Chaturdashi

Fourteenth day of the lunar month in the Hindu calendar

Chaturdashi (Sanskrit: चतुर्दशी, romanized: caturdaśī) is the 14th day (tithi) of the waxing phase or waning phase of the moon in the Hindu calendar.^[1] This is the day prior to new moon (amavasya) or full moon (purnima).

Etymology

Chatur means four and dashi means the tenth day in Sanskrit, literally meaning, "fourteenth".^[2]

Festivals

Naraka Chaturdashi is observed before the amavasya of the month of Ashvina.^[3]
Maha Shivaratri or Magha Bahula Chaturdashi is observed before the amavasya in the month of Magha.
Ananta Chaturdashi is observed on the shukla paksha in the month of Bhadrapada.
Vaikuntha Chaturdashi is observed on the chaturdashi of the month of Kartika.^[4]
Holika Dahana is celebrated in the fourteenth day of the month of Phalguna.

References

^ Klostermaier, Klaus K. (2007-07-05). A Survey of Hinduism: Third Edition. SUNY Press. p. 493. ISBN 978-0-7914-7082-4.
^ Garg, Gaṅgā Rām (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. Concept Publishing Company. p. 173. ISBN 978-81-7022-374-0.
^ Claus, Peter; Diamond, Sarah; Mills, Margaret (2020-10-28). South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 160. ISBN 978-1-000-14353-9.
^ Vidyarthi, Lalita Prasad; Jha, Makhan; Saraswati, Baidyanath (1979). The Sacred Complex of Kashi: A Microcosm of Indian Civilization. Concept Publishing Company. p. 71.