Punjabi Calendar 1987
The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
March 1987
Nanakshahi 518 · Nanakshahi 519
Phagan – Chet
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 1987 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Punjabi Calendar lists 39 dates in 1987, opening with Lohri on 13 January and closing with Gita Jayanti on 1 December. Of these, 8 are vrats (fasting observances). October is the fullest month with 9 dates. The year runs through Nanakshahi 518 – 519.
January 1987 Poh – Magh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan | Tue |
Lohri The bonfire harvest festival on the eve of Maghi (Makar Sankranti). |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Jan | Wed |
Maghi (Makar Sankranti) The Sun's entry into Makara, kept as Maghi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 18 Jan | Sun | Sakat Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 29 Jan | Thu | Mauni Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
February 1987 Magh – Phagan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb | Mon |
Basant Panchami
The kite-flying festival of spring and Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 26 Feb | Thu |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 1987 Phagan – Chet
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar | Sat |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 16 Mar | Mon |
Hola Mohalla The Nihang Sikhs' festival of martial valour and mock battles, the day after Holi. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 22 Mar | Sun | Sheetala Saptami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 30 Mar | Mon |
Chet Navratri
The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. |
Shukla Pratipada |
April 1987 Chet – Vaisakh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr | Sat |
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 |
| 7 Apr | Tue |
Ram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
| 14 Apr | Tue |
Vaisakhi The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti. |
Shukla Purnima |
May 1987 Vaisakh – Jeth
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May | Tue |
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 |
| 26 May | Tue | Vat Savitri Vrat Vrat | Krishna Chaturdashi |
June 1987 Jeth – Harh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun | Sun |
Ganga Dussehra The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 8 Jun | Mon | Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
July 1987 Harh – Sawan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul | Tue |
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 |
| 29 Jul | Wed |
Teej (Teeyan) The Punjabi women's monsoon festival of swings and song on Shravana Shukla Tritiya. |
Shukla Tritiya |
August 1987 Sawan – Bhadon
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Aug | Sun |
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) Sisters tie the rakhri on their brothers' wrists on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 12 Aug | Wed |
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 |
| 16 Aug | Sun |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 17 Aug | Mon |
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 |
| 27 Aug | Thu | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
September 1987 Bhadon – Assu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Sep | Tue |
Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha) The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 17 Sep | Thu |
Vishwakarma Puja Vishwakarma, the divine architect, is worshipped by artisans, engineers and craftsmen on Kanya Sankranti. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 24 Sep | Thu |
Sharad Navratri The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
October 1987 Assu – Katak
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct | Fri |
Dussehra The burning of Ravana on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 7 Oct | Wed |
Meerabai Jayanti The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 10 Oct | Sat | Karva Chauth Vrat | Krishna Chaturthi |
| 14 Oct | Wed | Ahoi Ashtami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 20 Oct | Tue |
Dhanteras The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 22 Oct | Thu |
Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) The festival of lights, also Bandi Chhor Divas in Sikh tradition. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 23 Oct | Fri |
Govardhan Puja / Annakut Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 24 Oct | Sat |
Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka) Sisters apply the tikka to their brothers two days after Diwali. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 31 Oct | Sat |
Kansa Vadh Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Dashami, with processions and re-enactments in Mathura. |
Shukla Navami |
November 1987 Katak – Maghar
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov | Thu |
Guru Nanak Jayanti The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Kartika Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 25 Nov | Wed |
Vivah Panchami The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, celebrated grandly in Janakpur and Ayodhya. |
Shukla Panchami |
December 1987 Maghar – Poh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec | Tue |
Gita Jayanti The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
Months of the Punjabi Calendar in 1987
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 1987, covering Nanakshahi 518 – 519. 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 1987 | 14 Jan 1987 | 14 |
| Magh | 15 Jan 1987 | 12 Feb 1987 | 29 |
| Phagan | 13 Feb 1987 | 14 Mar 1987 | 30 |
| Chet | 15 Mar 1987 | 14 Apr 1987 | 31 |
| Vaisakh | 15 Apr 1987 | 15 May 1987 | 31 |
| Jeth | 16 May 1987 | 15 Jun 1987 | 31 |
| Harh | 16 Jun 1987 | 16 Jul 1987 | 31 |
| Sawan | 17 Jul 1987 | 17 Aug 1987 | 32 |
| Bhadon | 18 Aug 1987 | 17 Sep 1987 | 31 |
| Assu | 18 Sep 1987 | 17 Oct 1987 | 30 |
| Katak | 18 Oct 1987 | 16 Nov 1987 | 30 |
| Maghar | 17 Nov 1987 | 16 Dec 1987 | 30 |
| Poh part | 17 Dec 1987 | 31 Dec 1987 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 1987
Beyond the dates the Punjabi Calendar lists, 1987 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Basant Panchami fell on 2 February, 11 days earlier in the year than in 1986 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1987
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Punjabi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 6:18 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Chet Navratri | Chet Amavasya | Not visible |
| 14 Apr 7:48 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Vaisakhi | Chet Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 23 Sep 8:41 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Sharad Navratri | Assu Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 7 Oct 9:31 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Meerabai Jayanti | Assu Purnima | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1987
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 1:10 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Meena |
| 16 Jun 9:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Meena → Mesha |
| 26 Oct 4:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mesha → Meena re-entry while retrograde |
| 17 Dec 3:00 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Punjabi Calendar 1987
How many festivals and vrats does the Punjabi Calendar list in 1987?
The Punjabi Calendar lists 39 dates in 1987, of which 8 are vrats. The first is Lohri on Tuesday, 13 January 1987, and the last is Gita Jayanti on Tuesday, 1 December 1987.
What are the main festival dates in the Punjabi Calendar for 1987?
The first major observances of 1987 are:
- Lohri - Tuesday, 13 January 1987
- Maghi (Makar Sankranti) - Wednesday, 14 January 1987
- Basant Panchami - Monday, 2 February 1987
- Maha Shivaratri - Thursday, 26 February 1987
- Holika Dahan - Saturday, 14 March 1987
- Hola Mohalla - Monday, 16 March 1987
Which month of 1987 has the most observances in the Punjabi Calendar?
October 1987 is the fullest month with 9 dates, including Dussehra, Meerabai Jayanti, Karva Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami, Dhanteras, Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas), Govardhan Puja / Annakut, Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka).
Which traditional year does 1987 correspond to in the Punjabi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1987 spans Nanakshahi 518 – 519. 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 1987 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1987 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 1987?
1987 had 4 eclipses:
- 29 March 1987 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 14 April 1987 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 23 September 1987 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 7 October 1987 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra 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 1987?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1987:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 3 February 1987
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 16 June 1987
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 26 October 1987, moving retrograde
- Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 17 December 1987
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 1987?
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.
