Punjabi Calendar 1988
The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
May 1988
Nanakshahi 520
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 1988 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1988, opening with Sakat Chauth on 7 January and closing with Gita Jayanti on 19 December. Of these, 8 are vrats (fasting observances). November is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Nanakshahi 519 – 520. 1988 carries an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1988 Poh – Magh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan | Thu | Sakat Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 14 Jan | Thu |
Lohri The bonfire harvest festival on the eve of Maghi (Makar Sankranti). |
Krishna Dashami |
| 15 Jan | Fri |
Maghi (Makar Sankranti) The Sun's entry into Makara, kept as Maghi. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 19 Jan | Tue | Mauni Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 23 Jan | Sat |
Basant Panchami
The kite-flying festival of spring and Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
February 1988 Magh – Phagan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb | Tue |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
March 1988 Phagan – Chet
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar | Thu |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 4 Mar | Fri |
Hola Mohalla The Nihang Sikhs' festival of martial valour and mock battles, the day after Holi. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 10 Mar | Thu | Sheetala Saptami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 18 Mar | Fri |
Chet Navratri
The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 23 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 |
| 26 Mar | Sat |
Ram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
April 1988 Chet – Vaisakh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr | Sat |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 13 Apr | Wed |
Vaisakhi The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 23 Apr | Sat |
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 1988 Vaisakh – Jeth
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May | Sun | Vat Savitri Vrat Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 26 May | Thu |
Ganga Dussehra The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
June 1988 Jeth – Harh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jun | Sun | Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 29 Jun | Wed |
Kabirdas Jayanti The birth anniversary of Sant Kabirdas, the great mystic poet-saint, observed on Jyeshtha Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 1988 Sawan – Bhadon
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 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 |
| 27 Aug | Sat |
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) Sisters tie the rakhri on their brothers' wrists on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 29 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 Dwitiya |
September 1988 Bhadon – Assu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Sep | Sat |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 4 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 |
| 14 Sep | Wed | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
| 16 Sep | Fri |
Vishwakarma Puja Vishwakarma, the divine architect, is worshipped by artisans, engineers and craftsmen on Kanya Sankranti. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 26 Sep | Mon |
Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha) The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors. |
Krishna Pratipada |
October 1988 Assu – Katak
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct | Tue |
Sharad Navratri The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 20 Oct | Thu |
Dussehra The burning of Ravana on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 25 Oct | Tue |
Meerabai Jayanti The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 28 Oct | Fri | Karva Chauth Vrat | Krishna Chaturthi |
November 1988 Katak – Maghar
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov | Tue | Ahoi Ashtami Vrat | Krishna Ashtami |
| 6 Nov | Sun |
Dhanteras The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 9 Nov | Wed |
Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) The festival of lights, also Bandi Chhor Divas in Sikh tradition. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 10 Nov | Thu |
Govardhan Puja / Annakut Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 11 Nov | Fri |
Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka) Sisters apply the tikka to their brothers two days after Diwali. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 19 Nov | Sat |
Kansa Vadh Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Dashami, with processions and re-enactments in Mathura. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 23 Nov | Wed |
Guru Nanak Jayanti The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Kartika Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 1988 Maghar – Poh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 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 |
| 19 Dec | Mon |
Gita Jayanti The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
Months of the Punjabi Calendar in 1988
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 1988, covering Nanakshahi 519 – 520. 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 1988 | 14 Jan 1988 | 14 |
| Magh | 15 Jan 1988 | 13 Feb 1988 | 30 |
| Phagan | 14 Feb 1988 | 14 Mar 1988 | 30 |
| Chet | 15 Mar 1988 | 13 Apr 1988 | 30 |
| Vaisakh | 14 Apr 1988 | 14 May 1988 | 31 |
| Jeth | 15 May 1988 | 14 Jun 1988 | 31 |
| Harh | 15 Jun 1988 | 16 Jul 1988 | 32 |
| Sawan | 17 Jul 1988 | 16 Aug 1988 | 31 |
| Bhadon | 17 Aug 1988 | 16 Sep 1988 | 31 |
| Assu | 17 Sep 1988 | 16 Oct 1988 | 30 |
| Katak | 17 Oct 1988 | 15 Nov 1988 | 30 |
| Maghar | 16 Nov 1988 | 15 Dec 1988 | 30 |
| Poh part | 16 Dec 1988 | 31 Dec 1988 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1988
Beyond the dates the Punjabi Calendar lists, 1988 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 4 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Jyeshtha, running from 16 May 1988 to 14 June 1988. Lohri fell on 14 January, 1 day later in the year than in 1987 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1988
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Punjabi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar 9:42 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Holika Dahan | Phagan Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 18 Mar 7:28 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Chet Navratri | Chet Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 27 Aug 4:34 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) | Bhadon Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 11 Sep 10:13 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Bhadon Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 3 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1988
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 2:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Meena → Mesha |
| 19 Jun 11:10 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mesha → Vrishabha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Kumbha on 6 March 1988, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Punjabi Calendar 1988
How many festivals and vrats does the Punjabi Calendar list in 1988?
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1988, of which 8 are vrats. The first is Sakat Chauth on Thursday, 7 January 1988, and the last is Gita Jayanti on Monday, 19 December 1988.
What are the main festival dates in the Punjabi Calendar for 1988?
The first major observances of 1988 are:
- Lohri - Thursday, 14 January 1988
- Maghi (Makar Sankranti) - Friday, 15 January 1988
- Basant Panchami - Saturday, 23 January 1988
- Maha Shivaratri - Tuesday, 16 February 1988
- Holika Dahan - Thursday, 3 March 1988
- Hola Mohalla - Friday, 4 March 1988
Which month of 1988 has the most observances in the Punjabi Calendar?
November 1988 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Ahoi Ashtami, Dhanteras, Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas), Govardhan Puja / Annakut, Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka), Kansa Vadh, Guru Nanak Jayanti.
Which traditional year does 1988 correspond to in the Punjabi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1988 spans Nanakshahi 519 – 520. 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 1988 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1988 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 1988 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1988?
1988 had 4 eclipses:
- 3 March 1988 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 18 March 1988 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 27 August 1988 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 11 September 1988 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya 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 1988?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1988:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 3 February 1988
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishabha on 19 June 1988
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 1988?
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.
