30 Tithis — Lunar Days

The Hindu lunar month has 30 tithis — 15 in the waxing fortnight (shukla paksha) and 15 in the waning fortnight (krishna paksha). Each tithi has a presiding deity, ritual character, and recommended activities. Vrata (fasts), muhurat (auspicious timings), and most festivals are scheduled by tithi rather than the solar date.

nanda

Joyful — happiness, beginnings

bhadra

Auspicious — prosperity, stability

jaya

Victorious — triumph, conquest

rikta

Empty — losses, avoid major work

purna

Full — completion, climax

Deity: Gauri (Parvati)

Deity: Nagas (Serpents) / Saraswati

purna

Shashthi

षष्ठी

Deity: Kartikeya (Skanda) / Shashthi Devi

Deity: Durga / Bhairava

jaya

Navami

नवमी

Deity: Durga (Siddhidatri) / Rama

Deity: Shiva (Rudra) / Kali

Deity: Chandra (Moon) / Vishnu / Lakshmi

Deity: Pitru Devas (Ancestors) / Kali

rikta

Shukla Pratipada

शुक्ल प्रतिपदा

Deity: Agni (Fire) / Brahma

nanda

Krishna Pratipada

कृष्ण प्रतिपदा

Deity: Agni / Pitru Devas

nanda

Shukla Tritiya

शुक्ल तृतीया

Deity: Gauri / Parvati

Deity: Saraswati / Nag Devta

Deity: Krishna / Shiva (Bhairava)

Deity: Shiva (Pradosh)

Deity: Shiva (Rudra) / Kali

rikta

Ekadashi, Pradosh, Chaturthi — twice-monthly cycles

Three tithi-based vratas occur twice every lunar month — once in shukla paksha and once in krishna paksha. Ekadashi (11th) is the most observed Vaishnava fast. Pradosh (13th evening) is sacred to Shiva. Sankashti Chaturthi (4th) is Ganesha's vrata. See the full schedule on the Hindu festival calendar.

Browse vrata traditions Hindu festival calendar Tithi mantras