Punjabi Calendar 1961
The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
May 1961
Nanakshahi 493
Vaisakh – Jeth
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.
Punjabi Calendar 1961 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1961, opening with Sakat Chauth on 5 January and closing with Gita Jayanti on 17 December. Of these, 8 are vrats (fasting observances). March is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Nanakshahi 492 – 493. 1961 carries an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1961 Poh – Magh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan | Thu | Sakat Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 13 Jan | Fri |
Lohri The bonfire harvest festival on the eve of Maghi (Makar Sankranti). |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 14 Jan | Sat |
Maghi (Makar Sankranti) The Sun's entry into Makara, kept as Maghi. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 16 Jan | Mon | Mauni Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 21 Jan | Sat |
Basant Panchami
The kite-flying festival of spring and Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
February 1961 Magh – Phagan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb | Mon |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 1961 Phagan – Chet
| 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 |
Hola Mohalla The Nihang Sikhs' festival of martial valour and mock battles, the day after Holi. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 9 Mar | Thu | Sheetala Saptami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 17 Mar | Fri |
Chet Navratri
The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 22 Mar | Wed |
Yamuna Chhath (Yamuna Jayanti) The river goddess Yamuna is worshipped on Chaitra Shukla Shashthi, with holy baths in her waters at Mathura and Vrindavan. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 25 Mar | Sat |
Ram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
April 1961 Chet – Vaisakh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr | Sat |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 13 Apr | Thu |
Vaisakhi The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 21 Apr | Fri |
Ganga Saptami Ganga Jayanti — the rebirth of the holy Ganga on Vaishakha Shukla Saptami, when the river emerged from sage Jahnu's ear; riverside baths and Ganga aarti are held. |
Shukla Shashthi |
May 1961 Vaisakh – Jeth
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 May | Sun | Vat Savitri Vrat Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
June 1961 Jeth – Harh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun | Fri |
Ganga Dussehra The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 24 Jun | Sat | Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 28 Jun | Wed |
Kabirdas Jayanti The birth anniversary of Sant Kabirdas, the great mystic poet-saint, observed on Jyeshtha Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 1961 Sawan – Bhadon
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug | Mon |
Hariyali Teej (Chhoti Teej) On Shravana Shukla Tritiya women celebrate the union of Shiva and Parvati with swings, songs and green attire; in Rajasthan it is Chhoti Teej, marked by the royal Teej Mata procession through Jaipur. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 26 Aug | Sat |
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) Sisters tie the rakhri on their brothers' wrists on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 28 Aug | Mon |
Kajari Teej (Badi / Satudi Teej)
On Bhadrapada Krishna Tritiya, fifteen days after Hariyali Teej, married women fast for their husbands' long life; in Rajasthan this is Badi Teej (Satudi Teej), and Sindhis keep the same day as Teejri, applying mehndi and breaking the fast after sighting the moon. |
Krishna Tritiya |
September 1961 Bhadon – Assu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep | Sat |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 3 Sep | Sun |
Goga Navami (Gogaji) On Bhadrapada Krishna Navami the folk snake-deity Gogaji (Goga Maharaj) is worshipped for protection from snakes; the great Gogamedi fair is held at his shrine in Rajasthan. |
Krishna Navami |
| 13 Sep | Wed | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
| 16 Sep | Sat |
Vishwakarma Puja Vishwakarma, the divine architect, is worshipped by artisans, engineers and craftsmen on Kanya Sankranti. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 25 Sep | Mon |
Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha) The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors. |
Krishna Pratipada |
October 1961 Assu – Katak
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct | Tue |
Sharad Navratri The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 19 Oct | Thu |
Dussehra The burning of Ravana on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 23 Oct | Mon |
Meerabai Jayanti The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 27 Oct | Fri | Karva Chauth Vrat | Krishna Chaturthi |
| 31 Oct | Tue | Ahoi Ashtami Vrat | Krishna Ashtami |
November 1961 Katak – Maghar
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov | Sun |
Dhanteras The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 7 Nov | Tue |
Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) The festival of lights, also Bandi Chhor Divas in Sikh tradition. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 8 Nov | Wed |
Govardhan Puja / Annakut Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 10 Nov | Fri |
Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka) Sisters apply the tikka to their brothers two days after Diwali. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 17 Nov | Fri |
Kansa Vadh Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Dashami, with processions and re-enactments in Mathura. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 22 Nov | Wed |
Guru Nanak Jayanti The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Kartika Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 1961 Maghar – Poh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Dec | Tue |
Vivah Panchami The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, celebrated grandly in Janakpur and Ayodhya. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 17 Dec | Sun |
Gita Jayanti The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. |
Shukla Dashami |
Months of the Punjabi Calendar in 1961
The Punjabi 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 Nanakshahi 492 – 493. A month marked part is one the Gregorian year cuts short at its own start or end.
| Month | Begins | Ends | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poh part | 1 Jan 1961 | 13 Jan 1961 | 13 |
| Magh | 14 Jan 1961 | 12 Feb 1961 | 30 |
| Phagan | 13 Feb 1961 | 14 Mar 1961 | 30 |
| Chet | 15 Mar 1961 | 13 Apr 1961 | 30 |
| Vaisakh | 14 Apr 1961 | 14 May 1961 | 31 |
| Jeth | 15 May 1961 | 14 Jun 1961 | 31 |
| Harh | 15 Jun 1961 | 16 Jul 1961 | 32 |
| Sawan | 17 Jul 1961 | 16 Aug 1961 | 31 |
| Bhadon | 17 Aug 1961 | 16 Sep 1961 | 31 |
| Assu | 17 Sep 1961 | 16 Oct 1961 | 30 |
| Katak | 17 Oct 1961 | 15 Nov 1961 | 30 |
| Maghar | 16 Nov 1961 | 15 Dec 1961 | 30 |
| Poh part | 16 Dec 1961 | 31 Dec 1961 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1961
Beyond the dates the Punjabi 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. Basant Panchami fell on 21 January, 11 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 | Punjabi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Feb 1:49 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days after Maha Shivaratri | Phagan Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 2 Mar 6:58 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Holika Dahan | Phagan Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 11 Aug 4:16 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days before Hariyali Teej (Chhoti Teej) | Sawan Amavasya | Not visible |
| 26 Aug 8:38 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) | Bhadon 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.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Punjabi Calendar 1961
How many festivals and vrats does the Punjabi Calendar list in 1961?
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1961, of which 8 are vrats. The first is Sakat Chauth on Thursday, 5 January 1961, and the last is Gita Jayanti on Sunday, 17 December 1961.
What are the main festival dates in the Punjabi Calendar for 1961?
The first major observances of 1961 are:
- Lohri - Friday, 13 January 1961
- Maghi (Makar Sankranti) - Saturday, 14 January 1961
- Basant Panchami - Saturday, 21 January 1961
- Maha Shivaratri - Monday, 13 February 1961
- Holika Dahan - Wednesday, 1 March 1961
- Hola Mohalla - Friday, 3 March 1961
Which month of 1961 has the most observances in the Punjabi Calendar?
March 1961 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Holika Dahan, Hola Mohalla, Sheetala Saptami, Chet Navratri, Yamuna Chhath (Yamuna Jayanti), Ram Navami.
Which traditional year does 1961 correspond to in the Punjabi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1961 spans Nanakshahi 492 – 493. 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 Punjabi Calendar opens on the current month.
About the Punjabi Calendar
The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi 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.
