Telugu Calendar 2003
The Telugu festival calendar (Ugadi new year). Telugu festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
May 2003
Shaka Samvat 1925 (Subhanu)
Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
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.
Telugu Calendar 2003 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Telugu Calendar lists 44 dates in 2003, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 8 January and closing with Skanda Shashthi on 28 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1924 – 1925.
January 2003 Pausha – Magha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 13 Jan | Mon |
Bhogi The bonfire of old things on the eve of Makara Sankranti. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 14 Jan | Tue |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 15 Jan | Wed |
Kanuma The cattle-honouring day after Makara Sankranti. |
Shukla Dwadashi |
| 19 Jan | Sun |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Krishna Pratipada |
February 2003 Magha – Phalguna
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Feb | Thu |
Vasant Panchami (Sri Panchami)
The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 7 Feb | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 8 Feb | Sat |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 9 Feb | Sun |
Bhishma Ashtami Tarpan is offered to Bhishma on Magha Shukla Ashtami. |
Shukla Ashtami |
March 2003 Phalguna – Chaitra
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar | Sat |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 9 Mar | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 18 Mar | Tue |
Holi (Kamadahanam) The burning of Kama (Holika Dahan) on the full moon of Phalguna. |
Shukla Purnima |
April 2003 Chaitra – Vaishakha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr | Wed |
Ugadi (Telugu New Year) The Telugu new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, when Ugadi pachadi is shared. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 7 Apr | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 11 Apr | Fri |
Sri Rama Navami The wedding of Sita and Rama (Sitarama Kalyanam) on Chaitra Shukla Navami. |
Shukla Navami |
| 16 Apr | Wed |
Hanuman Jayanthi
The full moon of Chaitra (Telugu Hanuman Jayanthi precedes the 41-day deeksha). |
Shukla Purnima |
May 2003 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May | Sun |
Akshaya Tritiya Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, among the most auspicious days of the year. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 7 May | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 15 May | Thu |
Narasimha Jayanthi The advent of Lord Narasimha on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
June 2003 Jyeshtha – Ashadha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 14 Jun | Sat |
Eruvaka Purnima Farmers begin the sowing season, worshipping the cattle and the plough on the full moon of Jyeshtha. |
Shukla Purnima |
July 2003 Ashadha – Shravana
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 13 Jul | Sun |
Guru Purnima The full moon of Ashadha honouring teachers and sage Veda Vyasa. |
Shukla Purnima |
August 2003 Shravana – Bhadrapada
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 8 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 12 Aug | Tue |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 20 Aug | Wed |
Sri Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 31 Aug | Sun |
Vinayaka Chavithi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
September 2003 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 25 Sep | Thu |
Bathukamma Begins Telangana's flower festival of Goddess Gauri begins on Mahalaya Amavasya. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 25 Sep | Thu |
Mahalaya Amavasya The new moon closing Pitru Paksha. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 26 Sep | Fri |
Sharad Navratri
The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 30 Sep | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 2003 Ashwina – Kartika
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Oct | Fri |
Durgashtami / Mahanavami The eighth night of Navratri, sacred to Goddess Durga. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 4 Oct | Sat |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Navami |
| 13 Oct | Mon | Atla Taddi Vrat | Krishna Tritiya |
| 25 Oct | Sat |
Deepavali The festival of lights and worship of Goddess Lakshmi. |
Krishna Amavasya |
November 2003 Kartika – Margashirsha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov | Sat |
Karthika Purnima The Kartika full moon, lit with deepam and Jwala Toranam. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 28 Nov | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 29 Nov | Sat |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
December 2003 Margashirsha – Pausha
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Dec | Thu |
Gita Jayanthi The revelation of the Bhagavad Gita on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 8 Dec | Mon |
Datta Jayanthi The advent of Lord Dattatreya on Margashirsha Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 16 Dec | Tue |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Saptami |
| 28 Dec | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
Months of the Telugu Calendar in 2003
The Telugu 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 2003, covering Shaka Samvat 1924 – 1925. A month marked part is one the Gregorian year cuts short at its own start or end.
| Month | Begins | Ends | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pausha part | 1 Jan 2003 | 14 Jan 2003 | 14 |
| Magha | 15 Jan 2003 | 12 Feb 2003 | 29 |
| Phalguna | 13 Feb 2003 | 14 Mar 2003 | 30 |
| Chaitra | 15 Mar 2003 | 14 Apr 2003 | 31 |
| Vaishakha | 15 Apr 2003 | 15 May 2003 | 31 |
| Jyeshtha | 16 May 2003 | 15 Jun 2003 | 31 |
| Ashadha | 16 Jun 2003 | 16 Jul 2003 | 31 |
| Shravana | 17 Jul 2003 | 17 Aug 2003 | 32 |
| Bhadrapada | 18 Aug 2003 | 17 Sep 2003 | 31 |
| Ashwina | 18 Sep 2003 | 17 Oct 2003 | 30 |
| Kartika | 18 Oct 2003 | 16 Nov 2003 | 30 |
| Margashirsha | 17 Nov 2003 | 16 Dec 2003 | 30 |
| Pausha part | 17 Dec 2003 | 31 Dec 2003 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 2003
Beyond the dates the Telugu Calendar lists, 2003 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Ugadi (Telugu New Year) fell on 2 April, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2002 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2003
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Telugu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May 9:10 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Narasimha Jayanthi | Jyeshtha Purnima | Not visible |
| 31 May 9:38 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Jyeshtha Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 9 Nov 6:48 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Karthika Purnima | Kartika Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 24 Nov 4:19 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Margashirsha Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2003
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 2:00 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Mithuna → Vrishabha re-entry while retrograde |
| 7 Apr 8:20 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishabha → Mithuna |
| 30 Jul 12:00 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Karka → Simha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Mesha on 6 September 2003, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Telugu Calendar 2003
How many festivals and vrats does the Telugu Calendar list in 2003?
The Telugu Calendar lists 44 dates in 2003, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Wednesday, 8 January 2003, and the last is Skanda Shashthi on Sunday, 28 December 2003.
What are the main festival dates in the Telugu Calendar for 2003?
The first major observances of 2003 are:
- Bhogi - Monday, 13 January 2003
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Tuesday, 14 January 2003
- Kanuma - Wednesday, 15 January 2003
- Thaipusam - Sunday, 19 January 2003
- Vasant Panchami (Sri Panchami) - Thursday, 6 February 2003
- Ratha Saptami - Saturday, 8 February 2003
Which traditional year does 2003 correspond to in the Telugu Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2003 spans Shaka Samvat 1924 – 1925. 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 2003 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2003 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 2003?
2003 had 4 eclipses:
- 16 May 2003 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 31 May 2003 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 9 November 2003 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 24 November 2003 - Total 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 2003?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2003:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Vrishabha on 8 January 2003, moving retrograde
- Shani (Saturn) entered Mithuna on 7 April 2003
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Simha on 30 July 2003
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 2003?
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 Telugu Calendar opens on the current month.
About the Telugu Calendar
The Telugu festival calendar (Ugadi new year). Telugu 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.
