The Hindu lunar calendar (Panchang). Each day shows its tithi, nakshatra and any festivals or vrats, with the Vikram Samvat year and the lunar (Amanta) month.
Hindu Calendar 1981 opens in October during Vikram Samvat 2038 (Bhava) of the Hindu calendar.
October 1981
Vikram Samvat 2038 (Bhava)
Ashwina – Kartika
Festivals & Vrats in October 1981
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Vinayaka Chaturthi Vrat
Tithi 2:21 PM, Oct 1 – 4:44 PM, Oct 2
A monthly Ganesha vrat observed on the bright fourth tithi.
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Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi
Tithi 7:19 PM, Oct 3 – 9:54 PM, Oct 4
Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Saptami
Tithi 9:53 PM, Oct 4 – 12:18 AM, Oct 6
Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami
Tithi 12:14 AM, Oct 6 – 2:17 AM, Oct 7
The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.
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Durga Puja — Maha Navami
Tithi 2:08 AM, Oct 7 – 3:37 AM, Oct 8
The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.
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Daksha Savarni Manvadi Vrat
Tithi 2:08 AM, Oct 7 – 3:37 AM, Oct 8
A Manvadi Tithi marking the start of the Daksha Savarni Manvantara, observed for Shradh and charity, on Ashwina Shukla Navami.
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Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami)
Tithi 3:22 AM, Oct 8 – 4:08 AM, Oct 9
The victory of good over evil — effigies of Ravana are burnt and Durga is bid farewell.
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Bijoya Dashami (Sindur Khela)
Tithi 3:22 AM, Oct 8 – 4:08 AM, Oct 9
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).
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Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tithi 3:22 AM, Oct 8 – 4:08 AM, Oct 9
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami.
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Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 3:48 AM, Oct 9 – 3:44 AM, Oct 10
A "goad against sin" that is believed to grant heaven and good health.
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Pradosh Vrat Vrat
Tithi 2:07 AM, Oct 11 – 12:19 AM, Oct 12
A twilight (pradosh) fast to Lord Shiva, observed on the thirteenth tithi.
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Sharad Purnima
Tithi 12:07 AM, Oct 12 – 9:34 PM, Oct 12
The harvest full moon — kheer is set out in the nectar-like moonlight (Amrit Varsha) and the moon is worshipped on the brightest night of the year.
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Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
Tithi 12:07 AM, Oct 12 – 9:34 PM, Oct 12
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.
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Kumar Purnima
Tithi 9:28 PM, Oct 12 – 6:22 PM, Oct 13
Maidens worship Kartikeya and the harvest moon on Ashwin (Sharad) Purnima for a good husband.
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Valmiki Jayanti
Tithi 9:28 PM, Oct 12 – 6:22 PM, Oct 13
The birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki, author of the Ramayana, celebrated on Ashwina (Sharad) Purnima.
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Meerabai Jayanti
Tithi 9:28 PM, Oct 12 – 6:22 PM, Oct 13
The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima.
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Ashwina Purnima Vrat
Tithi 9:28 PM, Oct 12 – 6:22 PM, Oct 13
The full moon of Ashwina — the morning after the Sharad Purnima night — Odisha keeps it as Kumar Purnima, observed with holy bathing, Satyanarayan Puja and charity.
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Ashwina Purnima Vrat Vrat
Tithi 9:28 PM, Oct 12 – 6:22 PM, Oct 13
The full-moon fast, kept with a day-long vrat, a vigil, Satyanarayan Puja and charity, culminating in the worship of the rising full moon.
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Anvadhan Vrat
Tithi 9:28 PM, Oct 12 – 6:22 PM, Oct 13
The preparatory rite of the Darsha-Purnamasa Yajna, when the sacred fire is kindled the day before the Ishti, observed by Vaishnavas on the full moon.
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Ishti Vrat
Tithi 6:21 PM, Oct 13 – 2:56 PM, Oct 14
The Darsha-Purnamasa Yajna performed the morning after Anvadhan, with oblations to Lord Vishnu and the deities.
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Karva Chauth Vrat
Tithi 11:20 AM, Oct 15 – 7:59 AM, Oct 16
Married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the long life of their husbands.
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Atla Taddi Vrat
Tithi 11:20 AM, Oct 15 – 7:59 AM, Oct 16
Married women of Andhra and Telangana fast and offer atlu (dosas) to Goddess Gauri for the well-being of their husbands.
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Kati Bihu (Kongali Bihu)
Tithi 4:48 AM, Oct 17 – 1:48 AM, Oct 18
The austere Bihu of lamps lit in the paddy fields and before the Tulsi for a good harvest, as the Sun enters Tula.
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Kalashtami Vrat
Tithi 9:48 PM, Oct 19 – 8:31 PM, Oct 20
A monthly day to worship Kala Bhairava, a fierce form of Lord Shiva.
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Ahoi Ashtami Vrat
Tithi 11:37 PM, Oct 18 – 9:43 PM, Oct 19
On Kartik Krishna Ashtami, mothers keep a waterless fast for the well-being and long life of their children, worshipping Ahoi Mata and breaking the fast at the sight of the stars or moon.
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Rama Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 7:51 PM, Oct 22 – 8:12 PM, Oct 23
Falls just before Diwali and is kept to wash away sins, dedicated to Lakshmi-Narayana.
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Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi)
Tithi 8:14 PM, Oct 23 – 9:01 PM, Oct 24
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.
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Dhanteras
Tithi 9:03 PM, Oct 24 – 10:12 PM, Oct 25
The first day of Diwali — gold, silver and new utensils are bought to invite prosperity.
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Kali Chaudas
Tithi 9:03 PM, Oct 24 – 10:12 PM, Oct 25
The night before Diwali's Amavasya, Goddess Kali is worshipped to destroy negativity; sleep and laziness (alasya) are symbolically driven from the home.
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Masik Shivaratri Vrat
Tithi 10:16 PM, Oct 25 – 11:45 PM, Oct 26
The monthly night of Shiva, observed with fasting and night-long worship.
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Bhoot Chaturdashi
Tithi 10:16 PM, Oct 25 – 11:45 PM, Oct 26
On the eve of Kali Puja, fourteen lamps are lit and fourteen leafy greens eaten to honour ancestors and ward off evil spirits.
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Narak Chaturdashi (Abhyang Snan)
Tithi 10:16 PM, Oct 25 – 11:45 PM, Oct 26
Krishna's slaying of the demon Narakasura is marked with a pre-dawn ceremonial oil bath (abhyang snan, kept by Sindhis as Roop Chaudas) before the lamps of Diwali.
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Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)
Tithi 11:49 PM, Oct 26 – 1:38 AM, Oct 28
The festival of lights — homes glow with diyas and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for wealth; Sindhis keep it as Diyari.
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Kali Puja
Tithi 11:49 PM, Oct 26 – 1:38 AM, Oct 28
On Diwali's new-moon night, Goddess Kali is worshipped through the night across Bengal.
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Darsha Amavasya Vrat
Tithi 11:49 PM, Oct 26 – 1:38 AM, Oct 28
The Darsha (Amavasya) day for offering tarpan and shradh to the ancestors, kept when the new moon prevails in the afternoon (aparahna).
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Anvadhan Vrat
Tithi 11:49 PM, Oct 26 – 1:38 AM, Oct 28
The preparatory rite of the Darsha-Purnamasa Yajna, when the sacred fire is kindled the day before the Ishti, observed by Vaishnavas on the new moon.
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Govardhan Puja / Annakut
Tithi 1:42 AM, Oct 28 – 3:48 AM, Oct 29
Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity.
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Bali Pratipada (Diwali Padwa / Bestu Varas)
Tithi 1:42 AM, Oct 28 – 3:48 AM, Oct 29
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.
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Ishti Vrat
Tithi 1:42 AM, Oct 28 – 3:48 AM, Oct 29
The Darsha-Purnamasa Yajna performed the morning after Anvadhan, with oblations to Lord Vishnu and the deities.
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Bhai Dooj / Bhau Beej
Tithi 3:54 AM, Oct 29 – 6:15 AM, Oct 30
Sisters apply a tilak and pray for their brothers' well-being, closing the Diwali festival.
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Bhai Phota
Tithi 3:54 AM, Oct 29 – 6:15 AM, Oct 30
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.
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Vinayaka Chaturthi Vrat
Tithi 8:58 AM, Oct 31 – 11:38 AM, Nov 1
A monthly Ganesha vrat observed on the bright fourth tithi.
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.
About the Hindu Calendar (Panchangam)
The Hindu lunar calendar (Panchang). Each day shows its tithi, nakshatra and any festivals or vrats, with the Vikram Samvat year and the lunar (Amanta) month.
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 this year and the next.