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 1996 opens in December during Vikram Samvat 2053 (Virodhi) of the Hindu calendar.
December 1996
Vikram Samvat 2053 (Virodhi)
Margashirsha – Pausha
Festivals & Vrats in December 1996
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Kalabhairav Jayanti
Tithi 6:40 PM, Dec 1 – 9:20 PM, Dec 2
The appearance of Kala Bhairava, the fierce guardian form of Shiva, on Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami — worshipped at night with his vahana, the dog.
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Kalashtami Vrat
Tithi 9:20 PM, Dec 2 – 11:51 PM, Dec 3
A monthly day to worship Kala Bhairava, a fierce form of Lord Shiva.
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Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 3:10 AM, Dec 6 – 4:02 AM, Dec 7
Marks the appearance of Goddess Ekadashi from Vishnu — the origin of Ekadashi observance.
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Pradosh Vrat Vrat
Tithi 3:31 AM, Dec 8 – 2:44 AM, Dec 9
A twilight (pradosh) fast to Lord Shiva, observed on the thirteenth tithi.
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Masik Shivaratri Vrat
Tithi 2:29 AM, Dec 9 – 12:56 AM, Dec 10
The monthly night of Shiva, observed with fasting and night-long worship.
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Amavasya Vrat
Tithi 12:45 AM, Dec 10 – 10:33 PM, Dec 10
The new-moon day for honouring ancestors (tarpan) and worship.
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Darsha Amavasya Vrat
Tithi 12:45 AM, Dec 10 – 10:33 PM, Dec 10
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 12:45 AM, Dec 10 – 10:33 PM, Dec 10
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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Ishti Vrat
Tithi 10:28 PM, Dec 10 – 7:47 PM, Dec 11
The Darsha-Purnamasa Yajna performed the morning after Anvadhan, with oblations to Lord Vishnu and the deities.
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Vinayaka Chaturthi Vrat
Tithi 1:46 PM, Dec 13 – 10:55 AM, Dec 14
A monthly Ganesha vrat observed on the bright fourth tithi.
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Vivah Panchami
Tithi 10:48 AM, Dec 14 – 8:14 AM, Dec 15
The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, celebrated grandly in Janakpur and Ayodhya.
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Champa Shashti
Tithi 10:48 AM, Dec 14 – 8:14 AM, Dec 15
A six-day festival to Lord Khandoba (Martand Bhairav, a form of Shiva) concludes on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi, worshipped by farmers and warriors.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 8:14 AM, Dec 15 – 5:51 AM, Dec 16
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Itu Puja (Itur Vrata) Vrat
Tithi 10:48 AM, Dec 14 – 8:14 AM, Dec 15
Concluding on Agrahayan Sankranti, women worship the Sun god Itu through the Sundays of Agrahayan for family well-being.
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Dhanurmasam Begins
Tithi 5:51 AM, Dec 16 – 3:41 AM, Dec 17
The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu.
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Masik Durgashtami Vrat
Tithi 3:51 AM, Dec 17 – 2:07 AM, Dec 18
A monthly fast and worship of Goddess Durga on the bright eighth tithi.
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Vaikunta Ekadashi
Tithi 12:19 AM, Dec 20 – 11:52 PM, Dec 20
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil.
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Gita Jayanti / Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 12:19 AM, Dec 20 – 11:52 PM, Dec 20
The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed to Arjuna, observed with the Mokshada Ekadashi fast.
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Pradosh Vrat Vrat
Tithi 11:56 PM, Dec 21 – 12:13 AM, Dec 23
A twilight (pradosh) fast to Lord Shiva, observed on the thirteenth tithi.
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Datta Jayanti
Tithi 1:02 AM, Dec 24 – 2:04 AM, Dec 25
The birth of Lord Dattatreya — the combined form of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh — on Margashirsha Purnima, revered as the adi-guru.
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Yomari Punhi
Tithi 1:02 AM, Dec 24 – 2:04 AM, Dec 25
The Newar harvest full moon of Margashirsha, celebrated with sweet yomari dumplings.
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Margashirsha Purnima Vrat
Tithi 1:02 AM, Dec 24 – 2:04 AM, Dec 25
The full moon of Margashirsha — kept with Dattatreya worship, observed with holy bathing, Satyanarayan Puja and charity.
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Margashirsha Purnima Vrat Vrat
Tithi 1:02 AM, Dec 24 – 2:04 AM, Dec 25
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 1:02 AM, Dec 24 – 2:04 AM, Dec 25
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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Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan)
Tithi 2:10 AM, Dec 25 – 3:35 AM, Dec 26
Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi.
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Ishti Vrat
Tithi 2:10 AM, Dec 25 – 3:35 AM, Dec 26
The Darsha-Purnamasa Yajna performed the morning after Anvadhan, with oblations to Lord Vishnu and the deities.
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Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat
Tithi 7:56 AM, Dec 28 – 10:38 AM, Dec 29
A Ganesha fast observed until the sight of the moon to remove obstacles.
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.