Margashirsha, Shukla Ekadashi
Gita Jayanti marks the day on which, tradition holds, Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra. It is observed with recitation of the Bhagavad Gita, and the same day is kept as Mokshada Ekadashi.
Festival calendar
Other festivals in the calendar.
Datta Jayanti / Annapurna Jayanti
Margashirsha, Purnima
Dattatreya Jayanti marks the birth of Lord Dattatreya, revered as the embodiment of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is observed with bhajans, reading of the Guru Charitra and evening worship at Datta temples. The same full moon is also kept as Annapurna Jayanti, honouring Goddess Annapurna.
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Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Uttarayan
Paush, Shukla Saptami
Makar Sankranti marks the sun's entry into Makara (Capricorn), which tradition holds to be the start of Uttarayana, and so follows the solar calendar. It is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat and Magh Bihu in Assam, with Lohri in Punjab just before it. In Maharashtra, til-gul, sweets of sesame and jaggery, are shared.
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Vasant Panchami / Saraswati Puja
Magh, Shukla Panchami
Vasant Panchami welcomes spring and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, who presides over learning, music and the arts. In Bengal and eastern India it is observed as Saraswati Puja. Devotees wear yellow, and many children are introduced to their letters on this day.
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