The Sun turns north into Capricorn. A day of holy dips, kite-flying and the winter harvest, kept as Pongal and Lohri too.

The first day of spring, sacred to Saraswati, the goddess of learning, music and speech.

The great night of Shiva, kept with fasting, the sound of Om Namah Shivaya and an all-night vigil.

The bonfire on the eve of Holi, when devotion outlasts the fire and evil is burned away.

The festival of colours, of Radha and Krishna, of spring and forgiveness.

Nine nights of the Goddess in spring. The same day is Ugadi and Gudi Padwa, the new year in the Deccan and Maharashtra.

The birth of Lord Rama, the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri.

The birth of Hanuman, kept on the full moon of Chaitra in North India.

An ever-auspicious day whose merit never diminishes, favoured for new beginnings and buying gold.

Married women fast and tie threads around the banyan tree, remembering Savitri, whose devotion won her husband back from Yama himself.

The birth of Shani Dev, son of Surya and lord of karma, honoured with oil, black sesame and prayers for his grace.

The rare extra month of the lunar year, also called Purushottam Maas, sacred to Vishnu and kept with extra japa, daan and scripture reading. It runs until Jun 15.

The descent of Ganga from heaven to earth, kept with holy dips and aarti on the ghats, ten days that wash away ten sins.

The most austere of all Ekadashi fasts, kept without even water, said to carry the merit of all twenty-four Ekadashis of the year.

The chariot festival of Puri, when Lord Jagannath comes out among the people.

The full moon to honour the guru, the one who leads us from darkness to light.

The Mondays of the holy month of Shravan, the most beloved days to worship Shiva.

The green Teej of Shravan, celebrating the reunion of Shiva and Parvati with swings, mehndi and songs of the monsoon.

Worship of the serpent deities who coil around Shiva and guard the earth.

The thread of protection tied between brothers and sisters, on the full moon of Shravan.

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna, kept with fasting, jhankis and the breaking of the dahi handi.

The birth of Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, welcomed home for ten joyful days.

The appearance day of Radha Rani, the heart of Krishna bhakti, kept with special devotion in Barsana and all of Braj.

The Anant vrat to Vishnu and the day of Ganesh visarjan, the farewell of Ganpati.

The great nine nights of the Goddess in autumn, from Ghatasthapana to Vijayadashami.

The eighth and ninth nights of Navratri, kept with Kanya Pujan and the height of Durga worship.

The victory of Rama over Ravana and of the Goddess over Mahishasura, good over evil.

The brightest full moon of the year, the night of the maha-raas of Krishna, when kheer is left under the moonlight to soak in its nectar.

The dawn-to-moonrise fast kept for the long life and wellbeing of one’s husband.

Mothers fast from dawn until the stars appear, praying to Ahoi Mata for the long life and wellbeing of their children.

The first day of Diwali, sacred to Dhanvantari and to Lakshmi, when homes welcome wealth and health.

The deepdan evening before Diwali, kept as Choti Diwali in many homes: lamps against negativity, and worship of Ma Kali and Hanuman in Gujarat and the North.

Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, the eve of Diwali.

The festival of lights, the return of Rama to Ayodhya and the worship of Lakshmi and Ganesha.

Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan on his little finger, honoured with a mountain of food offerings.

The bond of brothers and sisters that closes the five days of Diwali.

Four days of devotion to the Sun god and Chhathi Maiya, kept with offerings at the riverbank at dawn and dusk.

Vishnu wakes from his four-month yoga-nidra of Chaturmas, and the wedding season of the year begins.

The sacred marriage of Tulsi Devi to Shaligram, a form of Vishnu, celebrated in courtyards with the tulsi plant adorned as a bride.

The full moon of Kartik, when the gods are said to light their own Diwali on the ghats of Kashi.

The wedding day of Rama and Sita, celebrated with great splendour in Ayodhya and Janakpur.

The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Krishna to Arjuna, kept on Mokshada Ekadashi.