Punjabi Calendar 1996
The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
August 1996
Nanakshahi 528
Sawan – Bhadon
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 1996 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1996, opening with Sakat Chauth on 9 January and closing with Gita Jayanti on 20 December. Of these, 8 are vrats (fasting observances). November is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Nanakshahi 527 – 528. 1996 carries an Adhik Maas (Ashadha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1996 Poh – Magh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan | Tue | Sakat Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 14 Jan | Sun |
Lohri The bonfire harvest festival on the eve of Maghi (Makar Sankranti). |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 15 Jan | Mon |
Maghi (Makar Sankranti) The Sun's entry into Makara, kept as Maghi. |
Krishna Navami |
| 20 Jan | Sat | Mauni Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 24 Jan | Wed |
Basant Panchami
The kite-flying festival of spring and Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
February 1996 Magh – Phagan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb | Sat |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 1996 Phagan – Chet
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar | Mon |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 6 Mar | Wed |
Hola Mohalla The Nihang Sikhs' festival of martial valour and mock battles, the day after Holi. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 12 Mar | Tue | Sheetala Saptami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 20 Mar | Wed |
Chet Navratri
The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 25 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 |
| 28 Mar | Thu |
Ram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
April 1996 Chet – Vaisakh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr | Wed |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 13 Apr | Sat |
Vaisakhi The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 24 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 Shashthi |
May 1996 Vaisakh – Jeth
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May | Thu | Vat Savitri Vrat Vrat | Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 28 May | Tue |
Ganga Dussehra The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 29 May | Wed | Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
June 1996 Jeth – Harh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun | Sat |
Kabirdas Jayanti The birth anniversary of Sant Kabirdas, the great mystic poet-saint, observed on Jyeshtha Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 1996 Sawan – Bhadon
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug | Sat |
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 |
| 28 Aug | Wed |
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) Sisters tie the rakhri on their brothers' wrists on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 31 Aug | 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 |
September 1996 Bhadon – Assu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sep | Thu |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 6 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 | Mon | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
| 16 Sep | Mon |
Vishwakarma Puja Vishwakarma, the divine architect, is worshipped by artisans, engineers and craftsmen on Kanya Sankranti. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 27 Sep | Fri |
Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha) The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors. |
Shukla Purnima |
October 1996 Assu – Katak
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct | Sun |
Sharad Navratri The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 21 Oct | Mon |
Dussehra The burning of Ravana on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Navami |
| 26 Oct | Sat |
Meerabai Jayanti The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 29 Oct | Tue | Karva Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
November 1996 Katak – Maghar
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov | Sun | Ahoi Ashtami Vrat | Krishna Ashtami |
| 8 Nov | Fri |
Dhanteras The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 10 Nov | Sun |
Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) The festival of lights, also Bandi Chhor Divas in Sikh tradition. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 11 Nov | Mon |
Govardhan Puja / Annakut Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 12 Nov | Tue |
Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka) Sisters apply the tikka to their brothers two days after Diwali. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 20 Nov | Wed |
Kansa Vadh Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Dashami, with processions and re-enactments in Mathura. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 25 Nov | Mon |
Guru Nanak Jayanti The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Kartika Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 1996 Maghar – Poh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec | Sun |
Vivah Panchami The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, celebrated grandly in Janakpur and Ayodhya. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 20 Dec | Fri |
Gita Jayanti The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
Months of the Punjabi Calendar in 1996
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 1996, covering Nanakshahi 527 – 528. 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 1996 | 14 Jan 1996 | 14 |
| Magh | 15 Jan 1996 | 13 Feb 1996 | 30 |
| Phagan | 14 Feb 1996 | 14 Mar 1996 | 30 |
| Chet | 15 Mar 1996 | 13 Apr 1996 | 30 |
| Vaisakh | 14 Apr 1996 | 14 May 1996 | 31 |
| Jeth | 15 May 1996 | 14 Jun 1996 | 31 |
| Harh | 15 Jun 1996 | 16 Jul 1996 | 32 |
| Sawan | 17 Jul 1996 | 16 Aug 1996 | 31 |
| Bhadon | 17 Aug 1996 | 16 Sep 1996 | 31 |
| Assu | 17 Sep 1996 | 16 Oct 1996 | 30 |
| Katak | 17 Oct 1996 | 15 Nov 1996 | 30 |
| Maghar | 16 Nov 1996 | 15 Dec 1996 | 30 |
| Poh part | 16 Dec 1996 | 31 Dec 1996 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1996
Beyond the dates the Punjabi Calendar lists, 1996 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Ashadha, running from 17 June 1996 to 15 July 1996. Lohri fell on 14 January, 1 day later in the year than in 1995 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1996
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Punjabi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 5:39 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Hanuman Jayanti | Chet Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 18 Apr 4:07 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Vaisakh Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 27 Sep 8:24 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha) | Assu Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 12 Oct 7:31 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Sharad Navratri | Assu Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1996
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb 6:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Kumbha → Meena |
| 26 Dec 8:00 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Dhanu → Makara |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Punjabi Calendar 1996
How many festivals and vrats does the Punjabi Calendar list in 1996?
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 1996, of which 8 are vrats. The first is Sakat Chauth on Tuesday, 9 January 1996, and the last is Gita Jayanti on Friday, 20 December 1996.
What are the main festival dates in the Punjabi Calendar for 1996?
The first major observances of 1996 are:
- Lohri - Sunday, 14 January 1996
- Maghi (Makar Sankranti) - Monday, 15 January 1996
- Basant Panchami - Wednesday, 24 January 1996
- Maha Shivaratri - Saturday, 17 February 1996
- Holika Dahan - Monday, 4 March 1996
- Hola Mohalla - Wednesday, 6 March 1996
Which month of 1996 has the most observances in the Punjabi Calendar?
November 1996 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 1996 correspond to in the Punjabi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1996 spans Nanakshahi 527 – 528. 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 1996 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1996 carried an Adhik Maas (Ashadha (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 1996 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1996?
1996 had 4 eclipses:
- 4 April 1996 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 18 April 1996 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 27 September 1996 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 12 October 1996 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
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 1996?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1996:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Meena on 16 February 1996
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 26 December 1996
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 1996?
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.
