Jain Calendar 1999
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 1999, from Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak on 12 January through Rohini Vrat on 21 December. November holds the most with 9 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2055 – 2056. 1999 carries an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several dates later than usual. Mahavir Jayanti fell on 29 March, Paryushan began on 6 September, Samvatsari fell on 13 September and Mahavir Nirvana fell on 7 November.
Jain Festivals & Fasting Days
January 1999 Pausha – Magha
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Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak
Tithi 11:39 AM, Jan 11 – 2:10 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 6:28 PM, Jan 14 – 7:55 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 7:10 AM – 4:51 AM, Jan 28
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 1999 Magha – Phalguna
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Phalguna Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 11:32 PM, Feb 21 – 9:15 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 9:16 PM, Feb 22 – 7:09 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 1999 Phalguna – Chaitra
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Phalguna Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 12:28 PM, Feb 28 – 12:18 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 12:11 PM, Mar 1 – 12:27 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 1:02 AM – 3:19 AM, Mar 11
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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Chaitra Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 9:11 AM, Mar 22 – 6:49 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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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 9:11 AM, Mar 22 – 6:49 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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Mahavir Swami Jayanti
Tithi 1:13 AM – 1:45 AM, Mar 30
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 2:55 AM – 4:10 AM, Apr 1
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
April 1999 Chaitra – Vaishakha
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Varshitapa Parana
Tithi 2:28 AM – 10:50 PM
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 10:53 PM, Apr 18 – 7:34 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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Mahavira Swami Kevalagyan
Tithi 11:47 AM, Apr 24 – 12:18 PM
The day Bhagwan Mahavira attained Kevala Jnana - infinite knowledge and omniscience.
May 1999 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha (Adhik)
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 5:34 PM, May 15 – 1:38 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 1999 Jyeshtha (Adhik) – Jyeshtha – Ashadha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:19 AM – 12:30 AM, Jun 14
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 12:42 PM, Jun 17 – 11:33 AM
The Digambara festival venerating the Jain scriptures (Shruta) on Jyeshtha Shukla Panchami - commemorating the day the Shatkhandagama was first written down.
July 1999 Ashadha – Shravana
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:51 PM, Jul 9 – 5:39 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 12:27 AM – 1:28 AM, Jul 20
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 2:27 PM, Jul 26 – 3:54 PM
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 3:56 PM, Jul 27 – 4:57 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
August 1999 Shravana – Bhadrapada
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:53 AM – 2:15 AM, Aug 8
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 1999 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:54 PM, Sep 2 – 2:40 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 10:21 AM, Sep 5 – 8:31 AM
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 4:21 AM – 5:30 AM, Sep 14
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 5:33 AM, Sep 14 – 7:38 AM
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 7:23 PM, Sep 23 – 6:13 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 6:12 PM, Sep 24 – 4:24 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 3:17 AM – 12:41 AM, Oct 1
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 1999 Ashwina – Kartika
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Ashwina Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 5:00 AM – 7:32 AM, Oct 17
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 5:33 AM – 2:43 AM, Oct 25
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 7:46 PM, Oct 26 – 4:24 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 1999 Kartika – Margashirsha
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Mahavir Nirvana (Diwali)
Tithi 5:58 AM, Nov 6 – 7:35 AM
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 7:27 AM, Nov 7 – 9:22 AM
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 11:26 AM, Nov 9 – 1:53 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 7:13 PM, Nov 12 – 9:51 PM
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 12:08 AM – 2:05 AM, Nov 16
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 7:47 PM, Nov 21 – 4:19 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 4:20 PM, Nov 22 – 12:33 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 4:20 PM, Nov 22 – 12:33 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 12:33 PM, Nov 23 – 8:44 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.
December 1999 Margashirsha – Pausha
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Maun Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 3:43 PM, Dec 18 – 1:08 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.
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 6:36 AM – 2:57 AM, Dec 22
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 1999
Beyond the dates the Jain Calendar lists, 1999 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 16 May 1999 to 13 June 1999. Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) fell on 8 November, 19 days later in the year than in 1998 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1999
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 9:47 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Magha Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 16 Feb 12:03 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Phalguna Amavasya | Not visible |
| 28 Jul 5:03 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Shravana Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 11 Aug 4:33 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Shravana Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1999
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 3:30 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Meena |
| 26 May 4:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Meena → Mesha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Karka on 11 January 1999, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Frequently asked questions about the Jain Calendar 1999
How many festivals and vrats does the Jain Calendar list in 1999?
The Jain Calendar lists 44 dates in 1999, of which 29 are vrats. The first is Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak on Tuesday, 12 January 1999, and the last is Rohini Vrat on Tuesday, 21 December 1999.
When was Paryushan in 1999?
Paryushan began on Monday, 6 September 1999 and closed on Samvatsari, Monday, 13 September 1999.
The Digambara Das Lakshana Parva began on Wednesday, 15 September 1999.
When was Mahavir Jayanti in 1999?
Mahavir Swami Jayanti fell on Monday, 29 March 1999 (Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi), the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira.
When was Mahavir Nirvana in 1999?
Mahavir Nirvana was observed on Sunday, 7 November 1999, the same day as Diwali.
The Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) began the next morning, Monday, 8 November 1999.
What are the main festival dates in the Jain Calendar for 1999?
The main observances in 1999 are:
- Mahavir Jayanti - Monday, 29 March 1999
- Paryushan - Monday, 6 September 1999
- Samvatsari - Monday, 13 September 1999
- Mahavir Nirvana - Sunday, 7 November 1999
Which month of 1999 has the most observances in the Jain Calendar?
November 1999 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 1999 correspond to in the Jain Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1999 spans Vikram Samvat 2055 – 2056. 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 1999 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1999 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 1999 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1999?
1999 had 4 eclipses:
- 31 January 1999 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 16 February 1999 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 28 July 1999 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 11 August 1999 - Total 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 1999?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1999:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 13 January 1999
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 26 May 1999
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 1999 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.


