Bengali Calendar

Bengali Calendar - Panjika 2009

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

August 2009

Bangabda 1416

Shrabon – Bhadro

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 2009 - festivals and vrats through the year

The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 2009, 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). September is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Bangabda 1415 – 1416.

January 2009 Poush – Magh

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

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

Krishna Chaturthi
31 Jan Sat Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami)

The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami.

Shukla Panchami

February 2009 Magh – Falgun

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
23 Feb Mon Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Lord Shiva.

Krishna Chaturdashi

March 2009 Falgun – Choitro

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

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

Shukla Chaturdashi

April 2009 Choitro – Boishakh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
3 Apr Fri Ashokashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
3 Apr Fri Basanti Puja

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

Shukla Ashtami
14 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 Panchami
15 Apr Wed Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year)

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

Krishna Shashthi
27 Apr Mon Akshay Tritiya

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

Shukla Tritiya

May 2009 Boishakh – Joishtho

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
29 May 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

June 2009 Joishtho – Asharh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
7 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
24 Jun Wed Ratha Yatra

The chariot festival of Lord Jagannath.

Shukla Dwitiya
27 Jun Sat Bipodtarini Vrata Vrat Shukla Panchami

July 2009 Asharh – Shrabon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Jul Wed Ulto Rath Yatra

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

Shukla Dashami

August 2009 Shrabon – Bhadro

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 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
5 Aug Wed Rakhi Bandhan

Sisters tie the rakhi on Shravana Purnima.

Shukla Purnima
14 Aug Fri Janmashtami

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.

Krishna Ashtami
15 Aug Sat Nandotsav

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

Krishna Navami
16 Aug Sun Manasa Puja

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

Krishna Dashami
27 Aug Thu Radhashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami

September 2009 Bhadro – Ashshin

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
16 Sep Wed Vishwakarma Puja

The divine architect is worshipped as the Sun enters Kanya.

Krishna Dwadashi
18 Sep Fri Mahalaya

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

Krishna Amavasya
24 Sep Thu Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi

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

Shukla Shashthi
25 Sep Fri Durga Puja — Maha Saptami

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

Shukla Saptami
26 Sep Sat Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
27 Sep Sun Durga Puja — Maha Navami

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

Shukla Navami
28 Sep 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

October 2009 Ashshin – Kartik

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
3 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
16 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 Trayodashi
17 Oct Sat Kali Puja

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

Krishna Chaturdashi
20 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
26 Oct Mon Goshthashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
27 Oct Tue Jagaddhatri Puja

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

Shukla Navami

November 2009 Kartik – Ogrohayon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
16 Nov Mon Kartik Puja

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

Krishna Amavasya
26 Nov Thu Nabanna

The Bengali harvest festival of the new rice in Agrahayan.

Shukla Navami

December 2009 Ogrohayon – Poush

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
16 Dec Wed Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) Vrat Krishna Amavasya

Months of the Bengali Calendar in 2009

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 2009, covering Bangabda 1415 – 1416. 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 2009 13 Jan 2009 13
Magh 14 Jan 2009 12 Feb 2009 30
Falgun 13 Feb 2009 14 Mar 2009 30
Choitro 15 Mar 2009 13 Apr 2009 30
Boishakh 14 Apr 2009 14 May 2009 31
Joishtho 15 May 2009 14 Jun 2009 31
Asharh 15 Jun 2009 16 Jul 2009 32
Shrabon 17 Jul 2009 16 Aug 2009 31
Bhadro 17 Aug 2009 16 Sep 2009 31
Ashshin 17 Sep 2009 17 Oct 2009 31
Kartik 18 Oct 2009 16 Nov 2009 30
Ogrohayon 17 Nov 2009 15 Dec 2009 29
Poush part 16 Dec 2009 31 Dec 2009 16

What happened in the sky in 2009

Beyond the dates the Bengali Calendar lists, 2009 brought 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 4 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) fell on 14 January, 1 day earlier in the year than in 2008 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.

Eclipses of 2009

Date (IST) Eclipse Bengali date Seen from India
26 Jan 1:28 PM Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Magh Amavasya Yes - Sutak observed
9 Feb 8:08 PM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Magh Purnima Penumbral only
7 Jul 3:08 PM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Asharh Purnima Not visible
22 Jul 8:05 AM Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Shrabon Amavasya Yes - Sutak observed
6 Aug 6:09 AM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Rakhi Bandhan Shrabon Purnima Penumbral only

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

Guru and Shani in 2009

Date Graha Sign change
1 May 6:40 PM Guru (Jupiter) Makara → Kumbha
30 Jul 7:50 PM Guru (Jupiter) Kumbha → Makara re-entry while retrograde
10 Sep 12:10 AM Shani (Saturn) Simha → Kanya
20 Dec 12:20 AM Guru (Jupiter) Makara → Kumbha

Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Dhanu on 17 November 2009, carrying the eclipse axis with it.

Frequently asked questions about the Bengali Calendar 2009

How many festivals and vrats does the Bengali Calendar list in 2009?

The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 2009, of which 2 are vrats. The first is Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on Wednesday, 14 January 2009, and the last is Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) on Wednesday, 16 December 2009.

What are the main festival dates in the Bengali Calendar for 2009?

The first major observances of 2009 are:

  • Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) - Wednesday, 14 January 2009
  • Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) - Saturday, 31 January 2009
  • Maha Shivaratri - Monday, 23 February 2009
  • Dol Yatra (Holi) - Tuesday, 10 March 2009
  • Ashokashtami - Friday, 3 April 2009
  • Basanti Puja - Friday, 3 April 2009
Which month of 2009 has the most observances in the Bengali Calendar?

September 2009 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Vishwakarma Puja, Mahalaya, Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi, Durga Puja — Maha Saptami, Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami, Durga Puja — Maha Navami, Bijoya Dashami (Sindur Khela).

Which traditional year does 2009 correspond to in the Bengali Calendar?

The Gregorian year 2009 spans Bangabda 1415 – 1416. 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 2009 have an Adhik Maas?

No. 2009 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 2009?

2009 had 5 eclipses:

  • 26 January 2009 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 9 February 2009 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
  • 7 July 2009 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
  • 22 July 2009 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 6 August 2009 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak 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 2009?

Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2009:

  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 1 May 2009
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 30 July 2009, moving retrograde
  • Shani (Saturn) entered Kanya on 10 September 2009
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 20 December 2009

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 2009?

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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