Punjabi Calendar 1976
The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
December 1976
Nanakshahi 508
Maghar – Poh
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 1976 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1976, opening with Lohri on 14 January and closing with Gita Jayanti on 2 December. Of these, 8 are vrats (fasting observances). October is the fullest month with 8 dates. The year runs through Nanakshahi 507 – 508.
January 1976 Poh – Magh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan | Wed |
Lohri The bonfire harvest festival on the eve of Maghi (Makar Sankranti). |
Shukla Dwadashi |
| 15 Jan | Thu |
Maghi (Makar Sankranti) The Sun's entry into Makara, kept as Maghi. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 20 Jan | Tue | Sakat Chauth Vrat | Krishna Chaturthi |
| 31 Jan | Sat | Mauni Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
February 1976 Magh – Phagan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb | Thu |
Basant Panchami
The kite-flying festival of spring and Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Feb | Sat |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
March 1976 Phagan – Chet
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Mar | Mon |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 16 Mar | Tue |
Hola Mohalla The Nihang Sikhs' festival of martial valour and mock battles, the day after Holi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 22 Mar | Mon | Sheetala Saptami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 31 Mar | Wed |
Chet Navratri
The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. |
Shukla Pratipada |
April 1976 Chet – Vaisakh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr | Tue |
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 |
| 9 Apr | Fri |
Ram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
| 13 Apr | Tue |
Vaisakhi The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Apr | Wed |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
May 1976 Vaisakh – Jeth
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 May | Thu |
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 |
| 28 May | Fri | Vat Savitri Vrat Vrat | Krishna Chaturdashi |
June 1976 Jeth – Harh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun | Mon |
Ganga Dussehra The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 8 Jun | Tue | Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 12 Jun | Sat |
Kabirdas Jayanti The birth anniversary of Sant Kabirdas, the great mystic poet-saint, observed on Jyeshtha Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
July 1976 Harh – Sawan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jul | 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 Tritiya |
August 1976 Sawan – Bhadon
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Aug | Mon |
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) Sisters tie the rakhri on their brothers' wrists on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 12 Aug | Thu |
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 Dwitiya |
| 18 Aug | Wed |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 19 Aug | Thu |
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 |
| 28 Aug | Sat | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
September 1976 Bhadon – Assu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep | Thu |
Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha) The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 16 Sep | Thu |
Vishwakarma Puja Vishwakarma, the divine architect, is worshipped by artisans, engineers and craftsmen on Kanya Sankranti. |
Krishna Saptami |
| 24 Sep | Fri |
Sharad Navratri The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
October 1976 Assu – Katak
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct | Sat |
Dussehra The burning of Ravana on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 8 Oct | Fri |
Meerabai Jayanti The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 11 Oct | Mon | Karva Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 16 Oct | Sat | Ahoi Ashtami Vrat | Krishna Ashtami |
| 21 Oct | Thu |
Dhanteras The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 22 Oct | Fri |
Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) The festival of lights, also Bandi Chhor Divas in Sikh tradition. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 23 Oct | Sat |
Govardhan Puja / Annakut Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 24 Oct | Sun |
Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka) Sisters apply the tikka to their brothers two days after Diwali. |
Shukla Pratipada |
November 1976 Katak – Maghar
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov | Mon |
Kansa Vadh Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Dashami, with processions and re-enactments in Mathura. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 6 Nov | Sat |
Guru Nanak Jayanti The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Kartika Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 25 Nov | Thu |
Vivah Panchami The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, celebrated grandly in Janakpur and Ayodhya. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
December 1976 Maghar – Poh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec | Thu |
Gita Jayanti The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
Months of the Punjabi Calendar in 1976
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 1976, covering Nanakshahi 507 – 508. 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 1976 | 14 Jan 1976 | 14 |
| Magh | 15 Jan 1976 | 13 Feb 1976 | 30 |
| Phagan | 14 Feb 1976 | 13 Mar 1976 | 29 |
| Chet | 14 Mar 1976 | 13 Apr 1976 | 31 |
| Vaisakh | 14 Apr 1976 | 14 May 1976 | 31 |
| Jeth | 15 May 1976 | 14 Jun 1976 | 31 |
| Harh | 15 Jun 1976 | 15 Jul 1976 | 31 |
| Sawan | 16 Jul 1976 | 16 Aug 1976 | 32 |
| Bhadon | 17 Aug 1976 | 16 Sep 1976 | 31 |
| Assu | 17 Sep 1976 | 16 Oct 1976 | 30 |
| Katak | 17 Oct 1976 | 15 Nov 1976 | 30 |
| Maghar | 16 Nov 1976 | 15 Dec 1976 | 30 |
| Poh part | 16 Dec 1976 | 31 Dec 1976 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1976
Beyond the dates the Punjabi Calendar lists, 1976 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 4 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Lohri fell on 14 January, 1 day later in the year than in 1975 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1976
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Punjabi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Apr 3:53 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Vaisakh Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 14 May 1:24 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Vaisakh Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 23 Oct 10:42 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Govardhan Puja / Annakut | Katak Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 7 Nov 4:31 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Guru Nanak Jayanti | Katak Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 3 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1976
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 6:10 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Meena → Mesha |
| 8 Jul 6:10 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mesha → Vrishabha |
| 8 Dec 2:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishabha → Mesha re-entry while retrograde |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Punjabi Calendar 1976
How many festivals and vrats does the Punjabi Calendar list in 1976?
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1976, of which 8 are vrats. The first is Lohri on Wednesday, 14 January 1976, and the last is Gita Jayanti on Thursday, 2 December 1976.
What are the main festival dates in the Punjabi Calendar for 1976?
The first major observances of 1976 are:
- Lohri - Wednesday, 14 January 1976
- Maghi (Makar Sankranti) - Thursday, 15 January 1976
- Basant Panchami - Thursday, 5 February 1976
- Maha Shivaratri - Saturday, 28 February 1976
- Holika Dahan - Monday, 15 March 1976
- Hola Mohalla - Tuesday, 16 March 1976
Which month of 1976 has the most observances in the Punjabi Calendar?
October 1976 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including Dussehra, Meerabai Jayanti, Karva Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami, Dhanteras, Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas), Govardhan Puja / Annakut, Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka).
Which traditional year does 1976 correspond to in the Punjabi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1976 spans Nanakshahi 507 – 508. 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 1976 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1976 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 1976?
1976 had 4 eclipses:
- 29 April 1976 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 14 May 1976 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 23 October 1976 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 7 November 1976 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak 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 1976?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1976:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 25 February 1976
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishabha on 8 July 1976
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 8 December 1976, moving retrograde
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 1976?
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.
