 | 16 Aug 2004 | 31 |
| Bhadro | 17 Aug 2004 | 16 Sep 2004 | 31 |
| Ashshin | 17 Sep 2004 | 16 Oct 2004 | 30 |
| Kartik | 17 Oct 2004 | 15 Nov 2004 | 30 |
| Ogrohayon | 16 Nov 2004 | 15 Dec 2004 | 30 |
| Poush part | 16 Dec 2004 | 31 Dec 2004 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 2004
Beyond the dates the Bengali Calendar lists, 2004 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Shravana, running from 18 July 2004 to 16 August 2004. Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) fell on 15 January, 1 day later in the year than in 2003 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2004
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Bengali date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Apr 7:04 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days before Akshay Tritiya | Boishakh Amavasya | Not visible |
| 5 May 2:00 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Boishakh Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 14 Oct 8:29 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day after Mahalaya | Ashshin Amavasya | Not visible |
| 28 Oct 8:34 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Kojagari Lakshmi Puja | Kartik Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2004
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Aug 11:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Kanya |
| 6 Sep 4:40 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Mithuna → Karka |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Bengali Calendar 2004
How many festivals and vrats does the Bengali Calendar list in 2004?
The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 2004, of which 2 are vrats. The first is Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on Thursday, 15 January 2004, and the last is Nabanna on Monday, 20 December 2004.
What are the main festival dates in the Bengali Calendar for 2004?
The first major observances of 2004 are:
- Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) - Thursday, 15 January 2004
- Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) - Monday, 26 January 2004
- Maha Shivaratri - Wednesday, 18 February 2004
- Dol Yatra (Holi) - Saturday, 6 March 2004
- Ashokashtami - Monday, 29 March 2004
- Basanti Puja - Tuesday, 30 March 2004
Which month of 2004 has the most observances in the Bengali Calendar?
October 2004 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Mahalaya, Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi, Durga Puja — Maha Saptami, Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami, Bijoya Dashami (Sindur Khela), Durga Puja — Maha Navami, Kojagari Lakshmi Puja.
Which traditional year does 2004 correspond to in the Bengali Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2004 spans Bangabda 1410 – 1411. 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 2004 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 2004 carried an Adhik Maas (Shravana (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 2004 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 2004?
2004 had 4 eclipses:
- 19 April 2004 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 5 May 2004 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 14 October 2004 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 28 October 2004 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra 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 2004?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2004:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kanya on 27 August 2004
- Shani (Saturn) entered Karka on 6 September 2004
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 2004?
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.
