The Hindu year, month by month.

Also: Pongal · Uttarayan · Lohri (eve)

The Sun enters Capricorn (Makara). The northward journey (uttarayana) begins — light returns.

Observance · Sesame & jaggery sweets, kite-flying, ritual bathing in rivers.

Also: Saraswati Puja

Spring (vasant) begins. The day of Saraswati — the goddess of learning, music, and clear speech.

Observance · Yellow clothing, books and instruments placed before her; students begin study.

The great night of Shiva — the still point of the lunar year, when consciousness is closest to silence.

Observance · Night-long vigil, bilva leaves, abhishekam of the Shivalinga; many fast.

The bonfire eve — symbolic burning of pride; the demoness Holika is consumed, devotee Prahlad protected.

Observance · Community bonfires after sunset; prayers offered.

Also: Festival of Colours

Spring full moon. The day equality dissolves under colour — every face becomes the same hue.

Observance · Gulal (coloured powder), sweets (gujiya), water-play; a day of release.

Birth of Rama, seventh avatar of Vishnu — exemplar of dharma under duress.

Observance · Recitation of the Ramayana, fasting, processions of Rama-Sita.

Birth of Hanuman — devotion as power, courage without ego.

Observance · Recitation of Hanuman Chalisa; sindoor & oil offerings.

Also: Baisakhi · Tamil New Year · Vishu (Kerala)

Solar new year across many regions. The Sun enters Aries (Mesha).

Observance · Harvest celebrations; Sikh Khalsa anniversary; new-year rituals.

"The undecaying third" — every act done today is said to bear inexhaustible fruit.

Observance · New ventures begun, gold bought, charity given, family pujas.

Full moon of the teachers. Honours Vyasa and every teacher who has carried light forward.

Observance · Visit one's guru or guru-lineage; meditation; offering of gratitude.

Honouring the serpent — guardian of treasure, ancestral memory, kundalini energy.

Observance · Milk offered at anthills & temples; no digging or ploughing.

The protective thread — sisters tie rakhi on brothers; the bond beyond blood.

Observance · Tying of rakhi, sweets exchanged, vows of protection.

Birth of Krishna — the dark child of Mathura, the flute of joy, the charioteer of clarity.

Observance · Midnight vigil, fasting, Krishna in cradle, dahi-handi.

Arrival of Ganesha — remover of obstacles, lord of beginnings and the written word.

Observance · Clay murti installed for 1.5/3/5/7/10 days; modaks offered; final visarjan immersion.

Nine nights of the Goddess — three each for Durga (protection), Lakshmi (abundance), Saraswati (knowledge).

Observance · Fasting, garba/dandiya, recitation of Devi Mahatmya.

The eighth night — peak invocation of Durga. The shakti that cuts through what binds.

Observance · Kanya puja (young girls honoured as forms of the goddess).

Also: Dussehra

The tenth day — Rama's victory over Ravana, Durga's over Mahishasura. The day evil is named and burned.

Observance · Effigies of Ravana burned; weapons & tools honoured (Ayudha Puja).

Day of Dhanvantari (physician of the gods) and Lakshmi — wealth as life-force, not hoard.

Observance · New utensils/gold bought; oil lamps placed at the threshold.

Also: Lakshmi Puja

The row of lamps — Rama returns to Ayodhya, Lakshmi visits the cleaned-out home. Light as choice.

Observance · Lakshmi-Ganesha puja, lamps, rangoli, sweets, family meal.

Krishna lifted Govardhan hill — the cosmic refusal of fear-based worship.

Observance · Annakut (mountain of food) offered; cows honoured.

The second day — sisters bless brothers; Yama and Yamuna's reunion.

Observance · Tilak by sister, meal together, gifts exchanged.

Also: Dev Diwali

Full moon of Kartik — the gods' own Diwali. Lamps light the ghats of Kashi.

Observance · River bathing, lamps floated on water, fasting.