Marathi Calendar

Marathi Calendar 2020

The Marathi festival calendar (Gudi Padwa new year). Maharashtrian festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.

March 2020

Shaka Samvat 1941 (Vikari) · Shaka Samvat 1942 (Sharvari)

Phalguna – Chaitra

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Mon
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Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

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 2020 - festivals and vrats through the year

The Marathi Calendar lists 41 dates in 2020, opening with Makar Sankranti on 15 January and closing with Datta Jayanti on 29 December. Of these, 5 are vrats (fasting observances). November is the fullest month with 8 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1941 – 1942. 2020 carries an Adhik Maas (Ashwina (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.

January 2020 Pausha – Magha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
15 Jan Wed Makar Sankranti

The Sun's entry into Makara, kept with tilgul sweets.

Krishna Panchami
29 Jan Wed Ganesh Jayanti (Maghi)

The birth of Ganesha on Magha Shukla Chaturthi.

Shukla Chaturthi
29 Jan Wed Vasant Panchami

The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami.

Shukla Chaturthi

February 2020 Magha – Phalguna

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Feb Sat Ratha Saptami

The turning of Surya's chariot, on Magha Shukla Saptami.

Shukla Saptami
21 Feb Fri Maha Shivratri

The great night of Lord Shiva.

Krishna Trayodashi

March 2020 Phalguna – Chaitra

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
9 Mar Mon Holika Dahan

The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna.

Shukla Purnima
10 Mar Tue Dhulivandan (Holi)

The festival of colours, the day after Holika Dahan.

Krishna Pratipada
13 Mar Fri Rang Panchami

Dry gulal is thrown on Phalguna Krishna Panchami, the colourful finale of the Holi festivities five days after Holika Dahan.

Krishna Chaturthi
25 Mar Wed Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year)

The Maharashtrian new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, when the gudi is raised.

Shukla Pratipada

April 2020 Chaitra – Vaishakha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
2 Apr Thu Shriram Navami

The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami.

Shukla Navami
8 Apr Wed Hanuman Jayanti

The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra.

Shukla Purnima
26 Apr Sun Akshaya Tritiya

Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, among the most auspicious days of the year.

Shukla Tritiya

May 2020 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
6 May Wed Narasimha Jayanti

The advent of Lord Narasimha on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi.

Shukla Chaturdashi

June 2020 Jyeshtha – Ashadha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
5 Jun Fri Vat Purnima (Vat Pournima) Vrat Shukla Purnima

July 2020 Ashadha – Shravana

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Jul Wed Ashadhi Ekadashi (Devshayani) Vrat Shukla Ekadashi
5 Jul Sun Guru Purnima

The full moon of Ashadha honouring teachers and sage Veda Vyasa.

Shukla Purnima
20 Jul Mon Gatari Amavasya

The Ashadha new moon of feasting before the austerities of Shravan.

Krishna Amavasya
25 Jul Sat Nag Panchami

Serpent deities are worshipped on Shravana Shukla Panchami.

Shukla Panchami

August 2020 Shravana – Bhadrapada

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
3 Aug Mon 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
12 Aug Wed Krishna Janmashtami

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.

Krishna Ashtami
13 Aug Thu 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
19 Aug Wed Pithori Amavasya Vrat Krishna Amavasya
21 Aug Fri Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat Shukla Tritiya
22 Aug Sat Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganeshotsav)

Maharashtra's grandest festival begins with the installation of Ganpati on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

Shukla Chaturthi
27 Aug Thu 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 Navami

September 2020 Bhadrapada – Ashwina – Ashwina (Adhik)

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Sep Tue Anant Chaturdashi (Ganpati Visarjan)

The immersion of Ganpati on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi.

Shukla Chaturdashi
3 Sep Thu Pitru Paksha Begins

The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors begins.

Krishna Pratipada
17 Sep Thu Sarvapitri Amavasya

The Mahalaya new moon closing Pitru Paksha.

Krishna Amavasya

October 2020 Ashwina (Adhik) – Ashwina – Kartika

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
17 Oct Sat Ghatasthapana (Navratri Begins)

The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin.

Shukla Pratipada
25 Oct Sun Dasara (Vijayadashami)

The triumph of good over evil and the crossing of the seemollanghan.

Shukla Navami
30 Oct Fri Kojagiri Purnima

The bright Ashwina full moon, kept awake for Goddess Lakshmi.

Shukla Chaturdashi

November 2020 Kartika – Margashirsha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
4 Nov Wed Karwa Chauth Vrat Krishna Chaturthi
12 Nov Thu 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
13 Nov Fri Dhantrayodashi (Dhanteras)

The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth on Kartika Krishna Trayodashi.

Krishna Trayodashi
14 Nov Sat Laxmi Pujan (Diwali)

The worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kartika Amavasya.

Krishna Chaturdashi
14 Nov Sat Narak Chaturdashi

The abhyanga snan marking Krishna's slaying of Narakasura.

Krishna Chaturdashi
15 Nov Sun 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
26 Nov Thu 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
30 Nov Mon Tripurari Purnima

The Kartika full moon, when Shiva slew Tripurasura, lit with deepdan.

Shukla Purnima

December 2020 Margashirsha – Pausha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
20 Dec Sun 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
29 Dec Tue 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 2020

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 2020, covering Shaka Samvat 1941 – 1942. 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 2020 14 Jan 2020 14
Magha 15 Jan 2020 13 Feb 2020 30
Phalguna 14 Feb 2020 14 Mar 2020 30
Chaitra 15 Mar 2020 13 Apr 2020 30
Vaishakha 14 Apr 2020 14 May 2020 31
Jyeshtha 15 May 2020 14 Jun 2020 31
Ashadha 15 Jun 2020 16 Jul 2020 32
Shravana 17 Jul 2020 16 Aug 2020 31
Bhadrapada 17 Aug 2020 16 Sep 2020 31
Ashwina 17 Sep 2020 17 Sep 2020 1
Ashwina (Adhik) 18 Sep 2020 16 Oct 2020 29
Ashwina 17 Oct 2020 17 Oct 2020 1
Kartika 18 Oct 2020 16 Nov 2020 30
Margashirsha 17 Nov 2020 15 Dec 2020 29
Pausha part 16 Dec 2020 31 Dec 2020 16

What happened in the sky in 2020

Beyond the dates the Marathi Calendar lists, 2020 brought 6 eclipses - 2 solar and 4 lunar - of which 4 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Ashwina, running from 18 September 2020 to 16 October 2020. Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) fell on 25 March, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2019 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.

Eclipses of 2020

Date (IST) Eclipse Marathi date Seen from India
11 Jan 12:40 AM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Pausha Krishna Pratipada Penumbral only
6 Jun 12:54 AM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Jyeshtha Krishna Pratipada Penumbral only
21 Jun 12:10 PM Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Ashadha Amavasya Yes - Sutak observed
5 Jul 9:59 AM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Guru Purnima Ashadha Purnima Not visible
30 Nov 3:12 PM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Tripurari Purnima Margashirsha Purnima Penumbral only
14 Dec 9:43 PM Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Margashirsha Amavasya Not visible

Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.

Guru and Shani in 2020

Date Graha Sign change
24 Jan 10:00 AM Shani (Saturn) Dhanu → Makara
30 Mar 4:00 AM Guru (Jupiter) Dhanu → Makara
30 Jun 5:30 AM Guru (Jupiter) Makara → Dhanu re-entry while retrograde
20 Nov 1:30 PM Guru (Jupiter) Dhanu → Makara

Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Vrishabha on 23 September 2020, carrying the eclipse axis with it.

Frequently asked questions about the Marathi Calendar 2020

How many festivals and vrats does the Marathi Calendar list in 2020?

The Marathi Calendar lists 41 dates in 2020, of which 5 are vrats. The first is Makar Sankranti on Wednesday, 15 January 2020, and the last is Datta Jayanti on Tuesday, 29 December 2020.

What are the main festival dates in the Marathi Calendar for 2020?

The first major observances of 2020 are:

  • Makar Sankranti - Wednesday, 15 January 2020
  • Ganesh Jayanti (Maghi) - Wednesday, 29 January 2020
  • Vasant Panchami - Wednesday, 29 January 2020
  • Ratha Saptami - Saturday, 1 February 2020
  • Maha Shivratri - Friday, 21 February 2020
  • Holika Dahan - Monday, 9 March 2020
Which month of 2020 has the most observances in the Marathi Calendar?

November 2020 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including Karwa Chauth, Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi), Dhantrayodashi (Dhanteras), Laxmi Pujan (Diwali), Narak Chaturdashi, Bali Pratipada (Diwali Padwa / Bestu Varas), Tulsi Vivah, Tripurari Purnima.

Which traditional year does 2020 correspond to in the Marathi Calendar?

The Gregorian year 2020 spans Shaka Samvat 1941 – 1942. 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 2020 have an Adhik Maas?

Yes. 2020 carried an Adhik Maas (Ashwina (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 2020 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.

Were there any eclipses in 2020?

2020 had 6 eclipses:

  • 11 January 2020 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
  • 6 June 2020 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
  • 21 June 2020 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 5 July 2020 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
  • 30 November 2020 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
  • 14 December 2020 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India

Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 1 of these was kept in India.

Did Guru or Shani change sign in 2020?

Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2020:

  • Shani (Saturn) entered Makara on 24 January 2020
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 30 March 2020
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Dhanu on 30 June 2020, moving retrograde
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 20 November 2020

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 2020?

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.

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