Punjabi Calendar

Punjabi Calendar 1966

The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.

October 1966

Nanakshahi 498

Assu – Katak

Sun
Mon
Tue
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.

Punjabi Calendar 1966 - festivals and vrats through the year

The Punjabi Calendar lists 41 dates in 1966, opening with Sakat Chauth on 10 January and closing with Gita Jayanti on 23 December. Of these, 8 are vrats (fasting observances). November is the fullest month with 8 dates. The year runs through Nanakshahi 497 – 498. 1966 carries an Adhik Maas (Shravana (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.

January 1966 Poh – Magh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
10 Jan Mon Sakat Chauth Vrat Krishna Chaturthi
13 Jan Thu Lohri

The bonfire harvest festival on the eve of Maghi (Makar Sankranti).

Krishna Saptami
14 Jan Fri Maghi (Makar Sankranti)

The Sun's entry into Makara, kept as Maghi.

Krishna Ashtami
21 Jan Fri Mauni Amavasya Vrat Krishna Amavasya
26 Jan Wed Basant Panchami

The kite-flying festival of spring and Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami.

Shukla Chaturthi

February 1966 Magh – Phagan

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
18 Feb Fri Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Lord Shiva.

Krishna Trayodashi

March 1966 Phagan – Chet

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
6 Mar Sun Holika Dahan

The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna.

Shukla Chaturdashi
7 Mar Mon Hola Mohalla

The Nihang Sikhs' festival of martial valour and mock battles, the day after Holi.

Shukla Purnima
13 Mar Sun Sheetala Saptami Vrat Krishna Saptami
23 Mar Wed Chet Navratri

The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada.

Shukla Pratipada
28 Mar Mon 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
31 Mar Thu Ram Navami

The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami.

Shukla Navami

April 1966 Chet – Vaisakh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
5 Apr Tue Hanuman Jayanti

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

Shukla Purnima
14 Apr Thu Vaisakhi

The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti.

Krishna Navami
27 Apr Wed 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 Saptami

May 1966 Vaisakh – Jeth

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
19 May Thu Vat Savitri Vrat Vrat Krishna Chaturdashi
29 May Sun Ganga Dussehra

The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami.

Shukla Dashami
30 May Mon Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat Shukla Ekadashi

June 1966 Jeth – Harh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
3 Jun Fri Kabirdas Jayanti

The birth anniversary of Sant Kabirdas, the great mystic poet-saint, observed on Jyeshtha Purnima.

Shukla Purnima

August 1966 Sawan – Bhadon

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
18 Aug Thu 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 Dwitiya
19 Aug Fri Teej (Teeyan)

The Punjabi women's monsoon festival of swings and song on Shravana Shukla Tritiya.

Shukla Tritiya
30 Aug Tue Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri)

Sisters tie the rakhri on their brothers' wrists on Shravana Purnima.

Shukla Purnima

September 1966 Bhadon – Assu

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
3 Sep Sat 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
8 Sep Thu Krishna Janmashtami

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.

Krishna Ashtami
9 Sep Fri 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
16 Sep Fri Vishwakarma Puja

Vishwakarma, the divine architect, is worshipped by artisans, engineers and craftsmen on Kanya Sankranti.

Shukla Dwitiya
17 Sep Sat Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat Shukla Tritiya
30 Sep Fri Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha)

The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors.

Krishna Pratipada

October 1966 Assu – Katak

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
14 Oct Fri Sharad Navratri

The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin.

Krishna Amavasya
23 Oct Sun Dussehra

The burning of Ravana on Vijayadashami.

Shukla Dashami
29 Oct Sat Meerabai Jayanti

The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima.

Shukla Purnima

November 1966 Katak – Maghar

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Nov Tue Karva Chauth Vrat Krishna Tritiya
5 Nov Sat Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Krishna Saptami
10 Nov Thu Dhanteras

The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth.

Krishna Trayodashi
12 Nov Sat Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas)

The festival of lights, also Bandi Chhor Divas in Sikh tradition.

Krishna Amavasya
13 Nov Sun Govardhan Puja / Annakut

Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity.

Shukla Pratipada
14 Nov Mon Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka)

Sisters apply the tikka to their brothers two days after Diwali.

Shukla Dwitiya
22 Nov Tue Kansa Vadh

Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Dashami, with processions and re-enactments in Mathura.

Shukla Dashami
28 Nov Mon Guru Nanak Jayanti

The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Kartika Purnima.

Shukla Purnima

December 1966 Maghar – Poh

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
17 Dec Sat Vivah Panchami

The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, celebrated grandly in Janakpur and Ayodhya.

Shukla Panchami
23 Dec Fri Gita Jayanti

The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi.

Shukla Ekadashi

Months of the Punjabi Calendar in 1966

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 1966, covering Nanakshahi 497 – 498. 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 1966 13 Jan 1966 13
Magh 14 Jan 1966 12 Feb 1966 30
Phagan 13 Feb 1966 14 Mar 1966 30
Chet 15 Mar 1966 13 Apr 1966 30
Vaisakh 14 Apr 1966 14 May 1966 31
Jeth 15 May 1966 14 Jun 1966 31
Harh 15 Jun 1966 16 Jul 1966 32
Sawan 17 Jul 1966 16 Aug 1966 31
Bhadon 17 Aug 1966 16 Sep 1966 31
Assu 17 Sep 1966 17 Oct 1966 31
Katak 18 Oct 1966 16 Nov 1966 30
Maghar 17 Nov 1966 15 Dec 1966 29
Poh part 16 Dec 1966 31 Dec 1966 16

What happened in the sky in 1966

Beyond the dates the Punjabi Calendar lists, 1966 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 Shravana, running from 19 July 1966 to 16 August 1966. Basant Panchami fell on 26 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 1965 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.

Eclipses of 1966

Date (IST) Eclipse Punjabi date Seen from India
5 May 2:41 AM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Vaisakh Krishna Pratipada Penumbral only
20 May 3:08 PM Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Jeth Amavasya Yes - Sutak observed
29 Oct 3:42 PM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Meerabai Jayanti Katak Purnima Penumbral only
12 Nov 7:52 PM Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) Katak 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 1966

Date Graha Sign change
10 Jan 3:20 AM Guru (Jupiter) Mithuna → Vrishabha re-entry while retrograde
24 Mar 5:00 AM Guru (Jupiter) Vrishabha → Mithuna
9 Apr 5:00 AM Shani (Saturn) Kumbha → Meena
21 Aug 11:30 PM Guru (Jupiter) Mithuna → Karka
3 Nov 12:00 PM Shani (Saturn) Meena → Kumbha re-entry while retrograde
20 Dec 1:40 AM Shani (Saturn) Kumbha → Meena

Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Mesha on 25 June 1966, carrying the eclipse axis with it.

Frequently asked questions about the Punjabi Calendar 1966

How many festivals and vrats does the Punjabi Calendar list in 1966?

The Punjabi Calendar lists 41 dates in 1966, of which 8 are vrats. The first is Sakat Chauth on Monday, 10 January 1966, and the last is Gita Jayanti on Friday, 23 December 1966.

What are the main festival dates in the Punjabi Calendar for 1966?

The first major observances of 1966 are:

  • Lohri - Thursday, 13 January 1966
  • Maghi (Makar Sankranti) - Friday, 14 January 1966
  • Basant Panchami - Wednesday, 26 January 1966
  • Maha Shivaratri - Friday, 18 February 1966
  • Holika Dahan - Sunday, 6 March 1966
  • Hola Mohalla - Monday, 7 March 1966
Which month of 1966 has the most observances in the Punjabi Calendar?

November 1966 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including Karva Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami, Dhanteras, Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas), Govardhan Puja / Annakut, Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka), Kansa Vadh, Guru Nanak Jayanti.

Which traditional year does 1966 correspond to in the Punjabi Calendar?

The Gregorian year 1966 spans Nanakshahi 497 – 498. 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 1966 have an Adhik Maas?

Yes. 1966 carried an Adhik Maas (Shravana (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 1966 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.

Were there any eclipses in 1966?

1966 had 4 eclipses:

  • 5 May 1966 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
  • 20 May 1966 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 29 October 1966 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
  • 12 November 1966 - 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 1966?

Yes - 6 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1966:

  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishabha on 10 January 1966, moving retrograde
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Mithuna on 24 March 1966
  • Shani (Saturn) entered Meena on 9 April 1966
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Karka on 21 August 1966
  • Shani (Saturn) entered Kumbha on 3 November 1966, moving retrograde
  • Shani (Saturn) entered Meena on 20 December 1966

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 1966?

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.

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