March 2034
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 Phalguna and into Chaitra.
Phalguna — The year's last month. Holika's fire burns at its full moon, and colour follows.
Chaitra — The year turns. Ugadi and Gudi Padwa fall on its first bright day; Chaitra Navaratri and Rama Navami stand within.
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.
Holika Dahan · Holi
The fire the night before the colour. Holika burns and the child does not — the tradition puts the destruction of malice before the celebration, in that order, on purpose.
The actWrite down one resentment you have been feeding and burn it in the fire. Then play, and let yourself be unrecognisable for a day.
Matched in Phalguna. 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.
Holika Dahan · Holi
The fire the night before the colour. Holika burns and the child does not — the tradition puts the destruction of malice before the celebration, in that order, on purpose.
The actWrite down one resentment you have been feeding and burn it in the fire. Then play, and let yourself be unrecognisable for a day.
Matched in Phalguna. 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.
Gudi Padwa · Ugadi
The lunar new year. The year turns at the first tithi after the spring equinox — the calendar begins where the earth begins again, which is the whole logic of the Sanatan year.
The actBegin one thing today you have been deferring. Eat something bitter with something sweet, as the day traditionally asks: the year will contain both and the ritual says so honestly.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
Chaitra Navaratri
Day 1 of 9Nine nights of Devi at the year's opening — the spring counterpart to Sharada Navaratri, quieter and more interior. Rebuilding the personality before the year loads it.
The actOne discipline, kept all nine days. Choose something small enough that you will not fail it.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
Chaitra Navaratri
Day 2 of 9Nine nights of Devi at the year's opening — the spring counterpart to Sharada Navaratri, quieter and more interior. Rebuilding the personality before the year loads it.
The actOne discipline, kept all nine days. Choose something small enough that you will not fail it.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
Chaitra Navaratri
Day 4 of 9Nine nights of Devi at the year's opening — the spring counterpart to Sharada Navaratri, quieter and more interior. Rebuilding the personality before the year loads it.
The actOne discipline, kept all nine days. Choose something small enough that you will not fail it.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
Chaitra Navaratri
Day 5 of 9Nine nights of Devi at the year's opening — the spring counterpart to Sharada Navaratri, quieter and more interior. Rebuilding the personality before the year loads it.
The actOne discipline, kept all nine days. Choose something small enough that you will not fail it.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
Chaitra Navaratri
Day 6 of 9Nine nights of Devi at the year's opening — the spring counterpart to Sharada Navaratri, quieter and more interior. Rebuilding the personality before the year loads it.
The actOne discipline, kept all nine days. Choose something small enough that you will not fail it.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
Chaitra Navaratri
Day 7 of 9Nine nights of Devi at the year's opening — the spring counterpart to Sharada Navaratri, quieter and more interior. Rebuilding the personality before the year loads it.
The actOne discipline, kept all nine days. Choose something small enough that you will not fail it.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
Chaitra Navaratri
Day 8 of 9Nine nights of Devi at the year's opening — the spring counterpart to Sharada Navaratri, quieter and more interior. Rebuilding the personality before the year loads it.
The actOne discipline, kept all nine days. Choose something small enough that you will not fail it.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
Chaitra Navaratri
Day 9 of 9Nine nights of Devi at the year's opening — the spring counterpart to Sharada Navaratri, quieter and more interior. Rebuilding the personality before the year loads it.
The actOne discipline, kept all nine days. Choose something small enough that you will not fail it.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
Rama Navami
The birth of Rama — the tradition's model not of power but of conduct under impossible constraint. The point of Rama is never what he could do; it is what he would not do.
The actKeep a promise today that is costing you something. That is the entire teaching.
Matched in Chaitra. 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.
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 Phalguna. 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 Phalguna. 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 Phalguna. 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 Phalguna. 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 Phalguna. 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 Phalguna. 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 Phalguna. 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 Phalguna. 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 Chaitra. 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.