Telugu Calendar

Telugu Calendar 2012

The Telugu festival calendar (Ugadi new year). Telugu festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.

October 2012

Shaka Samvat 1934 (Nandana)

Ashwina – Kartika

Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

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 2012 - festivals and vrats through the year

The Telugu Calendar lists 45 dates in 2012, opening with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 5 January and closing with Datta Jayanthi on 27 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1933 – 1934. 2012 carries an Adhik Maas (Bhadrapada (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.

January 2012 Pausha – Magha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
5 Jan Thu Vaikunta Ekadashi

The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil.

Shukla Ekadashi
14 Jan Sat Bhogi

The bonfire of old things on the eve of Makara Sankranti.

Krishna Panchami
15 Jan Sun Makara Sankranti (Pedda Panduga)

The great Telugu harvest festival on the Sun's entry into Makara.

Krishna Saptami
16 Jan Mon Kanuma

The cattle-honouring day after Makara Sankranti.

Krishna Ashtami
28 Jan Sat Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Panchami
30 Jan Mon Ratha Saptami

Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami.

Shukla Saptami
31 Jan Tue Bhishma Ashtami

Tarpan is offered to Bhishma on Magha Shukla Ashtami.

Shukla Ashtami

February 2012 Magha – Phalguna

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
7 Feb Tue Thaipusam

Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai.

Shukla Purnima
20 Feb Mon Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Lord Shiva.

Krishna Chaturdashi
27 Feb Mon Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Panchami

March 2012 Phalguna – Chaitra

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
7 Mar Wed Holi (Kamadahanam)

The burning of Kama (Holika Dahan) on the full moon of Phalguna.

Shukla Chaturdashi
23 Mar Fri Ugadi (Telugu New Year)

The Telugu new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, when Ugadi pachadi is shared.

Shukla Pratipada
28 Mar Wed Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Panchami

April 2012 Chaitra – Vaishakha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Apr Sun Sri Rama Navami

The wedding of Sita and Rama (Sitarama Kalyanam) on Chaitra Shukla Navami.

Shukla Navami
6 Apr Fri Hanuman Jayanthi

The full moon of Chaitra (Telugu Hanuman Jayanthi precedes the 41-day deeksha).

Shukla Purnima
24 Apr Tue Akshaya Tritiya

Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, among the most auspicious days of the year.

Shukla Tritiya
27 Apr Fri Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Shashthi

May 2012 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
5 May Sat Narasimha Jayanthi

The advent of Lord Narasimha on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi.

Shukla Chaturdashi
26 May Sat Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Panchami

June 2012 Jyeshtha – Ashadha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
4 Jun Mon Eruvaka Purnima

Farmers begin the sowing season, worshipping the cattle and the plough on the full moon of Jyeshtha.

Shukla Purnima
25 Jun Mon Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Shashthi

July 2012 Ashadha – Shravana

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
3 Jul Tue Guru Purnima

The full moon of Ashadha honouring teachers and sage Veda Vyasa.

Shukla Purnima
24 Jul Tue Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Panchami
27 Jul Fri Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat Shukla Navami

August 2012 Shravana – Bhadrapada – Bhadrapada (Adhik)

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
2 Aug Thu Avani Avittam (Upakarma)

Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima.

Shukla Purnima
10 Aug Fri Sri Krishna Janmashtami

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.

Krishna Ashtami
22 Aug Wed Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Panchami

September 2012 Bhadrapada (Adhik) – Ashwina

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
19 Sep Wed Vinayaka Chavithi

The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

Shukla Chaturthi
20 Sep Thu Rishi Panchami Vrat Shukla Panchami
21 Sep Fri Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Shashthi

October 2012 Ashwina – Kartika

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
15 Oct Mon Bathukamma Begins

Telangana's flower festival of Goddess Gauri begins on Mahalaya Amavasya.

Krishna Amavasya
15 Oct Mon Mahalaya Amavasya

The new moon closing Pitru Paksha.

Krishna Amavasya
16 Oct Tue Sharad Navratri

The autumn nine nights of Devi worship begin.

Shukla Pratipada
22 Oct Mon Durgashtami / Mahanavami

The eighth night of Navratri, sacred to Goddess Durga.

Shukla Ashtami
24 Oct Wed Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja

Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami.

Shukla Dashami

November 2012 Kartika – Margashirsha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
1 Nov Thu Atla Taddi Vrat Krishna Tritiya
13 Nov Tue Deepavali

The festival of lights and worship of Goddess Lakshmi.

Krishna Chaturdashi
17 Nov Sat Nagula Chavithi

Serpent gods are worshipped at anthills on Kartika Shukla Chaturthi in Andhra and Telangana.

Shukla Chaturthi
18 Nov Sun Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Panchami
28 Nov Wed Karthika Purnima

The Kartika full moon, lit with deepam and Jwala Toranam.

Shukla Purnima

December 2012 Margashirsha – Pausha

Date Day Festival / Vrat Tithi
16 Dec Sun Dhanurmasam Begins

The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu.

Shukla Chaturthi
18 Dec Tue Skanda Shashthi Vrat Shukla Shashthi
18 Dec Tue Subramanya Shashti

Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi.

Shukla Shashthi
23 Dec Sun Vaikunta Ekadashi

The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil.

Shukla Ekadashi
27 Dec Thu Datta Jayanthi

The advent of Lord Dattatreya on Margashirsha Purnima.

Shukla Chaturdashi

Months of the Telugu Calendar in 2012

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 2012, covering Shaka Samvat 1933 – 1934. 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 2012 14 Jan 2012 14
Magha 15 Jan 2012 13 Feb 2012 30
Phalguna 14 Feb 2012 14 Mar 2012 30
Chaitra 15 Mar 2012 13 Apr 2012 30
Vaishakha 14 Apr 2012 14 May 2012 31
Jyeshtha 15 May 2012 14 Jun 2012 31
Ashadha 15 Jun 2012 16 Jul 2012 32
Shravana 17 Jul 2012 16 Aug 2012 31
Bhadrapada 17 Aug 2012 17 Aug 2012 1
Bhadrapada (Adhik) 18 Aug 2012 16 Sep 2012 30
Ashwina 17 Sep 2012 16 Oct 2012 30
Kartika 17 Oct 2012 15 Nov 2012 30
Margashirsha 16 Nov 2012 15 Dec 2012 30
Pausha part 16 Dec 2012 31 Dec 2012 16

What happened in the sky in 2012

Beyond the dates the Telugu 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. Ugadi (Telugu New Year) fell on 23 March, 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 Telugu date Seen from India
21 May 5:22 AM Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Jyeshtha Shukla Pratipada Yes - Sutak observed
4 Jun 4:33 PM Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Eruvaka Purnima Jyeshtha Purnima Yes - Sutak observed
14 Nov 3:41 AM Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day after Deepavali Kartika Shukla Pratipada Not visible
28 Nov 8:03 PM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Karthika Purnima Margashirsha 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.

Frequently asked questions about the Telugu Calendar 2012

How many festivals and vrats does the Telugu Calendar list in 2012?

The Telugu Calendar lists 45 dates in 2012, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Thursday, 5 January 2012, and the last is Datta Jayanthi on Thursday, 27 December 2012.

What are the main festival dates in the Telugu Calendar for 2012?

The first major observances of 2012 are:

  • Vaikunta Ekadashi - Thursday, 5 January 2012
  • Bhogi - Saturday, 14 January 2012
  • Makara Sankranti (Pedda Panduga) - Sunday, 15 January 2012
  • Kanuma - Monday, 16 January 2012
  • Ratha Saptami - Monday, 30 January 2012
  • Bhishma Ashtami - Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Which month of 2012 has the most observances in the Telugu Calendar?

January 2012 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Vaikunta Ekadashi, Bhogi, Makara Sankranti (Pedda Panduga), Kanuma, Skanda Shashthi, Ratha Saptami, Bhishma Ashtami.

Which traditional year does 2012 correspond to in the Telugu Calendar?

The Gregorian year 2012 spans Shaka Samvat 1933 – 1934. 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 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.

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