Punjabi Calendar 2012
The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
March 2012
Nanakshahi 543 · Nanakshahi 544
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 2012 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Punjabi Calendar lists 41 dates in 2012, opening with Sakat Chauth on 12 January and closing with Gita Jayanti on 23 December. Of these, 8 are vrats (fasting observances). November is the fullest month with 8 dates. The year runs through Nanakshahi 543 – 544. 2012 carries an Adhik Maas (Bhadrapada (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 2012 Poh – Magh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan | Thu | Sakat Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 14 Jan | Sat |
Lohri The bonfire harvest festival on the eve of Maghi (Makar Sankranti). |
Krishna Panchami |
| 15 Jan | Sun |
Maghi (Makar Sankranti) The Sun's entry into Makara, kept as Maghi. |
Krishna Saptami |
| 23 Jan | Mon | Mauni Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 28 Jan | Sat |
Basant Panchami
The kite-flying festival of spring and Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
February 2012 Magh – Phagan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Feb | Mon |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
March 2012 Phagan – Chet
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar | Wed |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 9 Mar | Fri |
Hola Mohalla The Nihang Sikhs' festival of martial valour and mock battles, the day after Holi. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 14 Mar | Wed | Sheetala Saptami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 23 Mar | Fri |
Chet Navratri
The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 29 Mar | Thu |
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 |
April 2012 Chet – Vaisakh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr | Sun |
Ram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
| 6 Apr | Fri |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 14 Apr | Sat |
Vaisakhi The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti. |
Krishna Navami |
| 28 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 2012 Vaisakh – Jeth
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May | Sun | Vat Savitri Vrat Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 31 May | Thu |
Ganga Dussehra The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 31 May | Thu | Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Dashami |
June 2012 Jeth – Harh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun | Mon |
Kabirdas Jayanti The birth anniversary of Sant Kabirdas, the great mystic poet-saint, observed on Jyeshtha Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
July 2012 Harh – Sawan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul | 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 Dwitiya |
| 22 Jul | Sun |
Teej (Teeyan) The Punjabi women's monsoon festival of swings and song on Shravana Shukla Tritiya. |
Shukla Tritiya |
August 2012 Sawan – Bhadon
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Thu |
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) Sisters tie the rakhri on their brothers' wrists on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 5 Aug | Sun |
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 |
| 10 Aug | Fri |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 11 Aug | Sat |
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 2012 Bhadon – Assu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep | Sun |
Vishwakarma Puja Vishwakarma, the divine architect, is worshipped by artisans, engineers and craftsmen on Kanya Sankranti. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 18 Sep | Tue | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
October 2012 Assu – Katak
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct | Mon |
Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha) The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 16 Oct | Tue |
Sharad Navratri The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 24 Oct | Wed |
Dussehra The burning of Ravana on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 29 Oct | Mon |
Meerabai Jayanti The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
November 2012 Katak – Maghar
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov | Fri | Karva Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 6 Nov | Tue | Ahoi Ashtami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 11 Nov | Sun |
Dhanteras The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 13 Nov | Tue |
Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) The festival of lights, also Bandi Chhor Divas in Sikh tradition. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 14 Nov | Wed |
Govardhan Puja / Annakut Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 15 Nov | Thu |
Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka) Sisters apply the tikka to their brothers two days after Diwali. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 23 Nov | Fri |
Kansa Vadh Krishna's slaying of the tyrant Kansa is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Dashami, with processions and re-enactments in Mathura. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 28 Nov | Wed |
Guru Nanak Jayanti The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Kartika Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 2012 Maghar – Poh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec | Mon |
Vivah Panchami The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, celebrated grandly in Janakpur and Ayodhya. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 23 Dec | Sun |
Gita Jayanti The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
Months of the Punjabi Calendar in 2012
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 2012, covering Nanakshahi 543 – 544. 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 2012 | 14 Jan 2012 | 14 |
| Magh | 15 Jan 2012 | 13 Feb 2012 | 30 |
| Phagan | 14 Feb 2012 | 14 Mar 2012 | 30 |
| Chet | 15 Mar 2012 | 13 Apr 2012 | 30 |
| Vaisakh | 14 Apr 2012 | 14 May 2012 | 31 |
| Jeth | 15 May 2012 | 14 Jun 2012 | 31 |
| Harh | 15 Jun 2012 | 16 Jul 2012 | 32 |
| Sawan | 17 Jul 2012 | 16 Aug 2012 | 31 |
| Bhadon | 17 Aug 2012 | 16 Sep 2012 | 31 |
| Assu | 17 Sep 2012 | 16 Oct 2012 | 30 |
| Katak | 17 Oct 2012 | 15 Nov 2012 | 30 |
| Maghar | 16 Nov 2012 | 15 Dec 2012 | 30 |
| Poh part | 16 Dec 2012 | 31 Dec 2012 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 2012
Beyond the dates the Punjabi Calendar lists, 2012 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Bhadrapada, running from 18 August 2012 to 16 September 2012. Basant Panchami fell on 28 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2011 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2012
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Punjabi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 May 5:22 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Jeth Shukla Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 4 Jun 4:33 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Kabirdas Jayanti | Jeth Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 14 Nov 3:41 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Govardhan Puja / Annakut | Katak Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 28 Nov 8:03 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Guru Nanak Jayanti | Maghar Purnima | Penumbral only |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2012
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 16 May 6:40 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Tula → Kanya re-entry while retrograde |
| 17 May 9:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mesha → Vrishabha |
| 4 Aug 8:50 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Kanya → Tula |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Tula on 23 December 2012, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Punjabi Calendar 2012
How many festivals and vrats does the Punjabi Calendar list in 2012?
The Punjabi Calendar lists 41 dates in 2012, of which 8 are vrats. The first is Sakat Chauth on Thursday, 12 January 2012, and the last is Gita Jayanti on Sunday, 23 December 2012.
What are the main festival dates in the Punjabi Calendar for 2012?
The first major observances of 2012 are:
- Lohri - Saturday, 14 January 2012
- Maghi (Makar Sankranti) - Sunday, 15 January 2012
- Basant Panchami - Saturday, 28 January 2012
- Maha Shivaratri - Monday, 20 February 2012
- Holika Dahan - Wednesday, 7 March 2012
- Hola Mohalla - Friday, 9 March 2012
Which month of 2012 has the most observances in the Punjabi Calendar?
November 2012 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including Karva Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami, Dhanteras, Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas), Govardhan Puja / Annakut, Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka), Kansa Vadh, Guru Nanak Jayanti.
Which traditional year does 2012 correspond to in the Punjabi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2012 spans Nanakshahi 543 – 544. 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 2012 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 2012 carried an Adhik Maas (Bhadrapada (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 2012 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 2012?
2012 had 4 eclipses:
- 21 May 2012 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 4 June 2012 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 14 November 2012 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 28 November 2012 - 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 2 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 2012?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2012:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Kanya on 16 May 2012, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishabha on 17 May 2012
- Shani (Saturn) entered Tula on 4 August 2012
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 2012?
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.
