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September Month Festivals List 2018
August 29, 2018
Venus Enters Libra – September 1st, Saturday
Shukra Graha or Venus is an important planet, which is regarded as auspicious. It represents the noble emotion of love and also stands for welcome features like beauty, artistic temperament, pleasures, and comforts. Venus, thus, denotes almost all aspects that are enjoyable in life. It is also the ruler the zodiac signs, Taurus and Libra. Venus can bless with good knowledge and wealth.
Venus will enter Libra on Saturday, September 1, 2018 and will continue to be in the sign for about four months. This may prove to be highly beneficial for the Libra-born. Fortune may smile on them, long-time desires will fructify, finance and status may improve, and they may also acquire moveable and immovable properties. Results may, however, differ for the other signs.
Janmashtami – September 2nd, Sunday
The birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated as Krishna Janmashtami. He is a very important incarnation of Vishnu, the supreme God of protection and sustenance. Krishna is believed to born on a Rohini star day of Ashtami Thithi in Shravan month (August-September). In the year 2018, Janmashtami falls on Sunday, September 2, 2018.
Lord Krishna is one of the most popular and adorable Gods of our land. He was an endearing baby, a born prodigy, and an exceptional genius, who became a person of worship right from his birth. Krishna is the God of love, which remains the greatest power and the highest consciousness of the universe. An embodiment of knowledge, power, and mercy, Krishna played many remarkable roles in his life and imparted great lessons to humanity on all aspects of significance.
Janmashtami festival day is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country.
Teachers Day – September 5th, Wednesday
Teachers Day is an occasion observed in honor of the teachers. A teacher is not only an educator but can even be a developer of a skill or a coach of a sport. Whatever be his or her role, tradition regards the teacher as a Guru or a preceptor and places him on a high pedestal. This finds expression in the form of dedicating a day in their reverence.
All countries observe Teachers Day, but this they do on different occasions, whereas the United Nations has declared 5th October as International Teachers day from 1994.
However, our country observes 5th September as Teachers Day. This is the day of birth of our former President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. He was not only an acclaimed statesman and philosopher but was primarily a teacher and a professor. Hence his birthday is celebrated here as the occasion meant for honoring the teaching community and acknowledging their memorable contributions.
Ekadasi – September 6th, Thursday
Ekadasi remains as an occasion of high spiritual significance. This day is specially meant for the worship of Lord Vishnu, the supreme God of protection.
Ekadasi means ‘the eleventh day’ and denotes the 11th thithi of both, Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha, the waxing and waning phases of the Moon. Hence, usually, there will be two Ekadasis in a month and 24, in a year.
The devout observe Ekadasi Vrat on this sacred occasion, when they abstain from food and dedicate the day to austerities, worships and other religious pursuits. Further, every Ekadasi holds its own unique significance, when people perform distinct rituals for receiving different benefits. The first Ekadasi of September 2018 falls on Thursday the 6th. People can observe Vrats and offer prayers to the divine on this occasion and receive the Almighty’s grace.
Pradosham- September 7th, Friday
Pradosham refers to the sunset time of a Trayodasi, the 13th lunar day. This lasts for about 3 hours and is believed to be particularly auspicious for worshipping Lord Shiva. According to mythological accounts, when Alahala, the lethal poison came out of the great ocean of milk when it was churned, the Lord accepted and drank the deadly venom for protecting the universe and its beings. Pradosham is said to be observed in relation to that great deed. There is another legend associating Shiva’s mount Nandi with Pradosham, and hence, he too is worshipped then.
Pradosham also means ‘removal of sins,’ and Pradosham worship is believed to relieve devotees of the ill-effects of their past sins. Usually, Pradosham happens twice a month, and the first for September 2018 falls on Friday, the 7th. Devotees can offer prayers to the Lord and observe austerities during this time and receive divine blessings.
Amavasya- September 9th, Sunday
Amavasya is the New Moon day. There are 30 lunar phases in a calendar cycle, and these are known as thithis. One of them is Amavasya, and it denotes the dark moon thithi when the moon is not visible in the sky at all. It is Purnima, the Full Moon day which starts a lunar calendar month and Amavasya falls in its middle. ‘Ama Vasya’ is a Sanskrit word that can mean ‘no Moon’ and also ‘dwell together.’ This day is considered auspicious for many religious activities and worshipping the ancestors is the chief among them.
There will usually be one Amavasya in a month and twelve in a year. In September 2018, this day occurs on the 9th Sunday. People can perform Tharpanam and other rituals for satisfying the souls of the forefathers and departed family elders on that Amavasya and receive their blessings.
Ganesh Chaturthi- September 13th, Thursday
The day of the advent of Lord Ganesha is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesha is a highly popular God, who is hailed variously as a personification of auspiciousness, remover of obstacles and harbinger of success, and is both loved and revered.
Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the Chaturthi, the fourth lunar day of Shukla Paksha, the waxing Moon phase in the month of Bhadrapada, which corresponds to the Tamil month Aavani (August–September). This year, it is coming on 13th September Thursday.
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the significant festivals of India. In the Western Indian states like Maharashtra, it remains the biggest one that is celebrated for several days. Ganesh is the Lord who bestows both, Buddhi, intelligence and spiritual wisdom and Siddhi, success and material benefits. Hence Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated, not only as an occasion for worship and religious observances but also as the time for fun, feasts, social get-togethers, bonhomie, and joy.
Shasti- September 15th, Saturday
Shasti is the 6th thithi or the lunar day and denotes the one falling during Shukla Paksha, the waxing phase of the Moon. This day is meant for worshipping Lord Muruga.
Muruga is the son of Shiva and Parvati. He fought a heroic battle with demon Surapadma and his army for five days and defeated the mighty Asuras comprehensively on the 6th day of Shasti. This day is observed in commemoration of that remarkable triumph.
The Lord performed this notable feat in the Tamil month Aippasi (October–November) and that day is celebrated as Skanda Shasti, the 6th day meant for Skanda (Muruga). However, that event is also remembered every month and is observed with enthusiasm as a monthly Shasti.
On Shasti days, devotees perform austerities like fasting as a form of Muruga worship. The Shasti of September 2018 falls on 15th Saturday when devotees can pray to Muruga and seek his divine grace.
Sun Enters Virgo- September 17th, Monday.
Sun or Surya is a bright heavenly body, which remains the source of heat, light, and energy to our mother earth and its beings. He is a massive ball of fire, regarded as the king of the planets and head of the solar family. He wields tremendous influence over the lives of the people, representing aspects like courage, authority, and power. Hence, his movement and placement gain a lot of significance.
Sun enters the zodiac sign Virgo on Monday 17th September 2018 and will stay there for about a month. This duration is the Tamil month of Purattasi, and this may not be very beneficial for Virgo-born. Health may warrant massive medical expenditure, while wasteful expenses need to be curtailed. Better not to trust others blindly on any issue and be careful with new acquaintances. There may be travels, but some may not be fruitful. Results may differ for other zodiac signs.
Mercury Enters Virgo – September 19th,Wednesday
Mercury is one of the Navagrahas, the powerful planets. It is the smallest planet and remains closest to the Sun in space. Mercury is known as BuddhiKararaka, the ruler of intellect and hence is known as Budha. Mercury can bestow people with sharp intelligence and strong communication skills. Due to this, it is natural for Mercury to exercise a strong influence on people, and hence, a lot of significance is attached to its transit in a sign.
Mercury is entering the zodiac sign Virgo on September 19th Wednesday and will stay there till October 6th. This may turn out to be a favorable time for the Virgo people. Their leadership qualities will shine; individuality will come out; vocation may improve, and they may also earn name and fame. They should, however, be wary of egoistic tendencies and overconfidence. Those born in other signs may have different results.
Ekadasi – September 20th, Thursday
Ekadasi denotes the 11th thithi or lunar day falling in both, the waxing and waning phases of the Moon, the Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha. The Sanskrit word Ekadasi -Eka Dasi- itself means ‘the eleventh day’ and is held as very sacred, particularly for worshipping Lord Vishnu, the supreme God of preservation and sustenance.
The foremost austerity for the occasion is the Ekadasi Vrat when the devout observe fasting and dedicate the day to prayers and other religious activities. Also, every Ekadasi is unique in its respect, when people perform different rituals, seeking peace, welfare, and other benefits.
There will usually be two Ekadasis in a month and 24, in a year, and the second Ekadasi of September 2018 comes on the 20th Thursday. People can observe austerities and offer worship to Gods and receive Almighty’s grace, on the occasion.
Pradosham – September 22nd, Saturday
The period around the twilight hours of the evening when Trayodasi thithi, the 13th lunar day prevails, is known as Pradosham. This extends for about 3 hours and is regarded very sacred for Shiva worship. Shiva is said to have consumed around this time, the deadly Alahala poison that emerged out of the vast ocean of milk when it was churned, and thus saved the universe from certain extinction. The grateful world remembers this compassion of the Lord and offers him Pradosham worship in gratitude. His vehicle Nandi is also worshipped along.
‘Destruction of sins’ is a meaning that the term Pradosham carries and hence this worship is believed to relieve devotees of all their accumulated sins. This occurs twice a month, and the second of those for September 2018 falls on the 22nd Saturday. People can observe austerities and offer worship to Shiva during this Pradosham time and earn his divine grace.
Nataraj Abhishekam – September 24th, Monday
The dancing form of Lord Shiva is called Nataraja. This Nata Raja is the king of dance, who imparts profound wisdom through his posture itself. From creation to salvation, his dance represents all the fundamental functions of existence. Also known as Ananda Thandavam, the dance of bliss, this is said to take place in the sacred Chidambaram.
The holy bath given to this deity is known as Nataraj Abhishekam. This is done only on six occasions in a year when the Lord’s energy is said to become most potent on earth. These days are spread across all the six seasons of the year, whereas the Abhishekams are also conducted at six different times of the day, from dawn to night. This ceremony involves the ceremonial soaking of Lord Nataraja idol by gently pouring water and liquids like milk, curd, ghee, tender coconut, etc. on it, amidst the chanting of sacred hymns. Monday, 24th September 2018 happens to be one such Nataraj Abhishekam day.
Mahalaya Begins – September 25th, Tuesday
Mahalaya refers to Mahalaya Paksha, a period of 15 days and is considered very sacred for paying homage to the Pitrus, the ancestors. Hence, it is also known as Pitru Paksha, the ‘fortnight of the ancestors’. This period corresponds to the first Krishna Paksha, waning phase of the Moon of the month of Bhadrapada (September–October) and extends till the following Amavasya, well known as Mahalaya Amavasya. In the current year 2018, this Mahalaya begins on Pratipada, the first lunar day falling on 25th September, Tuesday.
Mahalaya Paksha is dedicated exclusively to the worship of the forefathers and for performing rituals in their honor. People undertake ceremonies like Tarpanam, and offer rice grains and sesame seeds along with water, as oblations. It is believed that these rituals will feed the departed souls, help them in their bid for salvation, and hence will please them immensely. The observances will thus aid in the destruction of the sins of the performers and help in their karmic cleansing.
The highly famous 9-day festival Navaratri follows Mahalaya Paksha.
Sankatahara Chaturthi – September 28th, Friday
Sankatahara Chaturthi is a sacred occasion dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganapati. ‘Sankata’ are problems and ‘Hara’ is their destruction, while Chaturthi is the 4th thithi or lunar day that falls during Krishna Paksha, the dark fortnight of the Moon. Sankatahara Chaturthi, also known as Sankashti Chaturthi, is thus the day meant especially for eliminating problems and impediments, through the grace of Ganesha.
Lord Ganapati is regarded mainly as obstacle-remover, and hence, prayers are offered to him on this day for the elimination of difficulties. Many are the forms of worship that people undertake on that day, and one of them is smashing of coconuts in his temples. People perform this unique ritual for relieving themselves of the Karmic bondage and for progressing in life. Some observe fasts too. This is a monthly occurrence, and in September 2018, it falls on 28th, Friday.
