ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਕੈਲੰਡਰ — ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 2024

Lunar Months & Solar Transition

The Gregorian month of ਅਕਤੂਬਰ most often spans the lunar months of Ashwin and Kartika in the Vedic calendar. The Sun moves through Tula rashi (Libra), with Tula Sankranti around October 17 marking the Sun's entry into Libra — when day and night are nearly equal at the equinox. Because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar — its months are tied to the Moon while its year is corrected against the Sun — the precise start of each lunar month shifts year to year. The transitions for ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 2024 are reflected in the day-by-day grid above.

Significance of ਅਕਤੂਬਰ in the Vedic Tradition

October is the start of the great Hindu festive season. Sharadiya Navratri — the nine-night Goddess worship beginning on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada — culminates on the tenth day with Dussehra (Vijayadashami), commemorating Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga's slaying of Mahishasura. Karva Chauth, the women's fast for the longevity of husbands, falls on Kartika Krishna Chaturthi. In years where Diwali falls in October, the entire five-day festival cycle from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj falls in this month.

Key Vrata & Festival Dates · ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 2024

• 2 ਅਕਤ
  ਮੱਸਿਆ · Amavasya · Wednesday

  New moon — most auspicious for pitru-tarpana (offerings to ancestors), donations, and silent contemplation. Ashwin Amavasya is one of the most important pitru-related Amavasyas. Kartika Amavasya, often falling in October, is Diwali Amavasya — the night of Lakshmi Puja and the year's brightest worship of the goddess of wealth.

• 13 ਅਕਤ
  ਏਕਾਦਸ਼ੀ · Ekadashi · Sunday

  Vishnu-fast day. Devotees abstain from grains and pulses; the vrata is broken on the following Dwadashi morning within the prescribed window.

• 15 ਅਕਤ
  ਪ੍ਰਦੋਸ਼ ਵਰਤ · Pradosh Vrat · Tuesday

  Twilight fast dedicated to Shiva, observed during the trayodashi tithi from sunset until ~2.5 hours later.

• 17 ਅਕਤ
  ਪੂਰਨਮਾਸ਼ੀ · Purnima · Thursday

  Full moon — auspicious for satya-narayan puja, charity, and chandra-related observances. Ashwin Purnima is Sharad Purnima — the harvest moon, considered the most beautiful full moon of the year. Kheer left out under the moonlight on this night is said to absorb its healing nectar.

Major Festivals Typically Falling in ਅਕਤੂਬਰ

• Sharadiya Navratri · Ashwin Shukla 1–9

  Nine-night Goddess worship; Garba/Dandiya in Gujarat; Durga Puja in Bengal.

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami · Ashwin Shukla Dashami

  Ram's victory over Ravana; abuja-muhurta for new ventures.

• Karva Chauth · Kartika Krishna Chaturthi

  Women's day-long fast for husband's longevity.

• Diwali / Deepavali · Kartika Amavasya

  Festival of lights; Lakshmi Puja; year's brightest worship.

Muhurta & Practical Guidance for ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 2024

Navratri's nine nights are best spent in fasting, mantra-japa, and goddess-worship — not in marriage or major worldly undertakings. Dussehra itself, however, is one of the great abuja-muhurtas of the year — auspicious without requiring further calculation — and is the traditional day for new ventures (Shastra Puja, Vahana Puja, Ayudha Puja). After Devuthani Ekadashi (which sometimes falls in October), Chaturmas ends and the full season of marriages and auspicious events resumes.