HINDU FESTIVALS 2017,FESTIVAL CALENDAR 2017

Here is list of Festivals in 2017 :

Hindu Festivals � January 2017

Date	Festival Name
08th January 2017 (Sunday)	Pushya (Paush) Putrada Ekadashi
09th January 2017 (Monday)	Pushya (Paush) Putrada Ekadashi
12th January 2017 (Thursday)	Pushya (Paush) Purnima
14th January 2017 (Saturday)	Uttarayana Sankranti , Pongal
15th January 2017 (Sunday)	Sankasta Chaturthi
23th January 2017 (Monday)	Shattila Ekadashi
27th January 2017 (Friday)	Mauni Amavas

Hindu Festivals � February 2017

Date	Festival name
01st February 2017 (Wednesday)	Vasant Panchami
03rd February 2017 (Friday)	Ratha Saptami
04th February 2017 (Saturday)	Bhishma Ashtami
07th February 2017 (Tuesday)	Jaya Ekadashi
10th February 2017 (Friday)	Chandra Grahan , Magha Purnima
12th February 2017 (Sunday)	Kumbha Sankranti
22th February 2017 (Wednesday)	Vijaya Ekadashi
24th February 2017 (Friday)	Maha ShivaRatri
26th February 2017 (Sunday)	Surya Grahan

Hindu Festivals � March 2017

date	Festival Name
08th March 2017 (Wednesday)	Amalaki Ekadashi
12th March 2017 (Sunday)	Holika Dahan
13th March 2017 (Monday)	Holi
14th March 2017 (Tuesday)	Meena Sankranti
21th March 2017 (Tuesday)	Sheetala Ashtami , Basoda
24th March 2017 (Friday)	Papmochani Ekadashi
28th March 2017 (Tuesday)	Yugadi , Gudi Padwa
30th March 2017 (Thursday)	Gauri Puja/Gangaur

Hindu Festivals � April 2017

Date	Festival Name
02nd April 2017 (Sunday)	Yamuna Chhath
05th April 2017 (Wednesday)	Rama Navami
07th April 2017 (Friday)	Kamada Ekadashi
11th April 2017 (Tuesday)	Hanuman Jayanti
14th April 2017 (Friday)	Solar New Year
22nd April 2017 (Saturday)	Varuthini Ekadashi
28th April 2017 (Friday)	Akshaya Tritiya , ParashuRam Jayanti

Hindu Festivals � May 2017

Date	Festival Name
02nd May 2017 (Tuesday)	Ganga Saptami
04th May 2017 (Thursday)	Sita Navami
06th May 2017 (Saturday)	Mohini Ekadashi
09th May 2017 (Tuesday)	Narasimha Jayanti
10th May 2017 (Wednesday)	Buddha Purnima
11th May 2017 (Thursday)	Narada Jayanti
14th May 2017 (Sunday)	Vrishabha Sankranti
22nd May 2017 (Monday)	Apara Ekadashi
25th May 2017 (Thursday)	Wat Savitri Vrat , Shani Jayanti

Hindu Festivals � June 2017

Date	Festival Names
03rd June 2017 (Saturday)	Ganga Dussehra
05th June 2017 (Monday)	Nirjala Ekadashi
08th June 2017 (Thursday)	Wat Purnima Vrat
15th June 2017 (Thursday)	Mithuna Sankranti
20th June 2017 (Tuesday)	Yogini Ekadashi
25th June 2017 (Sunday)	Jagannath Rathyatra

Hindu Festivals � July 2017

Date	Festival Names
04th July 2017 (Tuesday)	Devshayani Ekadashi
09th July 2017 (Sunday)	Guru Purnima
16th July 2017 (Sunday)	Dakshinayana Sankranti
19th July 2017 (Wednesday)	Kamika Ekadashi
20th July 2017 (Thursday)	Kamika Ekadashi
26th July 2017 (Wednesday)	Hariyali Teej
27th July 2017 (Thursday)	Nag Panchami

Hindu Festivals � August 2017

Date	Festival Name
03rd August 2017 (Thursday)	Shravana Putrada Ekadashi
04th August 2017 (Friday)	Varalakshmi Vrat
07th August 2017 (Monday)	Chandra Grahan , Narali Purnima , Raksha Bandhan
10th August 2017 (Thursday)	Kajari Teej
14th August 2017 (Monday)	Janmashtami *Smarta
15th August 2017 (Tuesday)	Janmashtami *ISKCON
17th August 2017 (Thursday)	Simha Sankranti
18th August 2017 (Friday)	Aja Ekadashi
21th August 2017 (Monday)	Surya Grahan , Somvati Amavas
24th August 2017 (Thursday)	Hartalika Teej
25th August 2017 (Friday)	Ganesh Chaturthi
26th August 2017 (Saturday)	Rishi Panchami
29th August 2017 (Tuesday)	Radha Ashtami

Hindu Festivals � September 2017

Date	Festival Name
02nd September 2017 (Saturday)	Parsva Ekadashi
05th September 2017 (Tuesday)	Ganesh Visarjan , Anant Chaturdashi
06th September 2017 (Wednesday)	Pratipada Shraddha , BhadraPad Purnima
16th September 2017 (Saturday)	Indira Ekadashi
17th September 2017 (Sunday)	Kanya Sankranti
19th September 2017 (Tuesday)	SarvaPitru Amavasya
21th September 2017 (Thursday)	Navratri Started
27th September 2017 (Wednesday)	Saraswati Avahan
28th September 2017 (Thursday)	Durga Ashtami , Sarasvati Puja
29th September 2017 (Friday)	Maha Navami
30th September 2017 (Saturday)	Dussehra

Hindu Festivals � October 2017

Date	Festival Name
01st October 2017 (Sunday)	Papankusha Ekadashi
05th October 2017 (Thursday)	Sharad Purnima
08th October 2017 (Sunday)	Karwa Chauth
12th October 2017 (Thursday)	Ahoi Ashtami
15th October 2017 (Sunday)	Rama Ekadashi
17th October 2017 (Tuesday)	Tula Sankranti , Dhan Teras
18th October 2017 (Wednesday)	Narak Chaturdashi
19th October 2017 (Thursday)	Diwali/Lakshami Puja
20th October 2017 (Friday)	Gowardhan Puja
21th October 2017 (Saturday)	Bhaiya Duj
26th October 2017 (Thursday)	Chhath Puja
30th October 2017 (Monday)	Kansa Vadh
31th October 2017 (Tuesday)	Devutthana Ekadashi

Hindu Festivals � November 2017

Date	Festival Names
01st November 2017 (Wednesday)	Tulasi Vivah
04th November 2017 (Saturday)	Kartik Purnima
10th November 2017 (Friday)	Kalabhairav Jayanti
14th November 2017 (Tuesday)	Utpanna Ekadashi
16th November 2017 (Thursday)	Vrischika Sankranti
23th November 2017 (Thursday)	Vivah Panchami
30th November 2017 (Thursday)	Gita Jayanti , Mokshada Ekadashi

Hindu Festivals � December 2017

Date	Festival Name
03rd December 2017 (Sunday)	Dattatreya Jayanti , Margashirsha Purnima
13th December 2017 (Wednesday)	Saphala Ekadashi
16th December 2017 (Saturday)	Dhanu Sankranti
18th December 2017 (Monday)	Somvati Amavas
29th December 2017 (Friday)	Pausha Putrada Ekadashi

Kumar Sashti

Kumar Sashti also known as �Skanda Sashti� is an important Hindu festival that is dedicated to Lord Kartikeya, who is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Kartikeya is worshipped by different names like �Kumar�, �Muruga�, �Subramanya� and therefore the name �Kumar Sashti�. Kumar Sashti is observed on the �sashti� (6th day) during the Shukla Paksha (the bright fortnight of moon) in the month of �Ashadh� in the Hindu calendar. As per the Hindu legends it is believed that on this auspicious day, Lord Kartikeya appeared on Earth to defeat the demon named, �Adharma�. From them onwards, this day is celebrated as Kumar Sashti and Lord Kartikeya is worshipped with complete devotion and affection.

Kumar Sashti is observed with great reverence in different parts of India. In the southern parts of the country, this festival is celebrated during �Vaikasi Visakam� that corresponds to the months of May or June while in the western regions, it falls between the months of July-August. There are many temples dedicated to Lord Kartikeya, all throughout South India. The festivities of Kumar Sashti are not just confined to India, but also in the neighbouring countries like Nepal. In Nepal, there are various temples dedicated to Lord Kartikeya and special rituals are observed on this day. It is to be noted that the birth celebrations of Lord Kartikeya may vary in different cultures, but the essence remains the same.

Significance :

The importance of Kumar Sashti is explained in the �Skanda Purana�. Kumar Sashti celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Kartikeya and is also referred as �Kumar Jayanti�. According to the Hindu mythological facts Lord Kartikeya is the General of the Army of the Devas and also known to be the destroyer of demons. Hindu devotees therefore worship Lord Kartikeya and seek His blessings to destroy all the evils from their lives. By observing the Kumar Sashti vrat, devotees can put an end to all their miseries and also fulfil their desires.

Rituals :

• Devotees worship Lord Kartikeya on this day with complete devotion. Special offerings are made to the Lord in the form of sandalwood paste, kumkum, incense sticks, dhoop, flowers and fruits.
• Chanting �Skanda Shashti Kavacham�, �Subramaniya Bhujangam� or �Subrahmanya Purana� is believed to be very auspicious on this day. Devotees must also read stories or tales dedicated to Lord Murugan.
• In some regions Hindu devotees draw a circle in the front area of their house, using cow dung and red clay.
• Devotees also observe a strict fast on this day. They abstain from eating or drinking anything right from the time they get up until they visit Lord Kartikeya temple in the evening. Only after offering prayers to the Lord, the vrat is broken. Few devotees take one meal during the noon while some take at night.
• Special pujas and �aarti� are performed in the temples. Devotees pray to Lord Kumara to free them from all demonic qualities and also seek His blessings to remain healthy mentally and spiritually.

2016 Date : 9th July.

Bonalu Festival

Bonalu is Festival Celebrated  in the State of Telangana,and it is dedicated to Goddess Mahakali.It is  celebrated in the month of Ashada Masam, in July/August.Bonam means "Bojanam" in telugu.This is the festival that lasts for a whole month and one of  the longest festival that is celebrated all across India.

Origin :

There are two stories regarding this festival.In the year 1813 Plague disease broke out in Twin Cities of Hyderabad & Secunderabad, claiming thousands of lives.Military battalion prayed to the Mother Goddess in Mahankaal Temple in

Ujjain.They Believed that Goddess Mahakali Saved from epidemic disease and installed Goddess Mahakali  in their city and every year people offered Bonalu.

The other one is that this is the time when Goddess Mahakali comes back to her parental home, in Ashada Maasam or the period from late June to August.

On the first Sunday of 'Aashaadam', celebrations are held at the temple atGolconda Fort. On the second Sunday, at Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad and Balkampet Yellamma temple in Balkampet, and the third Sunday, at the Matheswari temple of Lal Darwaza in Old City of Hyderabad. Akkanna Madanna temple in Haribowli, Muthyalamma temple in Shah Ali Banda are among other temples where Bonalu are celebrated. Every year, lakhs of devotees congregate to pay obeisance to Mahankali.

This festival is celebrated for seeking the blessings of the Godess so that there will no calamities and that all should live happily.The main part of the festival is offering the bonam  to the Goddess, which is done on Sundays.The bonam consists of rice which is cooked along with milk and jaggery, tamarind juice and water all in different pots made of mud or metal.

These pots are decorated with Turmeric and kumkum and Neem leaves along with a lamp on the pots are carried on head to the temple of the Godess. This is offered on Sunday every week at different places of Telangana until the festival ends.

The bonam is carried to the temple with a person called Pothuraju.The interesting part of the festival is the Rangam, which is on the next day after the bonam is offered i.e on Monday.In this ritual a woman who is believed to be possessed by the Goddess would foretell the future for that year.

Rangam is followed by Ghatam.Ghatam is copper pot, decorated in the form of mother goddess, and it is carried by a priest who wears traditional dress.The Ghatam is taken into procession from first day of the festival till last day, when it is immersed in water .

Bonalu Dates 2016 : 

July 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st.

At Ujjaini Mahankali Temple is July 24th.

Rangam is on 25th July.