Punjabi Calendar 2018
The Punjabi festival calendar (Nanakshahi / Bikrami). Punjabi festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
August 2018
Nanakshahi 550
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 2018 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 2018, opening with Sakat Chauth on 5 January and closing with Gita Jayanti on 18 December. Of these, 8 are vrats (fasting observances). March is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Nanakshahi 549 – 550. 2018 carries an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 2018 Poh – Magh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan | Fri | Sakat Chauth Vrat | Krishna Chaturthi |
| 13 Jan | Sat |
Lohri The bonfire harvest festival on the eve of Maghi (Makar Sankranti). |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 14 Jan | Sun |
Maghi (Makar Sankranti) The Sun's entry into Makara, kept as Maghi. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 16 Jan | Tue | Mauni Amavasya Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 22 Jan | Mon |
Basant Panchami
The kite-flying festival of spring and Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
February 2018 Magh – Phagan
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb | Tue |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 2018 Phagan – Chet
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar | Thu |
Holika Dahan The bonfire of Holika on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 2 Mar | Fri |
Hola Mohalla The Nihang Sikhs' festival of martial valour and mock battles, the day after Holi. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 8 Mar | Thu | Sheetala Saptami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
| 18 Mar | Sun |
Chet Navratri
The spring nine nights of Devi worship begin on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 23 Mar | Fri |
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 |
| 25 Mar | Sun |
Ram Navami The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 31 Mar | Sat |
Hanuman Jayanti
The birth of Lord Hanuman on the full moon of Chaitra. |
Shukla Purnima |
April 2018 Chet – Vaisakh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr | Sat |
Vaisakhi The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 22 Apr | Sun |
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 2018 Vaisakh – Jeth
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 May | Mon | Vat Savitri Vrat Vrat | Krishna Chaturdashi |
June 2018 Jeth – Harh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun | Fri |
Ganga Dussehra The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 23 Jun | Sat | Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 28 Jun | Thu |
Kabirdas Jayanti The birth anniversary of Sant Kabirdas, the great mystic poet-saint, observed on Jyeshtha Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 2018 Sawan – Bhadon
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 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 Dwitiya |
| 26 Aug | Sun |
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhri) Sisters tie the rakhri on their brothers' wrists on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 29 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 |
September 2018 Bhadon – Assu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Sep | Mon |
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 4 Sep | Tue |
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 |
| 12 Sep | Wed | Hartalika Teej (Kevda Trij) Vrat | Shukla Tritiya |
| 17 Sep | Mon |
Vishwakarma Puja Vishwakarma, the divine architect, is worshipped by artisans, engineers and craftsmen on Kanya Sankranti. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 26 Sep | Wed |
Shradh Paksha (Pitru Paksha) The fortnight of offerings to the ancestors. |
Krishna Pratipada |
October 2018 Assu – Katak
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct | Wed |
Sharad Navratri The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 19 Oct | Fri |
Dussehra The burning of Ravana on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 24 Oct | Wed |
Meerabai Jayanti The birth anniversary of the saint-poetess Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna, observed on Sharad Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 27 Oct | Sat | Karva Chauth Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 31 Oct | Wed | Ahoi Ashtami Vrat | Krishna Saptami |
November 2018 Katak – Maghar
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov | Mon |
Dhanteras The worship of Dhanvantari and wealth. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 7 Nov | Wed |
Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) The festival of lights, also Bandi Chhor Divas in Sikh tradition. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 8 Nov | Thu |
Govardhan Puja / Annakut Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 9 Nov | Fri |
Bhaiya Dooj (Tikka) Sisters apply the tikka to their brothers two days after Diwali. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 18 Nov | Sun |
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 | Fri |
Guru Nanak Jayanti The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Kartika Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 2018 Maghar – Poh
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Dec | Wed |
Vivah Panchami The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, celebrated grandly in Janakpur and Ayodhya. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 18 Dec | Tue |
Gita Jayanti The day the Bhagavad Gita was revealed, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. |
Shukla Dashami |
Months of the Punjabi Calendar in 2018
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 2018, covering Nanakshahi 549 – 550. 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 2018 | 13 Jan 2018 | 13 |
| Magh | 14 Jan 2018 | 12 Feb 2018 | 30 |
| Phagan | 13 Feb 2018 | 13 Mar 2018 | 29 |
| Chet | 14 Mar 2018 | 13 Apr 2018 | 31 |
| Vaisakh | 14 Apr 2018 | 14 May 2018 | 31 |
| Jeth | 15 May 2018 | 14 Jun 2018 | 31 |
| Harh | 15 Jun 2018 | 15 Jul 2018 | 31 |
| Sawan | 16 Jul 2018 | 16 Aug 2018 | 32 |
| Bhadon | 17 Aug 2018 | 16 Sep 2018 | 31 |
| Assu | 17 Sep 2018 | 16 Oct 2018 | 30 |
| Katak | 17 Oct 2018 | 15 Nov 2018 | 30 |
| Maghar | 16 Nov 2018 | 15 Dec 2018 | 30 |
| Poh part | 16 Dec 2018 | 31 Dec 2018 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 2018
Beyond the dates the Punjabi Calendar lists, 2018 brought 5 eclipses - 3 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 Jyeshtha, running from 16 May 2018 to 13 June 2018. Basant Panchami fell on 22 January, 10 days earlier in the year than in 2017 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2018
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Punjabi date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 6:59 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Magh Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 16 Feb 2:21 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days after Maha Shivaratri | Phagan Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 13 Jul 8:31 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Harh Amavasya | Not visible |
| 28 Jul 1:51 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Sawan Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 11 Aug 3:16 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days before Hariyali Teej (Chhoti Teej) | Sawan Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2018
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 7:30 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Tula → Vrishchika |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Punjabi Calendar 2018
How many festivals and vrats does the Punjabi Calendar list in 2018?
The Punjabi Calendar lists 40 dates in 2018, of which 8 are vrats. The first is Sakat Chauth on Friday, 5 January 2018, and the last is Gita Jayanti on Tuesday, 18 December 2018.
What are the main festival dates in the Punjabi Calendar for 2018?
The first major observances of 2018 are:
- Lohri - Saturday, 13 January 2018
- Maghi (Makar Sankranti) - Sunday, 14 January 2018
- Basant Panchami - Monday, 22 January 2018
- Maha Shivaratri - Tuesday, 13 February 2018
- Holika Dahan - Thursday, 1 March 2018
- Hola Mohalla - Friday, 2 March 2018
Which month of 2018 has the most observances in the Punjabi Calendar?
March 2018 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Holika Dahan, Hola Mohalla, Sheetala Saptami, Chet Navratri, Yamuna Chhath (Yamuna Jayanti), Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti.
Which traditional year does 2018 correspond to in the Punjabi Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2018 spans Nanakshahi 549 – 550. 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 2018 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 2018 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 2018 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 2018?
2018 had 5 eclipses:
- 31 January 2018 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 16 February 2018 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 13 July 2018 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 28 July 2018 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 11 August 2018 - 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 2018?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 2018:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishchika on 11 October 2018
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 2018?
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.
