Curated

Festival Calendar

14 dates for the Advaita year - not every festival, just the ones that carry Vedāntic meaning and invite contemplative observance.

Jan 23 - Fri

वसन्त पञ्चमी Vasant Panchami

The arrival of spring, celebrated by honouring Goddess Saraswati - the embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, and the transformative power of learning.

Vedantic note: Saraswati represents vidyā (knowledge), which is the means to liberation in Advaita Vedānta.

Feb 15 - Sun

महा शिवरात्रि Maha Shivaratri

The Great Night of Shiva - a night of vigil, meditation, and inner contemplation. Celebrated on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in Phalguna.

Vedantic note: Shiva as the supreme meditator (yogīśvara) represents the inner witness (sākṣī) - the silent awareness that is the foundation of Advaita practice.

Mar 4 - Wed

होली Holi

The festival of colours, celebrating the victory of devotion (Prahlada) over ego (Hiranyakashipu). A time of joy and dissolving social boundaries.

Vedantic note: Holi reminds us that the ego-sense - the idea of separate self - must be burnt away, like Holika, leaving only the devotee's unwavering faith.

Mar 19 - Thu

चैत्र नवरात्रि Chaitra Navratri (begins)

Nine nights dedicated to the Goddess in her nine forms. The spring Navratri marks the Hindu new year in many traditions.

Vedantic note: The Goddess represents śakti - the dynamic power of Brahman. The nine nights symbolize the journey from ignorance (tamas) to knowledge (sattva).

Mar 19 - Thu

युगादि / गुड़ी पड़वा Hindu New Year (Ugadi / Gudi Padwa)

The first day of Chaitra - marks the beginning of the new year in many parts of India.

Vedantic note: A time for fresh beginnings and contemplative reflection on the cyclical nature of time (kāla).

Mar 27 - Fri

राम नवमी Rama Navami

The birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu and the embodiment of dharma, righteousness, and compassionate action.

Vedantic note: Rama represents the ideal human who lives in harmony with dharma - a reminder that spiritual life is not renunciation of the world but perfect action within it.

Apr 20 - Mon

शङ्कर जयन्ती Shankara Jayanti

The birth anniversary of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya - the foremost exponent of Advaita Vedānta who consolidated the doctrine of non-duality and established the monastic order.

Vedantic note: Śaṅkara's life and work form the very foundation of this site. His commentaries on the Upaniṣads, Gītā, and Brahma Sūtras established Advaita as the pinnacle of Vedāntic thought.

Jul 29 - Wed

गुरु पूर्णिमा Guru Purnima

A day dedicated to honouring spiritual teachers (gurus) and the entire lineage of teachers. Also known as Vyāsa Pūrṇimā - honouring Vyāsa, the compiler of the Vedas.

Vedantic note: In the Advaita tradition, the guru is paramount - the one who transmits the light of knowledge (jñāna) and removes the darkness of ignorance (avidyā). The entire guru-śiṣya paramparā is celebrated on this day.

Sep 4 - Fri

कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी Krishna Janmashtami

The birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu and the teacher of the Bhagavad Gītā - the most beloved and accessible text of Vedāntic wisdom.

Vedantic note: Krishna's teaching to Arjuna in the Gītā is the essence of Advaita in practice - acting without attachment, remaining established in the self, and surrendering the fruits of action.

Sep 14 - Mon

गणेश चतुर्थी Ganesh Chaturthi

The birth of Lord Ganesha - the remover of obstacles, the god of wisdom and beginnings. His elephant head represents the wisdom of the self.

Vedantic note: Ganesha is invoked at the start of every spiritual undertaking. His form symbolizes the unity of the microcosm and macrocosm - the elephant head representing cosmic wisdom, the human body representing individual existence.

Oct 11 - Sun

शारदीय नवरात्रि Sharad Navratri (begins)

The autumn Navratri - nine nights of the Goddess, culminating in Durgā Pūjā, Vijayadaśamī, and the victory of light over darkness.

Vedantic note: The Goddess worship in Vedānta represents the recognition that the ultimate reality (Brahman) is not merely static consciousness but also the dynamic power that creates, sustains, and dissolves the universe.

Oct 20 - Tue

दशहरा / विजयदशमी Dussehra (Vijayadashami)

The victory of dharma over adharma - Rama's victory over Ravana and Durga's victory over Mahishasura. A celebration of the triumph of truth.

Vedantic note: The inner significance: the victory of the true self (ātman) over the ego (ahaṅkāra). Ravana represents the ten-headed ego - the many voices of the mind that must be conquered.

Nov 8 - Sun

दीपावली Diwali

The festival of lights - celebrating the return of Rama to Ayodhya, the victory of light over darkness, and the inner light of knowledge.

Vedantic note: Diwali is the festival of inner illumination - the light of ātma-jñāna (self-knowledge) that dispels the darkness of avidyā (ignorance). Each lamp lit represents the removal of another veil of ignorance.

Dec 20 - Sun

गीता जयन्ती Gita Jayanti

The day the Bhagavad Gītā was revealed by Sri Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra - celebrated on Mokṣadā Ekādaśī.

Vedantic note: The Gītā is the most practical text of Advaita Vedānta. Gītā Jayantī is a day to reflect on its timeless teaching: 'You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits' - the path of karma-yoga leading to jñāna-yoga.