September 2017
The year as Sanatan keeps it — every month behind you and every month ahead. Each day is computed for where you stand, and each festival carries what it is for and one act.
This is a default, not your place. Set it so the tithi and the muhurtas are your own.
Every tithi here turns at sunrise where you are, so this calendar is yours rather than a Delhi almanac reprinted.
This month crosses out of Bhadrapada and into Ashvina.
Bhadrapada — Ganesha arrives and is given back to the water. Onam and Anant Chaturdashi stand within.
Ashvina — The mind clears after the rains. Sharad Navaratri and Vijayadashami stand within, and Sharad Purnima is its full moon.
The days this month keeps
Whose year is this?
Bharat does not keep one calendar. Pongal, Onam, Bihu, Baisakhi and Poila Boishakh are all real new years, and none of them is a variant of another. VEDAUM will not guess yours from a birthplace — a Malayali family in Delhi still keeps Onam.
This list is not complete, and a region missing from it is VEDAUM's gap, not yours. You keep the whole pan-Indian year either way.
Pitru Paksha
Day 1 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 2 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 3 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 4 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 6 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 7 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 8 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 9 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 10 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 11 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 12 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 13 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 14 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pitru Paksha
Day 15 of 15A fortnight for the ancestors — tarpana, and the remembering of those who made you possible. Not mourning; maintenance of a line.
The actOffer water with their names said aloud. Feed someone. Then say one true thing about them, including the difficult part.
Matched in Ashvina, by the purnimanta reckoning. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sharada Navaratri
Day 1 of 9Nine nights of Devi, three each for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — the personality rebuilt in three movements: what must be fought, what must be gathered, what must be understood.
The actOne practice, all nine nights, unbroken. On day nine, feed and honour young girls — that is the tradition's own instruction and it is not symbolic.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sharada Navaratri
Day 2 of 9Nine nights of Devi, three each for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — the personality rebuilt in three movements: what must be fought, what must be gathered, what must be understood.
The actOne practice, all nine nights, unbroken. On day nine, feed and honour young girls — that is the tradition's own instruction and it is not symbolic.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sharada Navaratri
Day 3 of 9Nine nights of Devi, three each for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — the personality rebuilt in three movements: what must be fought, what must be gathered, what must be understood.
The actOne practice, all nine nights, unbroken. On day nine, feed and honour young girls — that is the tradition's own instruction and it is not symbolic.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sharada Navaratri
Day 4 of 9Nine nights of Devi, three each for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — the personality rebuilt in three movements: what must be fought, what must be gathered, what must be understood.
The actOne practice, all nine nights, unbroken. On day nine, feed and honour young girls — that is the tradition's own instruction and it is not symbolic.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sharada Navaratri
Day 5 of 9Nine nights of Devi, three each for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — the personality rebuilt in three movements: what must be fought, what must be gathered, what must be understood.
The actOne practice, all nine nights, unbroken. On day nine, feed and honour young girls — that is the tradition's own instruction and it is not symbolic.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sharada Navaratri
Day 6 of 9Nine nights of Devi, three each for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — the personality rebuilt in three movements: what must be fought, what must be gathered, what must be understood.
The actOne practice, all nine nights, unbroken. On day nine, feed and honour young girls — that is the tradition's own instruction and it is not symbolic.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sharada Navaratri
Day 7 of 9Nine nights of Devi, three each for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — the personality rebuilt in three movements: what must be fought, what must be gathered, what must be understood.
The actOne practice, all nine nights, unbroken. On day nine, feed and honour young girls — that is the tradition's own instruction and it is not symbolic.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sharada Navaratri
Day 8 of 9Nine nights of Devi, three each for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — the personality rebuilt in three movements: what must be fought, what must be gathered, what must be understood.
The actOne practice, all nine nights, unbroken. On day nine, feed and honour young girls — that is the tradition's own instruction and it is not symbolic.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sharada Navaratri
Day 9 of 9Nine nights of Devi, three each for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — the personality rebuilt in three movements: what must be fought, what must be gathered, what must be understood.
The actOne practice, all nine nights, unbroken. On day nine, feed and honour young girls — that is the tradition's own instruction and it is not symbolic.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Vijayadashami · Dussehra
Victory on the tenth. Ravana was learned, powerful and devout — the tradition burns him anyway, because none of that survives what he did.
The actName the thing in you that is intelligent and still wrong. Burn something written, and begin a new learning today — the day is classically for starting study.
Matched in Ashvina. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
The days that return
Ekadashi, pradosh, purnima, amavasya — these come round every fortnight or every month. They are set out in full here rather than folded away.
Ekadashi
The eleventh tithi, twice a month — the tradition's regular fast. Physiologically a rest for the body, and structurally a rehearsal in wanting something and not taking it.
The actFast as your health allows, and only as it allows. If you cannot fast, then give up one thing you would ordinarily take.
Matched in Bhadrapada. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pradosh
The thirteenth tithi at dusk — the twilight window sacred to Shiva.
The actAt dusk, a lamp and stillness. Fifteen minutes is enough.
Matched in Bhadrapada. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Purnima
The full moon. The mind is at its most expanded and least contained — the tradition's month-long high tide.
The actCharity, and something collective. Do not make a large decision tonight; you will feel more certain than the evidence warrants.
Matched in Bhadrapada. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Sankashti Chaturthi
The fourth tithi after the full moon, for Ganesha — the day for obstacles specifically.
The actName one obstacle plainly. Do the smallest possible thing about it today rather than the largest.
Matched in Bhadrapada. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Ekadashi
The eleventh tithi, twice a month — the tradition's regular fast. Physiologically a rest for the body, and structurally a rehearsal in wanting something and not taking it.
The actFast as your health allows, and only as it allows. If you cannot fast, then give up one thing you would ordinarily take.
Matched in Bhadrapada. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Pradosh
The thirteenth tithi at dusk — the twilight window sacred to Shiva.
The actAt dusk, a lamp and stillness. Fifteen minutes is enough.
Matched in Bhadrapada. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Masik Shivaratri
The fourteenth tithi of the dark fortnight — Shivaratri, every month. The great one in Phalguna is this same night at its strongest.
The actKeep the evening quiet. Om Namah Shivaya, for as long as you can hold it.
Matched in Bhadrapada. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
Amavasya
The new moon. The month's lowest point and the day given to the ancestors.
The actOffer water to the pitris with their names said aloud. Rest. Begin nothing; the tradition asks for silence here rather than effort.
Matched in Bhadrapada. Both reckonings name this month alike, so there is nothing to choose between them here. A krishna-paksha day carries two month names — purnimanta runs a month ahead of amanta — so each festival is matched by the reckoning its own name uses. This is shown so you can check it.
A guide to the rhythm of the year, not a replacement for your family's own panchang. Where a tithi spans two sunrises, regional convention decides which day keeps the festival, and VEDAUM shows the day its own reckoning gives.
VEDAUM draws the years 1900 to 2100.