Bengali Calendar

Bengali Calendar - Panjika 2006

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

November 2006

Bangabda 1413

Kartik – Ogrohayon

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 2006 - festivals and vrats through the year

The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 2006, opening with Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on 14 January and closing with Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) on 16 December. Of these, 2 are vrats (fasting observances). October is the fullest month with 8 dates. The year runs through Bangabda 1412 – 1413.

January 2006 Poush – Magh

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

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

Shukla Purnima

February 2006 Magh – Falgun

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
2 Feb Thu Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami)

The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami.

Shukla Panchami
26 Feb Sun Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Lord Shiva.

Krishna Trayodashi

March 2006 Falgun – Choitro

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
14 Mar Tue Dol Yatra (Holi)

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

Shukla Purnima

April 2006 Choitro – Boishakh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
5 Apr Wed Ashokashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
6 Apr Thu Basanti Puja

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

Shukla Ashtami
14 Apr Fri Charak Puja & Gajan

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

Krishna Pratipada
15 Apr Sat Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year)

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

Krishna Dwitiya
30 Apr Sun Akshay Tritiya

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

Shukla Tritiya

June 2006 Joishtho – Asharh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
2 Jun Fri 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
11 Jun Sun Snana Yatra

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

Shukla Purnima
27 Jun Tue Ratha Yatra

The chariot festival of Lord Jagannath.

Shukla Dwitiya

July 2006 Asharh – Shrabon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Jul Sat Bipodtarini Vrata Vrat Shukla Shashthi
6 Jul Thu Ulto Rath Yatra

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

Shukla Dashami

August 2006 Shrabon – Bhadro

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
5 Aug Sat 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
9 Aug Wed Rakhi Bandhan

Sisters tie the rakhi on Shravana Purnima.

Shukla Purnima
16 Aug Wed Janmashtami

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.

Krishna Ashtami
17 Aug Thu Manasa Puja

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

Krishna Navami
17 Aug Thu Nandotsav

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

Krishna Navami

September 2006 Bhadro – Ashshin

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Sep Fri Radhashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
17 Sep Sun Vishwakarma Puja

The divine architect is worshipped as the Sun enters Kanya.

Krishna Ekadashi
22 Sep Fri Mahalaya

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

Krishna Amavasya
28 Sep Thu Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi

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

Shukla Shashthi
29 Sep Fri Durga Puja — Maha Saptami

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

Shukla Saptami
30 Sep Sat Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami

October 2006 Ashshin – Kartik

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Oct Sun Durga Puja — Maha Navami

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

Shukla Navami
2 Oct Mon 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 Dashami
6 Oct Fri 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
20 Oct Fri 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
21 Oct Sat Kali Puja

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

Krishna Chaturdashi
24 Oct Tue 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
30 Oct Mon Goshthashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
31 Oct Tue Jagaddhatri Puja

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

Shukla Navami

November 2006 Kartik – Ogrohayon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
16 Nov Thu Kartik Puja

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

Krishna Ekadashi
29 Nov Wed Nabanna

The Bengali harvest festival of the new rice in Agrahayan.

Shukla Navami

December 2006 Ogrohayon – Poush

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
16 Dec Sat Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) Vrat Krishna Ekadashi

Months of the Bengali Calendar in 2006

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 2006, covering Bangabda 1412 – 1413. 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 2006 14 Jan 2006 14
Magh 15 Jan 2006 12 Feb 2006 29
Falgun 13 Feb 2006 14 Mar 2006 30
Choitro 15 Mar 2006 14 Apr 2006 31
Boishakh 15 Apr 2006 14 May 2006 30
Joishtho 15 May 2006 15 Jun 2006 32
Asharh 16 Jun 2006 16 Jul 2006 31
Shrabon 17 Jul 2006 16 Aug 2006 31
Bhadro 17 Aug 2006 16 Sep 2006 31
Ashshin 17 Sep 2006 17 Oct 2006 31
Kartik 18 Oct 2006 16 Nov 2006 30
Ogrohayon 17 Nov 2006 16 Dec 2006 30
Poush part 17 Dec 2006 31 Dec 2006 15

What happened in the sky in 2006

Beyond the dates the Bengali Calendar lists, 2006 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) fell on 2 February, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2005 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.

Eclipses of 2006

Date (IST) Eclipse Bengali date Seen from India
15 Mar 5:17 AM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Dol Yatra (Holi) Choitro Krishna Pratipada Penumbral only
29 Mar 3:41 PM Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Choitro Amavasya Yes - Sutak observed
8 Sep 12:21 AM Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Bhadro Krishna Pratipada Yes - Sutak observed
22 Sep 5:10 PM Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Mahalaya Ashshin Amavasya Not visible

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

Guru and Shani in 2006

Date Graha Sign change
27 Oct 10:30 PM Guru (Jupiter) Tula → Vrishchika
1 Nov 7:20 AM Shani (Saturn) Karka → Simha

Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Kumbha on 12 October 2006, carrying the eclipse axis with it.

Frequently asked questions about the Bengali Calendar 2006

How many festivals and vrats does the Bengali Calendar list in 2006?

The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 2006, of which 2 are vrats. The first is Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on Saturday, 14 January 2006, and the last is Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) on Saturday, 16 December 2006.

What are the main festival dates in the Bengali Calendar for 2006?

The first major observances of 2006 are:

  • Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) - Saturday, 14 January 2006
  • Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) - Thursday, 2 February 2006
  • Maha Shivaratri - Sunday, 26 February 2006
  • Dol Yatra (Holi) - Tuesday, 14 March 2006
  • Ashokashtami - Wednesday, 5 April 2006
  • Basanti Puja - Thursday, 6 April 2006
Which month of 2006 has the most observances in the Bengali Calendar?

October 2006 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including Durga Puja — Maha Navami, Bijoya Dashami (Sindur Khela), Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, Bhoot Chaturdashi, Kali Puja, Bhai Phota, Goshthashtami, Jagaddhatri Puja.

Which traditional year does 2006 correspond to in the Bengali Calendar?

The Gregorian year 2006 spans Bangabda 1412 – 1413. 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 2006 have an Adhik Maas?

No. 2006 had twelve lunar months with no Adhik Maas, so its festival dates fall in their usual Gregorian window rather than being pushed later by an intercalary month.

Were there any eclipses in 2006?

2006 had 4 eclipses:

  • 15 March 2006 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
  • 29 March 2006 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 8 September 2006 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 22 September 2006 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India

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 2006?

Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2006:

  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishchika on 27 October 2006
  • Shani (Saturn) entered Simha on 1 November 2006

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 2006?

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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