Ashadha Maas · Lord Vishnu

Ashadha (Ashadha Maas) 1996

The month Chaturmas begins — Jagannath Rath Yatra, Guru Purnima and Devshayani Ekadashi.

See Ashadha 2026 — this year

Ashadha (Ashadha Maas) 1996 Dates

North India · Purnimanta
Sunday, 2 June 1996
to Tuesday, 30 July 1996 · 59 days · Adhik Maas
Month ending on the Purnima
Amanta regions
Monday, 17 June 1996
to Wednesday, 14 August 1996 · 59 days · Adhik Maas
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Why the dates differ. In the Purnimanta calendar a month ends on the full moon; in Amanta it ends on the new moon. So Ashadha begins about 15 days earlier in North India than in Amanta regions — even though the festivals fall on the same day in both, because they are fixed by tithi.

The significance of Ashadha — Lord Vishnu

Ashadha is the threshold of the monsoon and of Chaturmas — the four months in which Vishnu is said to sleep, beginning at Devshayani Ekadashi, when weddings and new ventures pause. It carries the Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri and Guru Purnima, the full moon given to the teacher, when Vyasa is honoured and the disciple bows to the one who shows the way.

Rituals of Ashadha

  • Devshayani Ekadashi — the start of Chaturmas vows
  • Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri
  • Guru Purnima — worship of the guru and Vyasa
  • Taking up a Chaturmas discipline or fast
  • Gupt Navratri for the initiated
  • Fasting on Yogini and Devshayani Ekadashi

Key days in Ashadha 1996

Festivals in Ashadha 1996

Monthly vrats 1996

Ashadha 1996 — Frequently Asked Questions

When does Ashadha Maas 1996 start?

In North India (Purnimanta calendar) Ashadha runs from Sunday, 2 June 1996 to Tuesday, 30 July 1996. In Amanta-calendar regions it runs Monday, 17 June 1996 to Wednesday, 14 August 1996.

Why do Ashadha dates differ in North and South India?

Because the two regions follow different lunar calendars. In the Purnimanta calendar (North India) a month ends on the Purnima, so it starts about 15 days earlier than in Amanta. In the Amanta calendar (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) the month runs new-moon to new-moon.

Which deity is Ashadha 1996 dedicated to?

Ashadha is the threshold of the monsoon and of Chaturmas — the four months in which Vishnu is said to sleep, beginning at Devshayani Ekadashi, when weddings and new ventures pause. It carries the Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri and Guru Purnima, the full moon given to the teacher, when Vyasa is honoured and the disciple bows to the one who shows the way.

Is Ashadha 1996 an Adhik Maas?

Yes. 1996 carries an Adhik (Mal) Maas, so Ashadha runs about twice as long — 59 days.