Marathi Calendar 1961
The Marathi festival calendar (Gudi Padwa new year). Maharashtrian festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
July 1961
Shaka Samvat 1883 (Plava)
Ashadha – Shravana
Timings shown for New Delhi (IST) at sunrise - use the city box at the top to change it. Solar months begin by each tradition's own Sankranti rule (same-day, next-day, sunset or aparahna). Era years and lunar month names follow standard Vedic calculations and may differ slightly from regional almanacs around an Adhik Maas.
Marathi Calendar 1961 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Marathi Calendar lists 41 dates in 1961, opening with Makar Sankranti on 14 January and closing with Datta Jayanti on 21 December. Of these, 5 are vrats (fasting observances). September is the fullest month with 8 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1882 – 1883. 1961 carries an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1961 Pausha – Magha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan | Sat |
Makar Sankranti The Sun's entry into Makara, kept with tilgul sweets. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 20 Jan | Fri |
Ganesh Jayanti (Maghi) The birth of Ganesha on Magha Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 21 Jan | Sat |
Vasant Panchami
The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 23 Jan | Mon |
Ratha Saptami The turning of Surya's chariot, on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 1961 Magha – Phalguna
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb | Mon |
Maha Shivratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 1961 Phalguna – Chaitra
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar | Wed |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 3 Mar | Fri |
Dhulivandan (Holi) The festival of colours, the day after Holika Dahan. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 7 Mar | Tue |
Rang Panchami Dry gulal is thrown on Phalguna Krishna Panchami, the colourful finale of the Holi festivities five days after Holika Dahan. |
Krishna Panchami |
| 17 Mar | Fri |
Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) The Maharashtrian new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, when the gudi is raised. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 25 Mar | Sat |
Shriram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
April 1961 Chaitra – Vaishakha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr | Sat |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 17 Apr | Mon |
Akshaya Tritiya Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, among the most auspicious days of the year. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 29 Apr | Sat |
Narasimha Jayanti The advent of Lord Narasimha on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
June 1961 Jyeshtha (Adhik) – Jyeshtha – Ashadha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun | Tue | Vat Purnima (Vat Pournima) Vrat | Shukla Chaturdashi |
July 1961 Ashadha – Shravana
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul | Mon | Ashadhi Ekadashi (Devshayani) Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 27 Jul | Thu |
Guru Purnima The full moon of Ashadha honouring teachers and sage Veda Vyasa. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 1961 Shravana – Bhadrapada
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug | Fri |
Gatari Amavasya The Ashadha new moon of feasting before the austerities of Shravan. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 16 Aug | Wed |
Nag Panchami Serpent deities are worshipped on Shravana Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 26 Aug | Sat |
Narali Purnima (Nariyal Purnima) On Shravana Purnima, coastal communities offer coconuts (naral / nariyal) to the sea god Varuna, marking the end of the monsoon and the return to fishing. |
Shukla Purnima |
September 1961 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep | Sat |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 3 Sep | Sun |
Gopalkala (Dahi Handi) The day after Janmashtami, when human pyramids break the curd-filled dahi-handi hung high, re-enacting young Krishna's butter-stealing pranks. |
Krishna Navami |
| 9 Sep | Sat | Pithori Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 13 Sep | Wed | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
| 14 Sep | Thu |
Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganeshotsav)
Maharashtra's grandest festival begins with the installation of Ganpati on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 17 Sep | Sun |
Jyeshtha Gauri Pujan During Ganeshotsav, Goddess Gauri (Mahalakshmi) is welcomed as a daughter and worshipped with haldi-kumkum and a feast for prosperity and family well-being. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 23 Sep | Sat |
Anant Chaturdashi (Ganpati Visarjan) The immersion of Ganpati on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 25 Sep | Mon |
Pitru Paksha Begins The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors begins. |
Krishna Pratipada |
October 1961 Ashwina – Kartika
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct | Mon |
Sarvapitri Amavasya The Mahalaya new moon closing Pitru Paksha. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 10 Oct | Tue |
Ghatasthapana (Navratri Begins)
The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 19 Oct | Thu |
Dasara (Vijayadashami) The triumph of good over evil and the crossing of the seemollanghan. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 23 Oct | Mon |
Kojagiri Purnima The bright Ashwina full moon, kept awake for Goddess Lakshmi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 27 Oct | Fri | Karwa Chauth Vrat | Krishna Chaturthi |
November 1961 Kartika – Margashirsha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov | Sat |
Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi) The first day of Diwali, when cows and their calves are worshipped in gratitude for their nourishment — kept as Vasubaras in Maharashtra and Vagh Baras in Gujarat, where traders close the old account books. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 5 Nov | Sun |
Dhantrayodashi (Dhanteras) The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth on Kartika Krishna Trayodashi. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 7 Nov | Tue |
Laxmi Pujan (Diwali) The worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kartika Amavasya. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 7 Nov | Tue |
Narak Chaturdashi The abhyanga snan marking Krishna's slaying of Narakasura. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 8 Nov | Wed |
Bali Pratipada (Diwali Padwa / Bestu Varas) The Diwali Padwa honouring King Bali's return; wives perform aukshan (aarti) for their husbands and new account books and ventures are begun. In Gujarat this is Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 19 Nov | Sun |
Tulsi Vivah The ceremonial marriage of the holy Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu (Shaligram) on Kartik Dwadashi, the day after Prabodhini Ekadashi, which opens the Hindu wedding season. |
Shukla Dwadashi |
| 22 Nov | Wed |
Tripurari Purnima The Kartika full moon, when Shiva slew Tripurasura, lit with deepdan. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 1961 Margashirsha – Pausha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Dec | Wed |
Champa Shashti A six-day festival to Lord Khandoba (Martand Bhairav, a form of Shiva) concludes on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi, worshipped by farmers and warriors. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 21 Dec | Thu |
Datta Jayanti The birth of Lord Dattatreya — the combined form of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh — on Margashirsha Purnima, revered as the adi-guru. |
Shukla Purnima |
Months of the Marathi Calendar in 1961
The Marathi Calendar does not begin its year on 1 January, so each of its months straddles two Gregorian ones. These are the months that ran through 1961, covering Shaka Samvat 1882 – 1883. A month marked part is one the Gregorian year cuts short at its own start or end.
| Month | Begins | Ends | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pausha part | 1 Jan 1961 | 13 Jan 1961 | 13 |
| Magha | 14 Jan 1961 | 12 Feb 1961 | 30 |
| Phalguna | 13 Feb 1961 | 14 Mar 1961 | 30 |
| Chaitra | 15 Mar 1961 | 13 Apr 1961 | 30 |
| Vaishakha | 14 Apr 1961 | 14 May 1961 | 31 |
| Jyeshtha (Adhik) | 15 May 1961 | 13 Jun 1961 | 30 |
| Jyeshtha | 14 Jun 1961 | 14 Jun 1961 | 1 |
| Ashadha | 15 Jun 1961 | 16 Jul 1961 | 32 |
| Shravana | 17 Jul 1961 | 16 Aug 1961 | 31 |
| Bhadrapada | 17 Aug 1961 | 16 Sep 1961 | 31 |
| Ashwina | 17 Sep 1961 | 16 Oct 1961 | 30 |
| Kartika | 17 Oct 1961 | 15 Nov 1961 | 30 |
| Margashirsha | 16 Nov 1961 | 15 Dec 1961 | 30 |
| Pausha part | 16 Dec 1961 | 31 Dec 1961 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1961
Beyond the dates the Marathi 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. Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) fell on 17 March, 12 days earlier in the year than in 1960 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1961
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Marathi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Feb 1:49 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days after Maha Shivratri | Phalguna Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 2 Mar 6:58 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Holika Dahan | Phalguna Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 11 Aug 4:16 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Gatari Amavasya | Shravana Amavasya | Not visible |
| 26 Aug 8:38 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Narali Purnima (Nariyal Purnima) | 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.
Frequently asked questions about the Marathi Calendar 1961
How many festivals and vrats does the Marathi Calendar list in 1961?
The Marathi Calendar lists 41 dates in 1961, of which 5 are vrats. The first is Makar Sankranti on Saturday, 14 January 1961, and the last is Datta Jayanti on Thursday, 21 December 1961.
What are the main festival dates in the Marathi Calendar for 1961?
The first major observances of 1961 are:
- Makar Sankranti - Saturday, 14 January 1961
- Ganesh Jayanti (Maghi) - Friday, 20 January 1961
- Vasant Panchami - Saturday, 21 January 1961
- Ratha Saptami - Monday, 23 January 1961
- Maha Shivratri - Monday, 13 February 1961
- Holika Dahan - Wednesday, 1 March 1961
Which month of 1961 has the most observances in the Marathi Calendar?
September 1961 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including Krishna Janmashtami, Gopalkala (Dahi Handi), Pithori Amavasya, Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij), Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganeshotsav), Jyeshtha Gauri Pujan, Anant Chaturdashi (Ganpati Visarjan), Pitru Paksha Begins.
Which traditional year does 1961 correspond to in the Marathi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1961 spans Shaka Samvat 1882 – 1883. 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.
How do I see the tithi and nakshatra for a specific date in 1961?
Use the month grid above: pick a month from the selector, then tap any day to open its full panchang - tithi with start and end times, nakshatra, yoga, karana, sunrise and sunset, and the inauspicious periods (Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda, Gulika Kalam). Set your city in the box at the top first, because these timings are sunrise-based and shift with location. The Marathi Calendar opens on the current month.
About the Marathi Calendar
The Marathi festival calendar (Gudi Padwa new year). Maharashtrian festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
Each day lists its tithi and paksha, the nakshatra, the weekday (vaar) and any festivals or vrats. Tap any day to see the full panchang for that date - tithi start and end times, nakshatra, yoga, karana, sunrise and sunset, and the inauspicious periods (Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda, Gulika Kalam). Use the month and year selectors to browse any year in the archive or plan ahead into the coming years.
This calendar names the tithi and festivals for each day. For sunrise, Rahu Kalam and muhurat windows on a chosen date, open the Panchang. Other regional calendars are on the Calendars index. Fast stories live under Vrat Katha.


