Punjabi Calendar 1986
The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
July 1986
Nanakshahi 518
Harh – Sawan
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 1986 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1986, opening with Lohri on 13 January and closing with Gita Jayanti on 11 December. Of these, 8 are vrats (fasting observances). April is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Nanakshahi 517 – 518.
January 1986 Poh – Magh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan | Mon |
Lohri The bonfire harvest festival on the eve of Maghi (Makar Sankranti). |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 14 Jan | Tue |
Maghi (Makar Sankranti) The Sun's entry into Makara, kept as Maghi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 29 Jan | Wed | Sakat Chauth Vrat | Krishna Chaturthi |
February 1986 Magh – Phagan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb | Sat | Mauni Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 13 Feb | Thu |
Basant Panchami
The kite-flying festival of spring and Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
March 1986 Phagan – Chet
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar | Sat |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 25 Mar | Tue |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 26 Mar | Wed |
Hola Mohalla The Nihang Sikhs' festival of martial valour and mock battles, the day after Holi. |
Shukla Purnima |
April 1986 Chet – Vaisakh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr | Tue | Sheetala Saptami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 10 Apr | Thu |
Chet Navratri
The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 14 Apr | Mon |
Vaisakhi The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 15 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 |
| 18 Apr | Fri |
Ram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
| 24 Apr | Thu |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
May 1986 Vaisakh – Jeth
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May | 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 Saptami |
June 1986 Jeth – Harh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun | Fri | Vat Savitri Vrat Vrat | Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 17 Jun | Tue |
Ganga Dussehra The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 18 Jun | Wed | Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 22 Jun | Sun |
Kabirdas Jayanti The birth anniversary of Sant Kabirdas, the great mystic poet-saint, observed on Jyeshtha Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 1986 Sawan – Bhadon
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug | Fri |
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 |
| 19 Aug | Tue |
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) Sisters tie the rakhri on their brothers' wrists on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 22 Aug | Fri |
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 |
| 27 Aug | Wed |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 28 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 |
September 1986 Bhadon – Assu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep | Sun | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
| 17 Sep | Wed |
Vishwakarma Puja Vishwakarma, the divine architect, is worshipped by artisans, engineers and craftsmen on Kanya Sankranti. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 19 Sep | Fri |
Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha) The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors. |
Krishna Pratipada |
October 1986 Assu – Katak
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Oct | Sat |
Sharad Navratri The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 12 Oct | Sun |
Dussehra The burning of Ravana on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 17 Oct | Fri |
Meerabai Jayanti The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 21 Oct | Tue | Karva Chauth Vrat | Krishna Chaturthi |
| 25 Oct | Sat | Ahoi Ashtami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 30 Oct | Thu |
Dhanteras The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
November 1986 Katak – Maghar
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov | Sat |
Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) The festival of lights, also Bandi Chhor Divas in Sikh tradition. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 2 Nov | Sun |
Govardhan Puja / Annakut Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 3 Nov | Mon |
Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka) Sisters apply the tikka to their brothers two days after Diwali. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 11 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 |
| 16 Nov | Sun |
Guru Nanak Jayanti The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Kartika Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 1986 Maghar – Poh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Dec | Fri |
Vivah Panchami The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, celebrated grandly in Janakpur and Ayodhya. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 11 Dec | Thu |
Gita Jayanti The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
Months of the Punjabi Calendar in 1986
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 1986, covering Nanakshahi 517 – 518. 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 1986 | 14 Jan 1986 | 14 |
| Magh | 15 Jan 1986 | 12 Feb 1986 | 29 |
| Phagan | 13 Feb 1986 | 14 Mar 1986 | 30 |
| Chet | 15 Mar 1986 | 13 Apr 1986 | 30 |
| Vaisakh | 14 Apr 1986 | 14 May 1986 | 31 |
| Jeth | 15 May 1986 | 15 Jun 1986 | 32 |
| Harh | 16 Jun 1986 | 16 Jul 1986 | 31 |
| Sawan | 17 Jul 1986 | 16 Aug 1986 | 31 |
| Bhadon | 17 Aug 1986 | 16 Sep 1986 | 31 |
| Assu | 17 Sep 1986 | 17 Oct 1986 | 31 |
| Katak | 18 Oct 1986 | 16 Nov 1986 | 30 |
| Maghar | 17 Nov 1986 | 15 Dec 1986 | 29 |
| Poh part | 16 Dec 1986 | 31 Dec 1986 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1986
Beyond the dates the Punjabi Calendar lists, 1986 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Basant Panchami fell on 13 February, 19 days later in the year than in 1985 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1986
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Punjabi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 11:50 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Chet Navratri | Chet Amavasya | Not visible |
| 24 Apr 6:12 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Hanuman Jayanti | Vaisakh Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 4 Oct 12:35 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Sharad Navratri | Assu Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 18 Oct 12:47 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Meerabai Jayanti | Katak Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1986
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 7:10 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Makara → Kumbha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Meena on 18 August 1986, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Punjabi Calendar 1986
How many festivals and vrats does the Punjabi Calendar list in 1986?
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1986, of which 8 are vrats. The first is Lohri on Monday, 13 January 1986, and the last is Gita Jayanti on Thursday, 11 December 1986.
What are the main festival dates in the Punjabi Calendar for 1986?
The first major observances of 1986 are:
- Lohri - Monday, 13 January 1986
- Maghi (Makar Sankranti) - Tuesday, 14 January 1986
- Basant Panchami - Thursday, 13 February 1986
- Maha Shivaratri - Saturday, 8 March 1986
- Holika Dahan - Tuesday, 25 March 1986
- Hola Mohalla - Wednesday, 26 March 1986
Which month of 1986 has the most observances in the Punjabi Calendar?
April 1986 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Sheetala Saptami, Chet Navratri, Vaisakhi, Yamuna Chhath (Yamuna Jayanti), Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti.
Which traditional year does 1986 correspond to in the Punjabi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1986 spans Nanakshahi 517 – 518. 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 1986 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1986 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 1986?
1986 had 4 eclipses:
- 9 April 1986 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 24 April 1986 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 4 October 1986 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 18 October 1986 - Total 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 2 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1986?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1986:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 25 January 1986
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 1986?
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.
