Bengali Calendar

Bengali Calendar - Panjika 2019

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

August 2019

Bangabda 1426

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 2019 - festivals and vrats through the year

The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 2019, opening with Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on 15 January and closing with Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) on 16 December. Of these, 2 are vrats (fasting observances). October is the fullest month with 9 dates. The year runs through Bangabda 1425 – 1426.

January 2019 Poush – Magh

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

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

Shukla Navami

February 2019 Magh – Falgun

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
9 Feb Sat Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami)

The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami.

Shukla Chaturthi

March 2019 Falgun – Choitro

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
4 Mar Mon Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Lord Shiva.

Krishna Trayodashi
20 Mar Wed Dol Yatra (Holi)

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

Shukla Chaturdashi

April 2019 Choitro – Boishakh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
13 Apr Sat Ashokashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
13 Apr Sat Basanti Puja

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

Shukla Ashtami
14 Apr Sun Charak Puja & Gajan

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

Shukla Navami
15 Apr Mon Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year)

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

Shukla Dashami

May 2019 Boishakh – Joishtho

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
7 May Tue Akshay Tritiya

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

Shukla Tritiya

June 2019 Joishtho – Asharh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
8 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
17 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 2019 Asharh – Shrabon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
4 Jul Thu Ratha Yatra

The chariot festival of Lord Jagannath.

Shukla Dwitiya
6 Jul Sat Bipodtarini Vrata Vrat Shukla Chaturthi
11 Jul Thu Ulto Rath Yatra

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

Shukla Dashami

August 2019 Shrabon – Bhadro

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
11 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
15 Aug Thu Rakhi Bandhan

Sisters tie the rakhi on Shravana Purnima.

Shukla Purnima
17 Aug Sat Manasa Puja

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

Krishna Dwitiya
24 Aug Sat Janmashtami

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.

Krishna Ashtami
25 Aug Sun Nandotsav

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

Krishna Navami

September 2019 Bhadro – Ashshin

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
6 Sep Fri Radhashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
17 Sep Tue Vishwakarma Puja

The divine architect is worshipped as the Sun enters Kanya.

Krishna Tritiya
28 Sep Sat Mahalaya

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

Krishna Amavasya

October 2019 Ashshin – Kartik

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
3 Oct Thu Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi

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

Shukla Panchami
5 Oct Sat Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami

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

Shukla Saptami
5 Oct Sat Durga Puja — Maha Saptami

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

Shukla Saptami
6 Oct Sun Durga Puja — Maha Navami

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

Shukla Ashtami
7 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 Navami
13 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
26 Oct 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 Trayodashi
27 Oct Sun Kali Puja

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

Krishna Chaturdashi
29 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

November 2019 Kartik – Ogrohayon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
4 Nov Mon Goshthashtami

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

Shukla Ashtami
5 Nov Tue Jagaddhatri Puja

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

Shukla Navami
17 Nov Sun Kartik Puja

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

Krishna Panchami

December 2019 Ogrohayon – Poush

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
5 Dec Thu Nabanna

The Bengali harvest festival of the new rice in Agrahayan.

Shukla Navami
16 Dec Mon Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) Vrat Krishna Panchami

Months of the Bengali Calendar in 2019

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 2019, covering Bangabda 1425 – 1426. 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 2019 14 Jan 2019 14
Magh 15 Jan 2019 13 Feb 2019 30
Falgun 14 Feb 2019 15 Mar 2019 30
Choitro 16 Mar 2019 14 Apr 2019 30
Boishakh 15 Apr 2019 15 May 2019 31
Joishtho 16 May 2019 15 Jun 2019 31
Asharh 16 Jun 2019 17 Jul 2019 32
Shrabon 18 Jul 2019 17 Aug 2019 31
Bhadro 18 Aug 2019 17 Sep 2019 31
Ashshin 18 Sep 2019 18 Oct 2019 31
Kartik 19 Oct 2019 17 Nov 2019 30
Ogrohayon 18 Nov 2019 16 Dec 2019 29
Poush part 17 Dec 2019 31 Dec 2019 15

What happened in the sky in 2019

Beyond the dates the Bengali Calendar lists, 2019 brought 5 eclipses - 3 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) fell on 15 January, 1 day later in the year than in 2018 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.

Eclipses of 2019

Date (IST) Eclipse Bengali date Seen from India
6 Jan 7:11 AM Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Poush Shukla Pratipada Not visible
21 Jan 10:42 AM Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Magh Purnima Not visible
3 Jul 12:52 AM Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Ratha Yatra Asharh Shukla Pratipada Not visible
17 Jul 3:00 AM Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Asharh Krishna Pratipada Yes - Sutak observed
26 Dec 10:47 AM Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Poush Amavasya Yes - Sutak observed

Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.

Guru and Shani in 2019

Date Graha Sign change
29 Mar 8:10 PM Guru (Jupiter) Vrishchika → Dhanu
23 Apr 1:20 AM Guru (Jupiter) Dhanu → Vrishchika re-entry while retrograde
5 Nov 5:20 AM Guru (Jupiter) Vrishchika → Dhanu

Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Mithuna on 7 March 2019, carrying the eclipse axis with it.

Frequently asked questions about the Bengali Calendar 2019

How many festivals and vrats does the Bengali Calendar list in 2019?

The Bengali Calendar lists 36 dates in 2019, of which 2 are vrats. The first is Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) on Tuesday, 15 January 2019, and the last is Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) on Monday, 16 December 2019.

What are the main festival dates in the Bengali Calendar for 2019?

The first major observances of 2019 are:

  • Poush Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) - Tuesday, 15 January 2019
  • Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) - Saturday, 9 February 2019
  • Maha Shivaratri - Monday, 4 March 2019
  • Dol Yatra (Holi) - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
  • Ashokashtami - Saturday, 13 April 2019
  • Basanti Puja - Saturday, 13 April 2019
Which month of 2019 has the most observances in the Bengali Calendar?

October 2019 is the fullest month with 9 dates, including Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi, Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami, Durga Puja — Maha Saptami, Durga Puja — Maha Navami, Bijoya Dashami (Sindur Khela), Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, Bhoot Chaturdashi, Kali Puja.

Which traditional year does 2019 correspond to in the Bengali Calendar?

The Gregorian year 2019 spans Bangabda 1425 – 1426. 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 2019 have an Adhik Maas?

No. 2019 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 2019?

2019 had 5 eclipses:

  • 6 January 2019 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
  • 21 January 2019 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
  • 3 July 2019 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
  • 17 July 2019 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 26 December 2019 - Annular 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 2019?

Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2019:

  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Dhanu on 29 March 2019
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishchika on 23 April 2019, moving retrograde
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Dhanu on 5 November 2019

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 2019?

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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