Jain Calendar 1978
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 1978, from Rohini Vrat on 20 January through Rohini Vrat on 14 December. November holds the most with 8 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2034 – 2035. Mahavir Jayanti fell on 21 April, Paryushan began on 30 August, Samvatsari fell on 6 September and Mahavir Nirvana fell on 31 October.
Jain Festivals & Fasting Days
January 1978 Pausha – Magha
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 3:52 AM – 6:28 AM, Jan 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.
February 1978 Magha – Phalguna
-
Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak
Tithi 2:50 PM, Feb 2 – 12:17 PM
The birth anniversary (Janma Kalyanak) of Bhagwan Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, on Pausha Krishna Dashami - kept with the Uvasaggaharam Stotra jaap and fasting.
-
Meru Trayodashi
Tithi 6:15 AM – 2:57 AM, Feb 6
The nirvana (moksha) day of the first Tirthankara, Bhagwan Rishabhadeva (Adinatha), venerated with worship of the sacred Mount Meru.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:42 PM, Feb 15 – 7:07 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.
March 1978 Phalguna – Chaitra
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 6:35 AM, Mar 14 – 8:30 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.
-
Phalguna Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 8:22 AM, Mar 15 – 10:39 AM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Phalguna Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 9:56 PM, Mar 22 – 10:16 PM
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
-
Phalguna Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 10:11 PM, Mar 23 – 9:56 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
April 1978 Chaitra – Vaishakha
-
Varshitapa Arambha Vrat
Tithi 9:47 AM, Mar 31 – 7:33 AM
The beginning of Varshi Tap - a year-long penance of alternate-day fasting commemorating Bhagwan Rishabhadeva's long fast before his first alms.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 11:32 PM, Apr 11 – 1:24 AM, Apr 13
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.
-
Chaitra Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 3:48 AM – 6:12 AM, Apr 15
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
-
Mahavir Swami Jayanti
Tithi 1:22 PM, Apr 20 – 12:41 PM
The birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi - celebrated with processions, abhishek and charity.
-
Chaitra Navapada Oli Ends Vrat
Tithi 11:38 AM, Apr 22 – 9:41 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 1978 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 11:19 AM, May 8 – 12:57 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.
-
Varshitapa Parana
Tithi 12:54 PM, May 9 – 2:53 PM
The breaking (parana) of the year-long Varshi Tap with sugarcane juice on Akshaya Tritiya, as Bhagwan Rishabhadeva broke his fast.
-
Mahavira Swami Kevalagyan
Tithi 3:12 AM – 4:00 AM, May 18
The day Bhagwan Mahavira attained Kevala Jnana - infinite knowledge and omniscience.
June 1978 Jyeshtha – Ashadha
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 10:45 PM, Jun 4 – 12:26 AM, Jun 6
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.
-
Shruta Panchami
Tithi 9:44 AM, Jun 10 – 12:02 PM
The Digambara festival venerating the Jain scriptures (Shruta) on Jyeshtha Shukla Panchami - commemorating the day the Shatkhandagama was first written down.
July 1978 Ashadha – Shravana
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:46 AM, Jul 2 – 10:48 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.
-
Ashadha Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 3:40 AM – 4:35 AM, Jul 13
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Ashadha Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 4:24 PM, Jul 18 – 12:32 PM
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
-
Ashadha Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 12:31 PM, Jul 19 – 8:34 AM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 6:58 PM, Jul 29 – 8:59 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.
August 1978 Shravana – Bhadrapada
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:55 AM, Aug 25 – 6:32 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.
-
Paryushana Parvarambha
Tithi 1:06 PM, Aug 29 – 3:32 PM
The start of Paryushan - the holiest eight-day festival of the Jains - of fasting, scriptural study, penance and forgiveness.
September 1978 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
-
Samvatsari Parva
Tithi 12:27 AM – 12:37 AM, Sep 7
The final and holiest day of Paryushan - of Pratikraman and Michhami Dukkadam, seeking forgiveness from every living being.
-
Das Lakshana Parva Begins
Tithi 12:30 AM – 12:11 AM, Sep 8
The ten-day Digambara festival of the ten supreme virtues (dharma), from Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami to Chaturdashi - the Digambara counterpart of Paryushan.
-
Anant Chaturdashi Vrat
Tithi 9:05 AM, Sep 14 – 6:06 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.
-
Kshamavani Parva
Tithi 3:11 AM – 12:24 AM, Sep 17
The Digambara day of universal forgiveness, the day after Das Lakshana - Jains seek and grant pardon with the words Uttam Kshama and Michhami Dukkadam.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 6:58 PM, Sep 21 – 7:54 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.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 7:57 PM, Sep 22 – 9:31 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.
October 1978 Ashwina – Kartika
-
Ashwina Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 6:12 AM – 4:17 AM, Oct 9
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
-
Ashwina Navapada Oli Ends Vrat
Tithi 12:59 PM, Oct 15 – 11:38 AM
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 10:05 AM, Oct 19 – 11:04 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.
-
Mahavir Nirvana (Diwali)
Tithi 2:35 AM – 1:48 AM, Nov 1
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.
November 1978 Kartika – Margashirsha
-
Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat)
Tithi 1:37 AM – 12:15 AM, Nov 2
The first day of the Jain Vira Nirvana Samvat year - the morning after Mahavira's nirvana, also the day Gautam Swami attained Kevala Jnana.
-
Bhai Dooj (Bhratri Dwitiya)
Tithi 12:07 AM – 10:17 PM
Sisters honour their brothers on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, the day Gautam Swami is said to have visited his sister, closing the Diwali observances.
-
Jnan Panchami (Labh Panchami)
Tithi 5:42 PM, Nov 4 – 3:20 PM
Knowledge (Jnan) Panchami - Jain scriptures and the gift of knowledge are venerated; in Gujarat it is also kept as Labh Panchami.
-
Kartika Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 12:59 PM, Nov 6 – 10:50 AM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Kartika Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 2:03 AM – 1:28 AM, Nov 14
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
-
Kartika Ratha Yatra
Tithi 1:34 AM – 1:22 AM, Nov 15
The Kartik Purnima chariot procession (Ratha Yatra) and the great pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya (Palitana), reopened after the Chaturmas.
-
Kartika Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 1:34 AM – 1:22 AM, Nov 15
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 1:52 AM – 2:35 AM, Nov 17
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 1978 Margashirsha – Pausha
-
Maun Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 3:29 PM, Dec 9 – 3:17 PM
The great silent (Maun) fast of Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, on which 150 Kalyanaks of the Tirthankaras are commemorated - kept with silence, fasting and Posaha.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 3:49 PM, Dec 12 – 4:43 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.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:41 PM, Dec 13 – 5:58 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.
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 1978
Beyond the dates the Jain Calendar lists, 1978 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 1 November, 10 days earlier in the year than in 1977 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1978
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Mar 9:52 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Chaitra Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 7 Apr 8:33 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Chaitra Amavasya | Not visible |
| 17 Sep 12:34 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Kshamavani Parva | Ashwina Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 2 Oct 11:57 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Ashwina Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1978
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Aug 10:20 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mithuna → Karka |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Simha on 18 November 1978, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Jain Calendar 1978
How many festivals and vrats does the Jain Calendar list in 1978?
The Jain Calendar lists 46 dates in 1978, of which 31 are vrats. The first is Rohini Vrat on Friday, 20 January 1978, and the last is Rohini Vrat on Thursday, 14 December 1978.
When was Paryushan in 1978?
Paryushan began on Wednesday, 30 August 1978 and closed on Samvatsari, Wednesday, 6 September 1978.
The Digambara Das Lakshana Parva began on Thursday, 7 September 1978.
When was Mahavir Jayanti in 1978?
Mahavir Swami Jayanti fell on Friday, 21 April 1978 (Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi), the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira.
When was Mahavir Nirvana in 1978?
Mahavir Nirvana was observed on Tuesday, 31 October 1978, the same day as Diwali.
The Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) began the next morning, Wednesday, 1 November 1978.
What are the main festival dates in the Jain Calendar for 1978?
The main observances in 1978 are:
- Mahavir Jayanti - Friday, 21 April 1978
- Paryushan - Wednesday, 30 August 1978
- Samvatsari - Wednesday, 6 September 1978
- Mahavir Nirvana - Tuesday, 31 October 1978
Which month of 1978 has the most observances in the Jain Calendar?
November 1978 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including 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, Rohini Vrat.
Which traditional year does 1978 correspond to in the Jain Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1978 spans Vikram Samvat 2034 – 2035. 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 1978 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1978 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 1978?
1978 had 4 eclipses:
- 24 March 1978 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 7 April 1978 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 17 September 1978 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 2 October 1978 - 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 1978?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1978:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Karka on 5 August 1978
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 1978 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.
