Kashmiri Pandit Calendar

Pausha Purnima, when crows — messengers of the ancestors — are invited and fed by children.

Vidhi · Rice, oil-bread and sweets are placed in a long-handled straw ladle and offered on the roof at dawn.

The amavasya of Poh, dedicated to the Yakshas — guardian spirits of the home and the springs.

Vidhi · Khichdi is offered to the yakshas at the doorstep and courtyard spring after sunset.

Saraswati's day and the Kashmiri turn towards spring; yellow rice is cooked.

Vidhi · Saraswati puja, first letters taught to children, yellow dress and yellow taher.

Sesame-oil lamp day, one week before Herath; the household lamps are lit in every room.

Vidhi · Til-oil lamps at all doors and windows; sesame offered in the fire.

The invitation night that opens Herath — Vatuk Bhairava's companions are welcomed into the home.

Vidhi · The vagur pot is installed and worshipped; walnuts are set to soak.

The central festival of the Kashmiri Pandits. Unlike the rest of India, Kashmiri Pandits keep Shivratri on Trayodashi, worshipping Shiva-Parvati as the household Vatuk Bhairava in a pot of water and walnuts.

Vidhi · Vatuk puja at pradosh with the sanivari, night-long Rudra path and Shiva Mahimna stotra; the family fasts and breaks it with the vatuk prasad.

The Chaturdashi Mahashivratri kept by most of India; Kashmiri households keep it as the day after Herath.

Vidhi · Four-prahar Shiva abhishek with milk, water, honey and bel patra.

Herath amavasya — the walnuts soaked in the vatuk pot are distributed as prasad and greetings exchanged.

Vidhi · Doon (walnut) prasad given to family, neighbours and friends; the vatuk is respectfully immersed.

Phalguna Purnima; the fire of Holika, kept mildly in the Kashmiri tradition.

Vidhi · Holika dahan at pradosh, colours the next morning.

The Kashmiri festival of spring, kept just before Navreh, marking the end of the Chillai period and the first blossom.

Vidhi · The same auspicious thali as Navreh is seen at dawn; elders give a coin to the young.

First day of Chaitra and the first day of the Saptarshi (Laukika) era followed by Kashmiri Pandits. The new panchang, the 'Nechipatra', is opened on this day.

Vidhi · A thali of rice, curd, walnuts, a silver coin, bread, a flower, a pen and the new panchang is kept overnight and viewed first thing at dawn.

Gauri Tritiya, dedicated to Parvati. Married daughters are remembered by their parental home.

Vidhi · Gifts and cooked food are sent to daughters; Gauri is worshipped with fresh flowers.

Birth of Lord Rama, observed at Ram Mandirs across the valley diaspora.

Vidhi · Fast till noon, Ramayana path, distribution of panjiri.

Solar new-year bathing day; Kashmiri Pandits bathe at the springs and at Vitasta ghats.

Vidhi · Snan at a tirtha, tarpan for ancestors, donation of grain.

The greatest Kashmiri Pandit pilgrimage — Mata Ragnya Devi at Tulmulla. The colour of the spring on this day is read as an omen for the year.

Vidhi · Kheer and milk are offered to the sacred spring, lotus-shaped lamps lit, night vigil kept.

The waterless Ekadashi, held to carry the merit of all Ekadashis of the year.

Vidhi · Complete fast; water pots, fans and sattu are donated.

Ashadha Saptami, kept for the wellbeing of the family and for the rains.

Vidhi · Vrat with a single meal; Shiva is bathed with milk.

Veda Vyasa Purnima — homage to the guru lineage that preserved Kashmir Shaivism.

Vidhi · Guru puja, reading of the Shiva Sutras, charity to teachers.

Birth of Krishna; in Kashmiri homes it is called Zarme Satam and kept with a midnight vigil.

Vidhi · Fast till midnight, jhoola for the infant Krishna, offering of taher (turmeric rice).

Ganesha's day, opening the Bhadrapada festival cluster.

Vidhi · Ganesh puja at the household vyug; the moon is deliberately not viewed tonight.

The distinctly Kashmiri Roth Puja for Bibi Ded / Vibhavari Devi, kept mainly by women for the welfare of children.

Vidhi · A sweet roth (flat cake) is baked, offered and shared; the Pann katha is recited.

Birthday of the river Vitasta (Jhelum), which Kashmiri Pandits revere as a goddess.

Vidhi · Lamps and flowers floated on the river at Verinag and Vichar Nag; vitasta stotra recited.

Fortnight of the ancestors; the Kashmiri shraddha cycle of 'kraav' offerings.

Vidhi · Daily tarpan; the ancestor's own tithi is observed with a full shraddha meal.

Closing day of Pitru Paksha — shraddha for all forebears whose tithi is unknown.

Vidhi · Sarva-pitru tarpan, feeding of a brahmin and a cow, donation of black sesame.

Nine nights of Durga; in Kashmir the Shakti tradition centres on Sharika, Ragnya and Jwala.

Vidhi · Ghatasthapana, daily Durga Saptashati path, fast on the first and eighth day.

The Shakti peak of Navratri, kept at Hari Parbat for Sharika Bhagwati.

Vidhi · Havan, kanya pujan, offering of taher-charvan.

Victory of dharma; an auspicious day to begin study, work and journeys without a muhurat.

Vidhi · Shastra and pen puja, aparajita puja at dusk.

Lakshmi Puja; the old Kashmiri name is Sukh Suptika ('Sokh Sopta'), the night of restful sleep.

Vidhi · Lamps at every threshold and at the water source, Lakshmi puja at pradosh.

Deep-daan full moon, a great bathing day at the Kashmiri tirthas.

Vidhi · Pre-dawn bath, floating lamps, feeding of the poor.