October calendar: Sarvapitri Amavasya, Navratri, Dussehra, Karwa Chauth and Sharad Purnima dates
Sarvapitri Amavasya falls on October 10, Shardiya Navratri begins on October 11, Dussehra is on October 20 and Karwa Chauth on October 29.
October begins today, and the month brings several festivals and fasts. They include Sarvapitri Amavasya, Shardiya Navratri, Dussehra, Karwa Chauth and Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojagiri Purnima. The month is considered special and important from a religious point of view.
The nine-day Shardiya Navratri begins this month. Dussehra, regarded as the festival of the victory of truth over untruth, is also celebrated in October. Karwa Chauth, an important festival for married women, who fast for the long life of their husbands, also falls this month. The full list, date by date, is as follows.
Thursday, October 1, is Shashthi Shraddha and Rohini Vrat. Saturday, October 3, brings Mahalakshmi Vrat Purna, Jivitputrika Vrat, Kalashtami and Masik Krishna Janmashtami.
Tuesday, October 6, is Indira Ekadashi. Falling in the Krishna Paksha of the Ashwin month, this Ekadashi comes during Pitru Paksha and is therefore considered more important. Ekadashi is regarded as especially significant for the worship of Lord Vishnu. Thursday, October 8, is Masik Shivaratri and Guru Pradosh Vrat. The Shivaratri that comes every month is called Masik Shivaratri, and the Pradosh Vrat that falls on a Thursday is called Guru Pradosh Vrat.
Saturday, October 10, is Sarvapitri Amavasya, which falls on the new moon day of the Krishna Paksha of Ashwin. On this day Shraddha is performed in the name of all ancestors whose date of birth is not remembered. The Shraddha rites are also performed for those whose Shraddha was missed for any reason.
Shardiya Navratri begins on Sunday, October 11. It starts on the Pratipada tithi of the Ashwin month. Navratri ends on Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, on October 20. Kapardish Vinayak Chaturthi will be observed on Wednesday, October 14.
This year, Mahanavami and Dashami of Shardiya Navratri fall on the same day. On Tuesday, October 20, the Mahanavami puja will therefore be held in the morning and the Dussehra puja in the evening.
Thursday, October 22, is Papankusha Ekadashi, the Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha of Ashwin. Worshipping Lord Vishnu and fasting on this day is said to wash away sins and lead to moksha.
Sunday, October 25, is Kojagiri Purnima, also called Sharad Purnima. It is a major fast dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and the moon, observed on the full moon day of the Ashwin month.
Thursday, October 29, is Karwa Chauth and Sankashti Chaturthi. The Karwa Chauth fast is kept on the Chaturthi tithi of the Krishna Paksha of the Kartik month. Women fast for the long life of their husbands and break the fast in the evening after worshipping the moon. On Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha is worshipped and served devoutly in temples, and acts of charity are also performed.
