Gujarati Samvat Calendar 1996
The Gujarati festival calendar (Vikram Samvat, Kartika new year). Gujarati festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each.
October 1996
Gujarati Samvat 2052 (Sarvajit)
Ashwina – Kartika
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.
Gujarati Samvat Calendar 1996 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Gujarati Samvat Calendar lists 43 dates in 1996, opening with Vaikuntha Ekadashi on 1 January and closing with Dattatreya Jayanti on 24 December. Of these, 10 are vrats (fasting observances). November is the fullest month with 10 dates. The year runs through Gujarati Samvat 2051 – 2052. 1996 carries an Adhik Maas (Ashadha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1996 Pausha – Magha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Mon | Vaikuntha Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 15 Jan | Mon |
Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) The kite festival on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Navami |
| 24 Jan | Wed |
Vasant Panchami
The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
February 1996 Magha – Phalguna
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb | Sat |
Maha Shivratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 1996 Phalguna – Chaitra
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar | Mon |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 6 Mar | Wed |
Dhuleti (Holi) The festival of colours, the day after Holika Dahan. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 20 Mar | Wed |
Chaitra Navratri Begins
The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 22 Mar | Fri |
Gangaur The climax of an eighteen-day Rajasthani festival to Gauri (Parvati) on Chaitra Shukla Tritiya; married women pray for their husbands and unmarried girls for a good groom, with grand processions of Gauri and Isar (Shiva) idols in Jaipur and Udaipur. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 28 Mar | Thu |
Ram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
April 1996 Chaitra – Vaishakha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr | Wed |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 20 Apr | Sat |
Akshaya Tritiya (Akhatrij) Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya — among the most auspicious days for new ventures. |
Shukla Tritiya |
May 1996 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May | Thu |
Narsimha Jayanti The advent of Lord Narasimha on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 28 May | Tue |
Ganga Dussehra The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
June 1996 Jyeshtha – Ashadha – Ashadha (Adhik)
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun | Sat | Vat Purnima (Vat Pournima) Vrat | Shukla Purnima |
July 1996 Ashadha (Adhik) – Ashadha – Shravana
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul | Wed |
Ashadhi Beej (Kutchi New Year) The Kutchi new year on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya, welcoming the monsoon. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 17 Jul | Wed |
Ratha Yatra Lord Jagannath's chariot festival, observed grandly in Ahmedabad. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 27 Jul | Sat | Gauri Vrat (Morakat) Begins Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 28 Jul | Sun | Jaya Parvati Vrat Begins Vrat | Shukla Trayodashi |
| 30 Jul | Tue |
Guru Purnima The full moon of Ashadha honouring teachers and sage Veda Vyasa. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 1996 Shravana – Bhadrapada
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 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 Dashami |
| 28 Aug | Wed |
Narali Purnima (Nariyal Purnima) On Shravana Purnima, coastal communities offer coconuts (naral / nariyal) to the sea god Varuna, marking the end of the monsoon and the return to fishing. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 31 Aug | Sat | Bol Choth (Bahula Chauth) Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
September 1996 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep | Mon | Randhan Chhath Vrat | Krishna Panchami |
| 3 Sep | Tue | Shitala Satam Vrat | Krishna Shashthi |
| 5 Sep | Thu |
Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 16 Sep | Mon | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
| 17 Sep | Tue | Rishi Panchami Vrat | Shukla Chaturthi |
| 27 Sep | Fri |
Pitru Paksha Begins The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors begins. |
Shukla Purnima |
October 1996 Ashwina – Kartika
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct | Sun |
Sharad Navratri Begins The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 20 Oct | Sun |
Durga Ashtami
The eighth night of Navratri, sacred to Goddess Durga. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 21 Oct | Mon |
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) The triumph of good over evil on Ashwina Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Navami |
| 25 Oct | Fri |
Sharad Purnima
The bright autumn full moon of Ashwina, kept with Kojagari Lakshmi worship. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
November 1996 Kartika – Margashirsha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov | Sun | Ahoi Ashtami Vrat | Krishna Ashtami |
| 7 Nov | Thu |
Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi) The first day of Diwali, when cows and their calves are worshipped in gratitude for their nourishment — kept as Vasubaras in Maharashtra and Vagh Baras in Gujarat, where traders close the old account books. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 8 Nov | Fri |
Dhanteras The worship of Dhanvantari and the buying of metal. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 9 Nov | Sat |
Kali Chaudas
The night before Diwali's Amavasya, Goddess Kali is worshipped to destroy negativity; sleep and laziness (alasya) are symbolically driven from the home. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 10 Nov | Sun |
Diwali The worship of Goddess Lakshmi and Sharda Puja on Kartika Amavasya. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 10 Nov | Sun |
Kali Chaudas Narak Chaturdashi, kept in Gujarat as Kali Chaudas. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 11 Nov | Mon |
Bali Pratipada (Diwali Padwa / Bestu Varas) The Diwali Padwa honouring King Bali's return; wives perform aukshan (aarti) for their husbands and new account books and ventures are begun. In Gujarat this is Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 12 Nov | Tue |
Bhai Beej Sisters honour their brothers two days after Diwali. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 15 Nov | Fri |
Labh Pancham The fifth day after Diwali (Kartik Shukla Panchami) — the auspicious day Gujarati traders reopen their shops and account books, praying to Lakshmi and Ganesha for profit (labh) in the new year. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 25 Nov | Mon |
Dev Diwali (Kartik Purnima) The Diwali of the gods on Kartika Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 1996 Margashirsha – Pausha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Dec | Tue |
Dattatreya Jayanti The advent of Lord Dattatreya on Margashirsha Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
Months of the Gujarati Samvat Calendar in 1996
The Gujarati Samvat 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 1996, covering Gujarati Samvat 2051 – 2052. A month marked part is one the Gregorian year cuts short at its own start or end.
| Month | Begins | Ends | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pausha part | 1 Jan 1996 | 14 Jan 1996 | 14 |
| Magha | 15 Jan 1996 | 13 Feb 1996 | 30 |
| Phalguna | 14 Feb 1996 | 14 Mar 1996 | 30 |
| Chaitra | 15 Mar 1996 | 13 Apr 1996 | 30 |
| Vaishakha | 14 Apr 1996 | 14 May 1996 | 31 |
| Jyeshtha | 15 May 1996 | 14 Jun 1996 | 31 |
| Ashadha | 15 Jun 1996 | 16 Jun 1996 | 2 |
| Ashadha (Adhik) | 17 Jun 1996 | 15 Jul 1996 | 29 |
| Ashadha | 16 Jul 1996 | 16 Jul 1996 | 1 |
| Shravana | 17 Jul 1996 | 16 Aug 1996 | 31 |
| Bhadrapada | 17 Aug 1996 | 16 Sep 1996 | 31 |
| Ashwina | 17 Sep 1996 | 16 Oct 1996 | 30 |
| Kartika | 17 Oct 1996 | 15 Nov 1996 | 30 |
| Margashirsha | 16 Nov 1996 | 15 Dec 1996 | 30 |
| Pausha part | 16 Dec 1996 | 31 Dec 1996 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1996
Beyond the dates the Gujarati Samvat Calendar lists, 1996 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 Ashadha, running from 17 June 1996 to 15 July 1996. Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) fell on 15 January, 1 day later in the year than in 1995 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1996
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Gujarati Samvat date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 5:39 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Hanuman Jayanti | Chaitra Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 18 Apr 4:07 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days before Akshaya Tritiya (Akhatrij) | Vaishakha Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 27 Sep 8:24 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Pitru Paksha Begins | Ashwina Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 12 Oct 7:31 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Sharad Navratri Begins | Ashwina Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1996
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb 6:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Kumbha → Meena |
| 26 Dec 8:00 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Dhanu → Makara |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Gujarati Samvat Calendar 1996
How many festivals and vrats does the Gujarati Samvat Calendar list in 1996?
The Gujarati Samvat Calendar lists 43 dates in 1996, of which 10 are vrats. The first is Vaikuntha Ekadashi on Monday, 1 January 1996, and the last is Dattatreya Jayanti on Tuesday, 24 December 1996.
What are the main festival dates in the Gujarati Samvat Calendar for 1996?
The first major observances of 1996 are:
- Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) - Monday, 15 January 1996
- Vasant Panchami - Wednesday, 24 January 1996
- Maha Shivratri - Saturday, 17 February 1996
- Holika Dahan - Monday, 4 March 1996
- Dhuleti (Holi) - Wednesday, 6 March 1996
- Chaitra Navratri Begins - Wednesday, 20 March 1996
Which month of 1996 has the most observances in the Gujarati Samvat Calendar?
November 1996 is the fullest month with 10 dates, including Ahoi Ashtami, Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi), Dhanteras, Kali Chaudas, Diwali, Bali Pratipada (Diwali Padwa / Bestu Varas), Bhai Beej, Labh Pancham.
Which traditional year does 1996 correspond to in the Gujarati Samvat Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1996 spans Gujarati Samvat 2051 – 2052. 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 1996 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1996 carried an Adhik Maas (Ashadha (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 1996 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1996?
1996 had 4 eclipses:
- 4 April 1996 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 18 April 1996 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 27 September 1996 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 12 October 1996 - Partial 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 1996?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1996:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Meena on 16 February 1996
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 26 December 1996
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 1996?
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 Gujarati Samvat Calendar opens on the current month.
About the Gujarati Samvat Calendar
The Gujarati festival calendar (Vikram Samvat, Kartika new year). Gujarati festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each.
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.
