Jain Calendar 1961
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 46 dates in 1961, from Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak on 12 January through Rohini Vrat on 20 December. November holds the most with 9 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2017 – 2018. 1961 carries an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several dates later than usual. Mahavir Jayanti fell on 30 March, Paryushan began on 7 September, Samvatsari fell on 14 September and Mahavir Nirvana fell on 7 November.
Jain Festivals & Fasting Days
January 1961 Pausha – Magha
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Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak
Tithi 8:12 PM, Jan 11 – 6:51 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 1:57 PM, Jan 14 – 10:29 AM
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 10:36 AM, Jan 25 – 12:14 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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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 12:08 PM, Jan 26 – 2:11 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.
February 1961 Magha – Phalguna
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Phalguna Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 1:08 AM – 1:21 AM, Feb 22
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 2:44 AM – 4:20 AM, Feb 24
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 1961 Phalguna – Chaitra
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Phalguna Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 2:40 PM, Feb 28 – 5:01 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 5:03 PM, Mar 1 – 7:07 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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Varshitapa Arambha Vrat
Tithi 9:15 PM, Mar 9 – 7:39 PM
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 5:05 PM, Mar 21 – 5:49 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 5:49 PM, Mar 22 – 7:15 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 7:27 AM, Mar 29 – 9:08 AM
The birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi - celebrated with processions, abhishek and charity.
April 1961 Chaitra – Vaishakha
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Chaitra Navapada Oli Ends Vrat
Tithi 10:39 AM, Mar 31 – 11:17 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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Varshitapa Parana
Tithi 9:27 AM, Apr 16 – 8:47 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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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:14 AM, Apr 18 – 8:56 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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Mahavira Swami Kevalagyan
Tithi 7:09 PM, Apr 24 – 9:30 PM
The day Bhagwan Mahavira attained Kevala Jnana - infinite knowledge and omniscience.
May 1961 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha (Adhik)
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 10:16 PM, May 15 – 10:36 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.
June 1961 Jyeshtha (Adhik) – Jyeshtha – Ashadha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 9:34 AM, Jun 11 – 10:00 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 6:15 PM, Jun 17 – 8:51 PM
The Digambara festival venerating the Jain scriptures (Shruta) on Jyeshtha Shukla Panchami - commemorating the day the Shatkhandagama was first written down.
July 1961 Ashadha – Shravana
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 7:24 PM, Jul 8 – 8:02 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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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:05 PM, Jul 9 – 9:08 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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Ashadha Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 3:03 PM, Jul 19 – 4:22 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 11:39 AM, Jul 25 – 8:26 AM
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 5:00 AM – 1:25 AM, Jul 28
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
August 1961 Shravana – Bhadrapada
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:52 AM, Aug 5 – 5:53 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.
September 1961 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:20 PM, Sep 1 – 4:49 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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Paryushana Parvarambha
Tithi 12:38 AM – 3:16 AM, Sep 8
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 1:50 PM, Sep 13 – 2:43 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 2:47 PM, Sep 14 – 3:11 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 11:55 PM, Sep 22 – 8:28 PM
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 8:27 PM, Sep 23 – 5:02 PM
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 6:11 AM – 5:44 AM, Sep 30
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 1961 Ashwina – Kartika
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Ashwina Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 12:16 AM – 10:59 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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Ashwina Navapada Oli Ends Vrat
Tithi 5:37 AM – 2:53 AM, Oct 24
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 9:52 PM, Oct 26 – 9:25 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 1961 Kartika – Margashirsha
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Mahavir Nirvana (Diwali)
Tithi 2:45 PM, Nov 6 – 3:22 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 3:27 PM, Nov 7 – 3:30 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 3:10 PM, Nov 9 – 2:19 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 11:51 AM, Nov 12 – 10:13 AM
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 10:16 AM, Nov 13 – 8:30 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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Kartika Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 6:16 PM, Nov 20 – 4:33 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 4:30 PM, Nov 21 – 3:11 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 4:30 PM, Nov 21 – 3:11 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 3:06 PM, Nov 22 – 2:19 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.
December 1961 Margashirsha – Pausha
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Maun Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 9:15 AM, Dec 17 – 8:03 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 6:19 AM – 5:49 AM, Dec 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.
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 1961
Beyond the dates the Jain Calendar lists, 1961 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Jyeshtha, running from 15 May 1961 to 13 June 1961. Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) fell on 8 November, 18 days later in the year than in 1960 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1961
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Feb 1:49 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Phalguna Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 2 Mar 6:58 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Phalguna Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 11 Aug 4:16 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Shravana Amavasya | Not visible |
| 26 Aug 8:38 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Bhadrapada Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 3 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1961
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 12:10 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Dhanu → Makara |
| 10 Feb 11:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Dhanu → Makara |
| 17 Sep 10:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Makara → Dhanu re-entry while retrograde |
| 8 Oct 2:50 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Dhanu → Makara |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Karka on 30 October 1961, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Jain Calendar 1961
How many festivals and vrats does the Jain Calendar list in 1961?
The Jain Calendar lists 46 dates in 1961, of which 31 are vrats. The first is Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak on Thursday, 12 January 1961, and the last is Rohini Vrat on Wednesday, 20 December 1961.
When was Paryushan in 1961?
Paryushan began on Thursday, 7 September 1961 and closed on Samvatsari, Thursday, 14 September 1961.
The Digambara Das Lakshana Parva began on Friday, 15 September 1961.
When was Mahavir Jayanti in 1961?
Mahavir Swami Jayanti fell on Thursday, 30 March 1961 (Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi), the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira.
When was Mahavir Nirvana in 1961?
Mahavir Nirvana was observed on Tuesday, 7 November 1961, the same day as Diwali.
The Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) began the next morning, Wednesday, 8 November 1961.
What are the main festival dates in the Jain Calendar for 1961?
The main observances in 1961 are:
- Mahavir Jayanti - Thursday, 30 March 1961
- Paryushan - Thursday, 7 September 1961
- Samvatsari - Thursday, 14 September 1961
- Mahavir Nirvana - Tuesday, 7 November 1961
Which month of 1961 has the most observances in the Jain Calendar?
November 1961 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 1961 correspond to in the Jain Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1961 spans Vikram Samvat 2017 – 2018. 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 1961 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1961 carried an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (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 1961 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1961?
1961 had 4 eclipses:
- 15 February 1961 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 2 March 1961 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 11 August 1961 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 26 August 1961 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 3 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1961?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1961:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Makara on 2 February 1961
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 10 February 1961
- Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 17 September 1961, moving retrograde
- Shani (Saturn) entered Makara on 8 October 1961
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 1961 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.
