Marathi Calendar 1978
The Marathi festival calendar (Gudi Padwa new year). Maharashtrian festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
January 1978
Shaka Samvat 1899 (Pingala)
Pausha – Magha
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 1978 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Marathi Calendar lists 41 dates in 1978, opening with Makar Sankranti on 14 January and closing with Datta Jayanti on 13 December. Of these, 5 are vrats (fasting observances). October is the fullest month with 9 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1899 – 1900.
January 1978 Pausha – Magha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan | Sat |
Makar Sankranti The Sun's entry into Makara, kept with tilgul sweets. |
Shukla Shashthi |
February 1978 Magha – Phalguna
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb | Sat |
Ganesh Jayanti (Maghi) The birth of Ganesha on Magha Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 11 Feb | Sat |
Vasant Panchami
The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 14 Feb | Tue |
Ratha Saptami The turning of Surya's chariot, on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
March 1978 Phalguna – Chaitra
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar | Tue |
Maha Shivratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 24 Mar | Fri |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 25 Mar | Sat |
Dhulivandan (Holi) The festival of colours, the day after Holika Dahan. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 29 Mar | Wed |
Rang Panchami Dry gulal is thrown on Phalguna Krishna Panchami, the colourful finale of the Holi festivities five days after Holika Dahan. |
Krishna Panchami |
April 1978 Chaitra – Vaishakha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Apr | Sat |
Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) The Maharashtrian new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, when the gudi is raised. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 16 Apr | Sun |
Shriram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 23 Apr | Sun |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
May 1978 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May | Wed |
Akshaya Tritiya Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, among the most auspicious days of the year. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 21 May | Sun |
Narasimha Jayanti The advent of Lord Narasimha on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
June 1978 Jyeshtha – Ashadha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun | Tue | Vat Purnima (Vat Pournima) Vrat | Shukla Chaturdashi |
July 1978 Ashadha – Shravana
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul | Sun | Ashadhi Ekadashi (Devshayani) Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 20 Jul | Thu |
Guru Purnima The full moon of Ashadha honouring teachers and sage Veda Vyasa. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 1978 Shravana – Bhadrapada
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug | Thu |
Gatari Amavasya The Ashadha new moon of feasting before the austerities of Shravan. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 9 Aug | Wed |
Nag Panchami Serpent deities are worshipped on Shravana Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 18 Aug | Fri |
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 |
| 25 Aug | Fri |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 26 Aug | Sat |
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 Ashtami |
September 1978 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep | Sat | Pithori Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 5 Sep | Tue | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
| 6 Sep | Wed |
Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganeshotsav)
Maharashtra's grandest festival begins with the installation of Ganpati on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 10 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 Ashtami |
| 15 Sep | Fri |
Anant Chaturdashi (Ganpati Visarjan) The immersion of Ganpati on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 17 Sep | Sun |
Pitru Paksha Begins The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors begins. |
Krishna Pratipada |
October 1978 Ashwina – Kartika
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct | Sun |
Sarvapitri Amavasya The Mahalaya new moon closing Pitru Paksha. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 3 Oct | Tue |
Ghatasthapana (Navratri Begins)
The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 11 Oct | Wed |
Dasara (Vijayadashami) The triumph of good over evil and the crossing of the seemollanghan. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 15 Oct | Sun |
Kojagiri Purnima The bright Ashwina full moon, kept awake for Goddess Lakshmi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 19 Oct | Thu | Karwa Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 28 Oct | 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 Dwadashi |
| 29 Oct | Sun |
Dhantrayodashi (Dhanteras) The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth on Kartika Krishna Trayodashi. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 30 Oct | Mon |
Narak Chaturdashi The abhyanga snan marking Krishna's slaying of Narakasura. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 31 Oct | Tue |
Laxmi Pujan (Diwali) The worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kartika Amavasya. |
Krishna Amavasya |
November 1978 Kartika – Margashirsha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 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. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 11 Nov | Sat |
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 |
| 14 Nov | Tue |
Tripurari Purnima The Kartika full moon, when Shiva slew Tripurasura, lit with deepdan. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 1978 Margashirsha – Pausha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Dec | Tue |
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 |
| 13 Dec | Wed |
Datta Jayanti The birth of Lord Dattatreya — the combined form of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh — on Margashirsha Purnima, revered as the adi-guru. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
Months of the Marathi Calendar in 1978
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 1978, covering Shaka Samvat 1899 – 1900. 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 1978 | 14 Jan 1978 | 14 |
| Magha | 15 Jan 1978 | 12 Feb 1978 | 29 |
| Phalguna | 13 Feb 1978 | 14 Mar 1978 | 30 |
| Chaitra | 15 Mar 1978 | 13 Apr 1978 | 30 |
| Vaishakha | 14 Apr 1978 | 14 May 1978 | 31 |
| Jyeshtha | 15 May 1978 | 15 Jun 1978 | 32 |
| Ashadha | 16 Jun 1978 | 16 Jul 1978 | 31 |
| Shravana | 17 Jul 1978 | 16 Aug 1978 | 31 |
| Bhadrapada | 17 Aug 1978 | 16 Sep 1978 | 31 |
| Ashwina | 17 Sep 1978 | 17 Oct 1978 | 31 |
| Kartika | 18 Oct 1978 | 16 Nov 1978 | 30 |
| Margashirsha | 17 Nov 1978 | 15 Dec 1978 | 29 |
| Pausha part | 16 Dec 1978 | 31 Dec 1978 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1978
Beyond the dates the Marathi Calendar lists, 1978 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) fell on 8 April, 19 days later in the year than in 1977 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1978
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Marathi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Mar 9:52 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Holika Dahan | Chaitra Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 7 Apr 8:33 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) | Chaitra Amavasya | Not visible |
| 17 Sep 12:34 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Pitru Paksha Begins | Ashwina Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 2 Oct 11:57 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day after Sarvapitri Amavasya | 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 Marathi Calendar 1978
How many festivals and vrats does the Marathi Calendar list in 1978?
The Marathi Calendar lists 41 dates in 1978, of which 5 are vrats. The first is Makar Sankranti on Saturday, 14 January 1978, and the last is Datta Jayanti on Wednesday, 13 December 1978.
What are the main festival dates in the Marathi Calendar for 1978?
The first major observances of 1978 are:
- Makar Sankranti - Saturday, 14 January 1978
- Ganesh Jayanti (Maghi) - Saturday, 11 February 1978
- Vasant Panchami - Saturday, 11 February 1978
- Ratha Saptami - Tuesday, 14 February 1978
- Maha Shivratri - Tuesday, 7 March 1978
- Holika Dahan - Friday, 24 March 1978
Which month of 1978 has the most observances in the Marathi Calendar?
October 1978 is the fullest month with 9 dates, including Sarvapitri Amavasya, Ghatasthapana (Navratri Begins), Dasara (Vijayadashami), Kojagiri Purnima, Karwa Chauth, Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi), Dhantrayodashi (Dhanteras), Narak Chaturdashi.
Which traditional year does 1978 correspond to in the Marathi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1978 spans Shaka Samvat 1899 – 1900. 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.
How do I see the tithi and nakshatra for a specific date in 1978?
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.
