Jain Calendar 2015
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 2015, from Rohini Vrat on 2 January through Rohini Vrat on 24 December. November holds the most with 9 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2071 – 2072. 2015 carries an Adhik Maas (Ashadha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several dates later than usual. Mahavir Jayanti fell on 2 April, Paryushan began on 10 September, Samvatsari fell on 17 September and Mahavir Nirvana fell on 11 November.
Jain Festivals & Fasting Days
January 2015 Pausha – Magha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:31 AM, Jan 1 – 8:33 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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Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak
Tithi 5:09 AM – 5:44 AM, Jan 16
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 3:08 AM – 1:04 AM, Jan 19
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 9:34 PM, Jan 29 – 10:09 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.
February 2015 Magha – Phalguna
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Phalguna Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 11:32 AM, Feb 24 – 10:53 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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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 10:39 AM, Feb 25 – 10:43 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 2015 Phalguna – Chaitra
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Phalguna Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 6:24 PM, Mar 3 – 8:56 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 8:57 PM, Mar 4 – 11:34 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 11:43 AM, Mar 13 – 10:56 AM
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 1:38 AM – 12:38 AM, Mar 26
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 12:51 AM – 12:40 AM, Mar 27
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
April 2015 Chaitra – Vaishakha
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Mahavir Swami Jayanti
Tithi 10:09 AM, Apr 1 – 12:46 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 3:20 PM, Apr 3 – 5:37 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 6:58 PM, Apr 20 – 5:00 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 4:58 PM, Apr 21 – 3:45 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 8:34 PM, Apr 27 – 11:04 PM
The day Bhagwan Mahavira attained Kevala Jnana - infinite knowledge and omniscience.
May 2015 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 9:32 AM, May 18 – 7:49 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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Shruta Panchami
Tithi 5:15 AM, May 22 – 6:17 AM
The Digambara festival venerating the Jain scriptures (Shruta) on Jyeshtha Shukla Panchami - commemorating the day the Shatkhandagama was first written down.
June 2015 Jyeshtha – Ashadha – Ashadha (Adhik)
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 10:08 PM, Jun 14 – 8:36 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.
July 2015 Ashadha (Adhik) – Shravana
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:15 AM, Jul 12 – 7:26 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 6:07 PM, Jul 22 – 8:33 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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Ashadha Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 9:24 PM, Jul 29 – 7:06 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 7:03 PM, Jul 30 – 4:15 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
August 2015 Shravana – Bhadrapada
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 5:35 PM, Aug 8 – 4:55 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 2015 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 3:55 AM – 2:46 AM, Sep 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.
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Paryushana Parvarambha
Tithi 5:35 AM – 7:17 AM, Sep 11
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 8:02 PM, Sep 16 – 10:24 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 10:21 PM, Sep 17 – 12:23 AM, Sep 19
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 3:46 PM, Sep 26 – 12:07 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 12:08 PM, Sep 27 – 8:20 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.
October 2015 Ashwina – Kartika
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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:37 PM, Oct 2 – 3:15 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 2:47 PM, Oct 19 – 2:25 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 9:10 PM, Oct 26 – 5:34 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 10:47 AM, Oct 29 – 8:24 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.
November 2015 Kartika – Margashirsha
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Mahavir Nirvana (Diwali)
Tithi 9:24 PM, Nov 10 – 11:22 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 11:18 PM, Nov 11 – 12:52 AM, Nov 13
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 12:46 AM – 1:55 AM, Nov 14
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 2:36 AM – 2:31 AM, Nov 17
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 1:44 AM – 12:47 AM, Nov 19
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 Ratha Yatra
Tithi 10:10 AM, Nov 24 – 7:09 AM
The Kartik Purnima chariot procession (Ratha Yatra) and the great pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya (Palitana), reopened after the Chaturmas.
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Kartika Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 10:10 AM, Nov 24 – 7:09 AM
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
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Kartika Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 10:10 AM, Nov 24 – 7:09 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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Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:14 AM – 1:29 AM, Nov 27
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 2015 Margashirsha – Pausha
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Maun Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 3:31 AM – 1:13 AM, Dec 22
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 8:31 PM, Dec 23 – 6:25 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.
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 2015
Beyond the dates the Jain Calendar lists, 2015 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Ashadha, running from 17 June 2015 to 16 July 2015. Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) fell on 12 November, 19 days later in the year than in 2014 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2015
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 3:15 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Chaitra Amavasya | Not visible |
| 4 Apr 5:30 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 2 days after Mahavir Swami Jayanti | Chaitra Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 13 Sep 12:24 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days after Paryushana Parvarambha | Bhadrapada Amavasya | Not visible |
| 28 Sep 8:17 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Kshamavani Parva | Ashwina Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2015
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jul 6:30 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Karka → Simha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Jain Calendar 2015
How many festivals and vrats does the Jain Calendar list in 2015?
The Jain Calendar lists 45 dates in 2015, of which 30 are vrats. The first is Rohini Vrat on Friday, 2 January 2015, and the last is Rohini Vrat on Thursday, 24 December 2015.
When was Paryushan in 2015?
Paryushan began on Thursday, 10 September 2015 and closed on Samvatsari, Thursday, 17 September 2015.
The Digambara Das Lakshana Parva began on Friday, 18 September 2015.
When was Mahavir Jayanti in 2015?
Mahavir Swami Jayanti fell on Thursday, 2 April 2015 (Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi), the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira.
When was Mahavir Nirvana in 2015?
Mahavir Nirvana was observed on Wednesday, 11 November 2015, the same day as Diwali.
The Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) began the next morning, Thursday, 12 November 2015.
What are the main festival dates in the Jain Calendar for 2015?
The main observances in 2015 are:
- Mahavir Jayanti - Thursday, 2 April 2015
- Paryushan - Thursday, 10 September 2015
- Samvatsari - Thursday, 17 September 2015
- Mahavir Nirvana - Wednesday, 11 November 2015
Which month of 2015 has the most observances in the Jain Calendar?
November 2015 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 Ashtahnika Ends, Kartika Chaumasi Chaudas, Kartika Ratha Yatra.
Which traditional year does 2015 correspond to in the Jain Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2015 spans Vikram Samvat 2071 – 2072. 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 2015 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 2015 carried an Adhik Maas (Ashadha (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 2015 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 2015?
2015 had 4 eclipses:
- 20 March 2015 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 4 April 2015 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 13 September 2015 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 28 September 2015 - Total 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 2 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 2015?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 2015:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Simha on 14 July 2015
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 2015 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.
