Jain Calendar 2009
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 45 dates in 2009, from Rohini Vrat on 8 January through Rohini Vrat on 30 December. October holds the most with 7 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2065 – 2066. Mahavir Jayanti fell on 7 April, Paryushan began on 16 August, Samvatsari fell on 23 August and Mahavir Nirvana fell on 17 October.
Jain Festivals & Fasting Days
January 2009 Pausha – Magha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 11:00 PM, Jan 7 – 7:53 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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Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak
Tithi 10:31 PM, Jan 19 – 12:39 AM, Jan 21
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 6:00 AM, Jan 23 – 8:38 AM
The nirvana (moksha) day of the first Tirthankara, Bhagwan Rishabhadeva (Adinatha), venerated with worship of the sacred Mount Meru.
February 2009 Magha – Phalguna
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 2:03 PM, Feb 4 – 11:30 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.
March 2009 Phalguna – Chaitra
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Phalguna Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 3:56 AM – 2:19 AM, Mar 4
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 2:13 AM – 12:19 AM, Mar 5
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 Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 12:19 PM, Mar 9 – 10:07 AM
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 9:58 AM, Mar 10 – 8:07 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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Varshitapa Arambha Vrat
Tithi 9:59 AM, Mar 18 – 12:34 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 3:25 PM, Mar 30 – 1:20 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.
April 2009 Chaitra – Vaishakha
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Chaitra Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 11:11 AM, Apr 1 – 9:06 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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Mahavir Swami Jayanti
Tithi 11:42 PM, Apr 6 – 10:14 PM
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 9:08 PM, Apr 8 – 8:20 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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Varshitapa Parana
Tithi 3:52 AM – 1:09 AM, Apr 28
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 1:07 AM – 10:21 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.
May 2009 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
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Mahavira Swami Kevalagyan
Tithi 11:41 AM, May 3 – 10:32 AM
The day Bhagwan Mahavira attained Kevala Jnana - infinite knowledge and omniscience.
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 5:42 PM, May 24 – 2:24 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.
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Shruta Panchami
Tithi 4:39 AM – 1:43 AM, May 29
The Digambara festival venerating the Jain scriptures (Shruta) on Jyeshtha Shukla Panchami - commemorating the day the Shatkhandagama was first written down.
June 2009 Jyeshtha – Ashadha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 11:12 AM, Jun 20 – 8:04 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.
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Ashadha Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 8:26 AM, Jun 27 – 6:44 AM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
July 2009 Ashadha – Shravana
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Ashadha Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 10:01 AM, Jul 5 – 12:22 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 12:20 PM, Jul 6 – 2:51 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 9:51 PM, Jul 18 – 6:56 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 2009 Shravana – Bhadrapada
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 11:56 AM, Aug 14 – 9:59 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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Paryushana Parvarambha
Tithi 10:11 AM, Aug 15 – 7:41 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 9:05 AM, Aug 22 – 6:57 AM
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 5:11 AM – 3:48 AM, Aug 25
The ten-day Digambara festival of the ten supreme virtues (dharma), from Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami to Chaturdashi - the Digambara counterpart of Paryushan.
September 2009 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
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Anant Chaturdashi Vrat
Tithi 5:55 PM, Sep 2 – 7:59 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 7:57 PM, Sep 3 – 9:37 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 9:58 PM, Sep 10 – 8:39 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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Ashwina Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 7:25 PM, Sep 24 – 9:08 PM
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
October 2009 Ashwina – Kartika
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Ashwina Navapada Oli Ends Vrat
Tithi 11:32 AM, Oct 3 – 11:40 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 8:33 AM, Oct 8 – 6:57 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 Nirvana (Diwali)
Tithi 2:26 PM, Oct 16 – 12:36 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 12:29 PM, Oct 17 – 11:02 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 9:42 AM, Oct 19 – 9:27 AM
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 10:21 AM, Oct 22 – 12:07 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 2:16 PM, Oct 24 – 4:51 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
November 2009 Kartika – Margashirsha
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Kartika Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 2:28 AM – 2:05 AM, Nov 2
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 AM – 12:53 AM, Nov 3
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 AM – 12:53 AM, Nov 3
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 9:13 PM, Nov 4 – 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.
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Maun Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 7:06 PM, Nov 27 – 7:20 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.
December 2009 Margashirsha – Pausha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 3:30 PM, Dec 1 – 1:01 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 6:56 AM – 4:13 AM, Dec 31
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 2009
Beyond the dates the Jain Calendar lists, 2009 brought 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 4 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) fell on 18 October, 12 days earlier in the year than in 2008 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2009
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jan 1:28 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days after Meru Trayodashi | Magha Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 9 Feb 8:08 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Magha Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 7 Jul 3:08 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Ashadha Purnima | Not visible |
| 22 Jul 8:05 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Shravana Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 6 Aug 6:09 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Shravana Purnima | Penumbral only |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2009
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 6:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Makara → Kumbha |
| 30 Jul 7:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Makara re-entry while retrograde |
| 10 Sep 12:10 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Simha → Kanya |
| 20 Dec 12:20 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Makara → Kumbha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Dhanu on 17 November 2009, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Jain Calendar 2009
How many festivals and vrats does the Jain Calendar list in 2009?
The Jain Calendar lists 45 dates in 2009, of which 30 are vrats. The first is Rohini Vrat on Thursday, 8 January 2009, and the last is Rohini Vrat on Wednesday, 30 December 2009.
When was Paryushan in 2009?
Paryushan began on Sunday, 16 August 2009 and closed on Samvatsari, Sunday, 23 August 2009.
The Digambara Das Lakshana Parva began on Monday, 24 August 2009.
When was Mahavir Jayanti in 2009?
Mahavir Swami Jayanti fell on Tuesday, 7 April 2009 (Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi), the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira.
When was Mahavir Nirvana in 2009?
Mahavir Nirvana was observed on Saturday, 17 October 2009, the same day as Diwali.
The Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) began the next morning, Sunday, 18 October 2009.
What are the main festival dates in the Jain Calendar for 2009?
The main observances in 2009 are:
- Mahavir Jayanti - Tuesday, 7 April 2009
- Paryushan - Sunday, 16 August 2009
- Samvatsari - Sunday, 23 August 2009
- Mahavir Nirvana - Saturday, 17 October 2009
Which month of 2009 has the most observances in the Jain Calendar?
October 2009 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Ashwina Navapada Oli Ends, Rohini Vrat, Mahavir Nirvana (Diwali), Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat), Bhai Dooj (Bhratri Dwitiya), Jnan Panchami (Labh Panchami), Kartika Ashtahnika Begins.
Which traditional year does 2009 correspond to in the Jain Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2009 spans Vikram Samvat 2065 – 2066. 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 2009 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2009 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 2009?
2009 had 5 eclipses:
- 26 January 2009 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 9 February 2009 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 7 July 2009 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 22 July 2009 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 6 August 2009 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak 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 2009?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2009:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 1 May 2009
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 30 July 2009, moving retrograde
- Shani (Saturn) entered Kanya on 10 September 2009
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 20 December 2009
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 2009 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.
