Gupt Navratri occurs twice a year.
Several important Hindu festivals and fasts will be celebrated in July, including the Rath Yatra dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Devshayani Ekadashi, Gauri Vrat Prarambh and the grand festival of Sawan.
Each of the 12 months of the year has its importance, with different fasts and festivals celebrated in Hinduism. Important Hindu festivals like Vat Savitri and Ganga Dussehra were celebrated in June. As we approach July, it is important to note that this month holds substantial importance. In July, several key Hindu festivals and fasts will be held, including the Rath Yatra dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Devshayani Ekadashi, Gauri Vrat Prarambh, and the grand festival of Sawan dedicated to Lord Shiva. Let us take a look at other important fasts and festivals that will be celebrated in July.
Below is a detailed list of important fasts and festivals to be celebrated in July:
- July 2nd, Tuesday – Yogini Ekadashi July, Wednesday – Pradosh Vrat (Krishna)
- July 3, Thursday – Monthly Shivratri
- Friday, July 5 – Ashad Amavasya
- (Also known as Shradh Amavasya, this day is significant to perform religious rites like offering tarpan and Shradh to ancestors, helping to alleviate Pitra Dosh and bring happiness in life.)
- Saturday July 6 – Ashadh Gupt Navratri
- (Gupt Navratri occurs twice a year, with 10 Mahavidyas worshipped for 9 days. This period is particularly important for Aghoris and those who practice Tantra Vidya.)
- Sunday, July 7th – Yatra by Jagannath Rath
- (This festival, which begins on the second day of Shukla Paksha on Ashadh and ends on July 10, involves Lord Jagannath taking a tour of the city with his sister and brother.)
- July 9th, Tuesday – Vinayaka Chaturthi
- July 11th, Thursday – Skanda Shashthi
- July 16, Tuesday – Cancer Sankranti
- (It marks the transition of the sun from Uttarayan to Dakshinayan, during which the nights become longer and the days shorter, and the influence of negative forces is believed to increase.)
- July 17, Wednesday – Devshayani Ekadashi, Ashadhi Ekadashi
- (On Devshayani Ekadashi, Lord Vishnu is believed to sleep for four months, during which all auspicious activities are suspended.)
- Friday, July 19 – Pradosh Vrat (Shukla)
- July 20, Saturday – Kokila Vrat
- (Observed by married women and unmarried girls for good luck).
- July 21, Sunday – Guru Purnima, Vyas Purnima
- (Celebrated as the birthday of Ved Vyas, the author of Mahabharata, and also known as Vyas Purnima. It is believed that worshipping teachers on this day brings success in career.)
- July 22, Monday – The month of Sawan begins in the Hindi calendar, on the first Monday of Sawan
- July 24, Wednesday – Gajanan Sankashti Chaturthi
- July 29, Monday – Sawan Monday
