Jain Calendar 1956
A month-by-month list of the significant Jain festivals and fasting (upvas) days - Paryushan and Samvatsari, Mahavir Jayanti, the twelve Rohini Vrats, the Ashtahnika and Navpad Oli parvas, the Chaumasi Chaudas, Varshi Tap and Mahavir Nirvana - with the date and tithi of each.
The Jain Calendar lists 44 dates in 1956, from Rohini Vrat on 24 January through Rohini Vrat on 17 December. November holds the most with 9 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2012 – 2013. Mahavir Jayanti fell on 23 April, Paryushan began on 1 September, Samvatsari fell on 8 September and Mahavir Nirvana fell on 2 November.
Jain Festivals & Fasting Days
January 1956 Pausha – Magha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 12:33 PM, Jan 23 – 9:44 AM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
February 1956 Magha – Phalguna
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Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak
Tithi 12:36 PM, Feb 5 – 3:16 PM
The birth anniversary (Janma Kalyanak) of Bhagwan Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, on Pausha Krishna Dashami - kept with the Uvasaggaharam Stotra jaap and fasting.
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Meru Trayodashi
Tithi 8:48 PM, Feb 8 – 11:20 PM
The nirvana (moksha) day of the first Tirthankara, Bhagwan Rishabhadeva (Adinatha), venerated with worship of the sacred Mount Meru.
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 2:01 AM – 12:10 AM, Feb 21
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
March 1956 Phalguna – Chaitra
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 3:08 PM, Mar 17 – 1:30 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
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Phalguna Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 1:33 PM, Mar 18 – 11:42 AM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
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Phalguna Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 10:17 PM, Mar 24 – 8:15 PM
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
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Phalguna Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 8:16 PM, Mar 25 – 6:36 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
April 1956 Chaitra – Vaishakha
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Varshitapa Arambha Vrat
Tithi 12:18 AM – 2:53 AM, Apr 4
The beginning of Varshi Tap - a year-long penance of alternate-day fasting commemorating Bhagwan Rishabhadeva's long fast before his first alms.
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 12:42 AM – 10:29 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
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Chaitra Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 8:13 PM, Apr 16 – 6:01 PM
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
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Mahavir Swami Jayanti
Tithi 8:51 AM, Apr 22 – 7:57 AM
The birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi - celebrated with processions, abhishek and charity.
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Chaitra Navapada Oli Ends Vrat
Tithi 7:05 AM, Apr 24 – 7:10 AM
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
May 1956 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 3:59 PM, May 11 – 1:08 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
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Varshitapa Parana
Tithi 1:08 PM, May 12 – 10:12 AM
The breaking (parana) of the year-long Varshi Tap with sugarcane juice on Akshaya Tritiya, as Bhagwan Rishabhadeva broke his fast.
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Mahavira Swami Kevalagyan
Tithi 8:19 PM, May 18 – 7:13 PM
The day Bhagwan Mahavira attained Kevala Jnana - infinite knowledge and omniscience.
June 1956 Jyeshtha – Ashadha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 9:11 AM, Jun 7 – 6:10 AM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
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Shruta Panchami
Tithi 1:12 PM, Jun 12 – 10:25 AM
The Digambara festival venerating the Jain scriptures (Shruta) on Jyeshtha Shukla Panchami - commemorating the day the Shatkhandagama was first written down.
July 1956 Ashadha – Shravana
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:29 PM, Jul 5 – 5:27 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
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Ashadha Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 3:25 PM, Jul 13 – 2:26 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
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Ashadha Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 10:04 PM, Jul 20 – 12:31 AM, Jul 22
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
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Ashadha Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 12:31 AM – 2:59 AM, Jul 23
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
August 1956 Shravana – Bhadrapada
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 11:41 AM, Aug 1 – 9:35 AM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 10:19 PM, Aug 28 – 9:07 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
September 1956 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
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Paryushana Parvarambha
Tithi 4:49 PM, Aug 31 – 1:55 PM
The start of Paryushan - the holiest eight-day festival of the Jains - of fasting, scriptural study, penance and forgiveness.
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Samvatsari Parva
Tithi 4:39 PM, Sep 7 – 3:30 PM
The final and holiest day of Paryushan - of Pratikraman and Michhami Dukkadam, seeking forgiveness from every living being.
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Das Lakshana Parva Begins
Tithi 3:24 PM, Sep 8 – 3:06 PM
The ten-day Digambara festival of the ten supreme virtues (dharma), from Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami to Chaturdashi - the Digambara counterpart of Paryushan.
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Anant Chaturdashi Vrat
Tithi 6:22 AM, Sep 18 – 7:42 AM
The closing day of Das Lakshana, when the fourteen-knot thread of Ananta is worshipped and the Ananta Vrat is observed on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi.
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Kshamavani Parva
Tithi 7:53 AM, Sep 19 – 8:49 AM
The Digambara day of universal forgiveness, the day after Das Lakshana - Jains seek and grant pardon with the words Uttam Kshama and Michhami Dukkadam.
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:40 AM, Sep 25 – 7:20 AM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
October 1956 Ashwina – Kartika
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Ashwina Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 8:47 AM, Oct 10 – 11:02 AM
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
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Ashwina Navapada Oli Ends Vrat
Tithi 11:04 PM, Oct 18 – 11:01 PM
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:01 PM, Oct 22 – 6:27 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
November 1956 Kartika – Margashirsha
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Mahavir Nirvana (Diwali)
Tithi 11:04 PM, Nov 1 – 10:06 PM
Diwali marks the nirvana (final liberation) of Bhagwan Mahavira at Pavapuri; Jains keep it with fasting, the Nirvana Laddu and recitation of his last sermon.
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Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat)
Tithi 10:11 PM, Nov 2 – 9:46 PM
The first day of the Jain Vira Nirvana Samvat year - the morning after Mahavira's nirvana, also the day Gautam Swami attained Kevala Jnana.
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Bhai Dooj (Bhratri Dwitiya)
Tithi 9:51 PM, Nov 3 – 10:02 PM
Sisters honour their brothers on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, the day Gautam Swami is said to have visited his sister, closing the Diwali observances.
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Jnan Panchami (Labh Panchami)
Tithi 12:31 AM – 2:23 AM, Nov 8
Knowledge (Jnan) Panchami - Jain scriptures and the gift of knowledge are venerated; in Gujarat it is also kept as Labh Panchami.
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Kartika Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 4:53 AM – 7:22 AM, Nov 10
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
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Kartika Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 2:51 PM, Nov 16 – 1:46 PM
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
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Kartika Ratha Yatra
Tithi 1:53 PM, Nov 17 – 12:15 PM
The Kartik Purnima chariot procession (Ratha Yatra) and the great pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya (Palitana), reopened after the Chaturmas.
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Kartika Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 1:53 PM, Nov 17 – 12:15 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 12:22 PM, Nov 18 – 10:18 AM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
December 1956 Margashirsha – Pausha
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Maun Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 8:41 AM, Dec 13 – 8:12 AM
The great silent (Maun) fast of Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, on which 150 Kalyanaks of the Tirthankaras are commemorated - kept with silence, fasting and Posaha.
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 3:22 AM – 12:45 AM, Dec 18
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
Tithi start and end times are shown in your local time. Festival dates follow the standard Indian (sunrise) calendar and may vary by a day in other regions, and may differ slightly from regional almanacs (especially around an Adhik Maas).
What happened in the sky in 1956
Beyond the dates the Jain Calendar lists, 1956 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) fell on 3 November, 10 days earlier in the year than in 1955 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1956
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 May 9:01 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Jyeshtha Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 9 Jun 2:50 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Jyeshtha Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 18 Nov 12:17 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Kartika Ratha Yatra | Margashirsha Purnima | Not visible |
| 2 Dec 1:30 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Margashirsha Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1956
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 4:00 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Karka re-entry while retrograde |
| 22 May 9:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Karka → Simha |
| 28 Oct 10:30 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Kanya |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Jain Calendar 1956
How many festivals and vrats does the Jain Calendar list in 1956?
The Jain Calendar lists 44 dates in 1956, of which 29 are vrats. The first is Rohini Vrat on Tuesday, 24 January 1956, and the last is Rohini Vrat on Monday, 17 December 1956.
When was Paryushan in 1956?
Paryushan began on Saturday, 1 September 1956 and closed on Samvatsari, Saturday, 8 September 1956.
The Digambara Das Lakshana Parva began on Sunday, 9 September 1956.
When was Mahavir Jayanti in 1956?
Mahavir Swami Jayanti fell on Monday, 23 April 1956 (Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi), the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira.
When was Mahavir Nirvana in 1956?
Mahavir Nirvana was observed on Friday, 2 November 1956, the same day as Diwali.
The Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) began the next morning, Saturday, 3 November 1956.
What are the main festival dates in the Jain Calendar for 1956?
The main observances in 1956 are:
- Mahavir Jayanti - Monday, 23 April 1956
- Paryushan - Saturday, 1 September 1956
- Samvatsari - Saturday, 8 September 1956
- Mahavir Nirvana - Friday, 2 November 1956
Which month of 1956 has the most observances in the Jain Calendar?
November 1956 is the fullest month with 9 dates, including Mahavir Nirvana (Diwali), Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat), Bhai Dooj (Bhratri Dwitiya), Jnan Panchami (Labh Panchami), Kartika Ashtahnika Begins, Kartika Chaumasi Chaudas, Kartika Ashtahnika Ends, Kartika Ratha Yatra.
Which traditional year does 1956 correspond to in the Jain Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1956 spans Vikram Samvat 2012 – 2013. 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 1956 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1956 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 1956?
1956 had 4 eclipses:
- 24 May 1956 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 9 June 1956 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 18 November 1956 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 2 December 1956 - Partial 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 1956?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1956:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Karka on 14 March 1956, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Simha on 22 May 1956
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kanya on 28 October 1956
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.
Are these 1956 dates the same everywhere?
The dates follow the standard Indian sunrise-based calendar. Because a tithi begins and ends at a fixed moment rather than at midnight, an observance can fall a day earlier or later where sunrise differs - most noticeably outside India. Set your city in the box at the top to see the start and end times in your own local time, and check the daily Panchang for the exact window on the day.
About the Jain Calendar
A month-by-month list of the significant Jain festivals and fasting (upvas) days - Paryushan and Samvatsari, Mahavir Jayanti, the twelve Rohini Vrats, the Ashtahnika and Navpad Oli parvas, the Chaumasi Chaudas, Varshi Tap and Mahavir Nirvana - with the date and tithi of each.
Each entry lists the festival or vrat with its date, the prevailing tithi, and a short note on the observance. Use the year links to plan ahead into the coming years or to look up a date from the archive.
This list is the festival dates, not the daily five limbs. For sunrise, Rahu Kalam and the day's yoga, open the Panchang. Other calendars are on the Calendars index. The story of a fast is under Vrat Katha.
