| Major Hindu Punjabi Festival
|
Date Observed (from year to year dates vary)
|
Description
|
| Maghi |
January 14 |
This festival commemorates Uttarayan and is the Punjabi name for Makara Sankranti.[2]
|
| Holi |
March/Phalgun Purnima |
Spring festival of colours.[3][4]
|
| Rama Navami |
Chaitra |
Celebrates birth of Lord Rama.[4][5]
|
| Hanuman Jayanti |
March/Chaitra Purnima |
In honour of Lord Hanuman.[4]
|
| Maha Shivratri |
Varies, February–March |
In honour of Lord Shiva.[6][7]
|
| Vaisakhi |
April 13/Vaisakh |
Punjabi new year. Falls on Mesha Sankranti.
|
| Rakhri
(Raksha Bandhan)
|
Sawan full moon |
Brothers and sisters day.[4][8]
|
| Krishna Janmashtami |
Shravana, Krishna Paksha, Ashtami |
Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna.[4][5]
|
| Sanjhi |
Varies |
To honour the Mother Goddess.[9]
|
| Śrāddha |
Second half of the month Bhadrapada |
Remember ancestors.
|
| Navratri |
The tenth day of the lunar month Ashwin |
To honour the Goddess Durga.[4][10]
|
| Dussehra |
the tenth day of the lunar month Ashwin |
Celebrated defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama.[4][11]
|
| Diwali |
Kartik new moon |
Celebrates return of Lord Rama and Sita to Ayodhya.[4][11]
|
| Vishwakarma Puja |
Day after Kartik new moon |
Reverence to Vishwakarma, the God of architecture.[12]
|
| Bhai Dooj known in Punjab/ Jammu as Tikka |
Second Day of bright half of Kartik month |
Brothers are sisters day celebrated two days after Diwali.[11]
|
| Karwa Chauth |
Fourth day after Kartik full moon |
Women fast for the well being of their husbands and pray to the moon.[4][13][page needed]
|
| Kartik Poornima |
Full moon of Kartik |
A Fair is held at Ram Tirath Mandir in Amritsar where the sons of Lord Rama, Luv and Kush are believed to have been born.[14]
|
