Bengal is the land of devotion and spirituality. There is a huge list of Bengali Hindu festivals celebrated throughout the year. Here in this article, only major and important festivals to celebrate in 2010 are given. The major Bengali festivals in a year are – Saraswati Puja, Basanti Puja, Annapurna Puja, Krishnashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Mahalaya, Durga Puja, Sharad Purnima Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja on Diwali, Kartik Puja, etc.

Bengali Festivals in January 2010

• Makara Sankranti or Poush Sankranti or Pongal – January 14
• Saraswati Puja 2010 – January 20
• Ratha Saptami – January 22
• Maghi Purnima – January 30

Bengali Festivals in February 2010

• Maha Shivaratri 2010 – February 12, 2010
• Magh Amavasya 2010 – February 13
• Ramakrishna Jayanti or birthday of Ramakrishna – February 16, 2010
• Holi 2010 – Dolyatra 2010 – February 28

Bengali Festivals in March 2010

• Basanti Puja 2010 – March 22
• Annapurna Puja 2010 – march 23
• Ram Navami 2010 – March 24
• Chaitra Purnima – March 30

Bengali Festivals in April 2010

• Neel Puja of Lord Shiva – April 13
• Charak Puja – April 14
• Bangali Naba Barsa 2010 – Bengali New Year 2010 – Poila Baisakh 2010 – April 15, 2010
• Purnima – April 28, 2010

Bengali Festivals in May 2010

• Akshaya Tritiya 2010 – May 16, 2010
• Buddha Purnima – May 27

Bengali Festivals in June 2010

• Jamai Sasthi –June 17, 2010
• Ganga Dasahara – June 21, 2010
• Jagannnath Snan Yatra – Purnima – June 26, 2010

Bengali festivals in July 2010

• Jagannath Rath Yatra 2010 – July 13
• Bipadtarini Brata – July 17^th – 20^th
• Rath Ponar Yatra – Return journey of Jagannath Rathyatra 2010 – July 20, 2010
• Guru Purnima 2010 – July 25

Bengali Festivals in August 2010

• Nag Panchami 2010 – August 14
• Manasa Puja – August 14, 2010
• Jhulan yatra 2010 – August 23
• Rakhi Purnima 2010 – Raksha Bandhan – August 24

Bengali Festivals in September 2010

• Sri Krishna Janmashtami 2010 – September 1, 2010 – Krishna Jayanti or Krishnashtami
• Ganesh Chaturthi 2010 – September 12
• Vishwakarma Puja 2010 – September 17

Bengali Festivals in October 2010

• Mahalaya 2010 – October 7, 2010 – Pitru Shraddh Tharpan 2010
• Navratri 2010 begins – 8 October
• Durga Puja 2010 – 13^th October to 17^th October
• Durga Puja Sasthi 2010 – 13 October
• Durga Puja Maha Saptami 2010 – 14 October
• Durga Puja Mahashtami 2010 – 15 October
• Mahami Nabami Durga puja 2010 – 16 October
• Durga Puja Bijoya Dasami 2010 – 17 October
• Kojagari Lakshmi Puja 2010 – 21 October – Sharad Poornima

Bengali Festivals in November 2010

• Kali Puja 2010 – 5^th November – Diwali 2010 – Maha Amavasya
• Bhai Phonta 2010 – 7^th November – Bhai Dooj
• Chhat Puja 2010 – 12^th November
• Jagadhatri Puja 2010 – 15^th November – Jagaddatri Navami
• Kartik Puja 2010 – 17^th November – Kartik Ekadashi
• Sri Krishna Raas Yatra 2010 – 21^st November

Makar Sankrathi is a harvest festival of India. It is celebrated in the month of Magh, generally comes in the second week of January. Makar Sankranthi is a celebration of spring on the occasion of the ascent of the sun to the Uttarayana punyakaalam (holy period – the time of Devas).

When is Makar Sankranthi in 2009?

In 2009, Makar Sankranthi is celebrated on January 14th, Wednesday. In some North Indian calendars and panchanga, it is stated that Makar Sankranthi is on January 13th, Tuesday.

Makar Sankranthi is Celebrated In–

Makar Sankranthi is celebrated with utmost fervor in many parts of India such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, West Bengal, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Dhanteras or Dhan Trayodasi, also spelt as Dhan Teras, is the most auspicious and prosperous occasion during the four-day festival – Diwali. Dhanteras is celebrated on Aswayuja Krishna Triodasi. Hence it is also called as Dhana Trayodashi. In 2009, the date of Dhanteras is October 15, Thursday.

It is believed that purchasing any new things such as home appliances or jewelry is very prosperous on this day. On this day, lighting of diyas is the ritual and custom. On Dhanteras, Dhanwantari Jayanthi is also celebrated.

Ravan Vadh or Ravana Vadha is a ritual and tradition performed on Vijaya Dashami or Dussara. Ravana, who is also called as Dashakanta, was killed by Lord Rama on this day. To commemorate the defeat of Ravana and the victory of good over evil, people started celebrating ‘Dush-hara’ (the defeat of Dashakanta – Ravana). In 2009, Ravana Vadha is performed on September 28, Monday, on Dasara.

In the evening of Dasara, Ravana Vadh is ceebrated throughout India. Large effigies of Ravana are burned. For this vadha ritual, crackers are used.

Durga Nimajjan also called as Visarjan is the last and concluding event of Durga Navarathri. In some places it is performed on Dussehra / Vijaya Dashami / Dasara / Dassara. In 2009, the dates to perform Durga Nimajjan are – September 28, Monday or September 29, Tuesday. The day of this event may depend on the regional traditions of a place. On the same day, devotees burn the giant effigies of Ravana in some places.