Marathi Calendar 2008
The Marathi festival calendar (Gudi Padwa new year). Maharashtrian festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
December 2008
Shaka Samvat 1930 (Sarvadhari)
Margashirsha – Pausha
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 2008 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Marathi Calendar lists 42 dates in 2008, opening with Makar Sankranti on 15 January and closing with Datta Jayanti on 12 December. Of these, 5 are vrats (fasting observances). October is the fullest month with 8 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1929 – 1930.
January 2008 Pausha – Magha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan | Tue |
Makar Sankranti The Sun's entry into Makara, kept with tilgul sweets. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 2008 Magha – Phalguna
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb | Sun |
Ganesh Jayanti (Maghi) The birth of Ganesha on Magha Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 11 Feb | Mon |
Vasant Panchami
The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 13 Feb | Wed |
Ratha Saptami The turning of Surya's chariot, on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
March 2008 Phalguna – Chaitra
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar | Thu |
Maha Shivratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 21 Mar | Fri |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 22 Mar | Sat |
Dhulivandan (Holi) The festival of colours, the day after Holika Dahan. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 26 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 Chaturthi |
| 27 Mar | Thu |
Rang Panchami The dry-colour festival five days after Holi, on Phalguna Krishna Panchami. |
Krishna Panchami |
April 2008 Chaitra – Vaishakha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr | Mon |
Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) The Maharashtrian new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, when the gudi is raised. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 13 Apr | Sun |
Shriram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 20 Apr | Sun |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
May 2008 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May | Wed |
Akshaya Tritiya Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, among the most auspicious days of the year. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 18 May | Sun |
Narasimha Jayanti The advent of Lord Narasimha on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
June 2008 Jyeshtha – Ashadha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun | Wed | Vat Purnima (Vat Pournima) Vrat | Shukla Purnima |
July 2008 Ashadha – Shravana
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jul | Sun | Ashadhi Ekadashi (Devshayani) Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 18 Jul | Fri |
Guru Purnima The full moon of Ashadha honouring teachers and sage Veda Vyasa. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 2008 Shravana – Bhadrapada
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug | Fri |
Gatari Amavasya The Ashadha new moon of feasting before the austerities of Shravan. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 6 Aug | Wed |
Nag Panchami Serpent deities are worshipped on Shravana Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 16 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 |
| 24 Aug | Sun |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 25 Aug | Mon |
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 |
| 30 Aug | Sat | Pithori Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
September 2008 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep | Tue | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
| 3 Sep | Wed |
Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganeshotsav)
Maharashtra's grandest festival begins with the installation of Ganpati on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 8 Sep | Mon |
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 |
| 14 Sep | Sun |
Anant Chaturdashi (Ganpati Visarjan) The immersion of Ganpati on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 16 Sep | Tue |
Pitru Paksha Begins The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors begins. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 29 Sep | Mon |
Sarvapitri Amavasya The Mahalaya new moon closing Pitru Paksha. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 30 Sep | Tue |
Ghatasthapana (Navratri Begins)
The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
October 2008 Ashwina – Kartika
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct | Thu |
Dasara (Vijayadashami) The triumph of good over evil and the crossing of the seemollanghan. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 14 Oct | Tue |
Kojagiri Purnima The bright Ashwina full moon, kept awake for Goddess Lakshmi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 17 Oct | Fri | Karwa Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 25 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 |
| 26 Oct | Sun |
Dhantrayodashi (Dhanteras) The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth on Kartika Krishna Trayodashi. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 27 Oct | Mon |
Narak Chaturdashi The abhyanga snan marking Krishna's slaying of Narakasura. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 28 Oct | Tue |
Laxmi Pujan (Diwali) The worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kartika Amavasya. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 29 Oct | 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 |
November 2008 Kartika – Margashirsha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov | Mon |
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 |
| 13 Nov | Thu |
Tripurari Purnima The Kartika full moon, when Shiva slew Tripurasura, lit with deepdan. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 2008 Margashirsha – Pausha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Dec | Thu |
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 |
| 12 Dec | Fri |
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 2008
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 2008, covering Shaka Samvat 1929 – 1930. 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 2008 | 14 Jan 2008 | 14 |
| Magha | 15 Jan 2008 | 13 Feb 2008 | 30 |
| Phalguna | 14 Feb 2008 | 14 Mar 2008 | 30 |
| Chaitra | 15 Mar 2008 | 13 Apr 2008 | 30 |
| Vaishakha | 14 Apr 2008 | 14 May 2008 | 31 |
| Jyeshtha | 15 May 2008 | 14 Jun 2008 | 31 |
| Ashadha | 15 Jun 2008 | 16 Jul 2008 | 32 |
| Shravana | 17 Jul 2008 | 16 Aug 2008 | 31 |
| Bhadrapada | 17 Aug 2008 | 16 Sep 2008 | 31 |
| Ashwina | 17 Sep 2008 | 16 Oct 2008 | 30 |
| Kartika | 17 Oct 2008 | 15 Nov 2008 | 30 |
| Margashirsha | 16 Nov 2008 | 15 Dec 2008 | 30 |
| Pausha part | 16 Dec 2008 | 31 Dec 2008 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 2008
Beyond the dates the Marathi Calendar lists, 2008 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) fell on 7 April, 20 days later in the year than in 2007 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2008
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Marathi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 9:25 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days before Ganesh Jayanti (Maghi) | Magha Amavasya | Not visible |
| 21 Feb 8:56 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Phalguna Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 1 Aug 3:51 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Gatari Amavasya | Shravana Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 17 Aug 2:40 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Narali Purnima (Nariyal Purnima) | Bhadrapada Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 3 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2008
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Dec 11:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Dhanu → Makara |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Makara on 30 April 2008, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Marathi Calendar 2008
How many festivals and vrats does the Marathi Calendar list in 2008?
The Marathi Calendar lists 42 dates in 2008, of which 5 are vrats. The first is Makar Sankranti on Tuesday, 15 January 2008, and the last is Datta Jayanti on Friday, 12 December 2008.
What are the main festival dates in the Marathi Calendar for 2008?
The first major observances of 2008 are:
- Makar Sankranti - Tuesday, 15 January 2008
- Ganesh Jayanti (Maghi) - Sunday, 10 February 2008
- Vasant Panchami - Monday, 11 February 2008
- Ratha Saptami - Wednesday, 13 February 2008
- Maha Shivratri - Thursday, 6 March 2008
- Holika Dahan - Friday, 21 March 2008
Which month of 2008 has the most observances in the Marathi Calendar?
October 2008 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including Dasara (Vijayadashami), Kojagiri Purnima, Karwa Chauth, Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi), Dhantrayodashi (Dhanteras), Narak Chaturdashi, Laxmi Pujan (Diwali), Bali Pratipada (Diwali Padwa / Bestu Varas).
Which traditional year does 2008 correspond to in the Marathi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2008 spans Shaka Samvat 1929 – 1930. 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 2008 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2008 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 2008?
2008 had 4 eclipses:
- 7 February 2008 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 21 February 2008 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 1 August 2008 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 17 August 2008 - 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 2008?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 2008:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 9 December 2008
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 2008?
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.
