March 2019 Festivals, Events and Holiday Calendar: Maha Shivaratri to Women’s Day to Holi, Know All Important Dates and List of Hindu Fasts for the Month
Apart from the regular ones, there are other religious vrat such as Vijaya Ekadashi, Meena Sankranti, Rohini Vrat, Amalaka Ekadashi and Papamochani Ekadashi.
We are in the third month of 2019, and it promises to be another roller-coaster ride in terms of festivals, events and bank holidays. March is full of festivities, international days and a number of Hindu fasts and rituals. Some of the biggest highlights of the month are Maha Shivaratri, the festival dedicated to Lord Shiva; Holi, the Festival of Colours and International Women’s Day. After celebrating so many festivals such as Makar Sankranti and Republic Day in January and Valentine’s Day and Basant Panchami in February, March continues the celebrations. Let us look at the March 2019 calendar in detail, the important days and events to commemorate, along with religious festivals, birth and death anniversaries. Calendar 2019 For Free Download in PDF: Know List of Hindu Festivals, Holidays, Fasts According to Drik Panchang, Kalnirnay, Lala Ramswaroop Calendars Online.
Right in the first week, people will be treated with a long weekend thanks to the grand celebration of Maha Shivaratri on March 4 (Monday). The Hindu festival is celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva and a bank holiday is observed nationwide. Apart from Mahashivratri, the first week of March will have a string of international observances such as Zero Discrimination Day, World Wildlife Day, National Safety Day. Some of the Hindu fasts (vrat) observed by devotees this week are Vijaya Ekadashi dedicated to Lord Vishnu on March 2; Pradosh Vrat (Krishna) on March 3; Masik Shivratri on March 4; and Magha Amavasya on March 6. Mahashivratri 2019 Date and Day: Know Maha Shivaratri History, Significance and Legends Associated With the Festival of Lord Shiva.
The highlight of the second week of March is International Women’s Day on March 8. The campaign theme for 2019 is #BalanceforBetter, which runs all year long and not end on the celebration day. March 8 will also mark Ramakrishna Jayanti. It is going to be the 183rd birth anniversary of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the famous Indian saint. This week will see countrymen and women remember the extraordinary act of nonviolent civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi on March 12. It is observed as Dandi March Day or Salt March.
Holi is the biggest festivity this month. The Hindu festival of colours is one of the biggest Hindu festivals and is celebrated with much fun and fervour. The craze for this festival is not only in India but also internationally. In 2019, Holi will be celebrated on March 21and a day before that, Holika Dahan will take place, symbolising the victory of good over evil. People celebrate Holi with colours and gorge on sweets and tasty delicacies.
List of International Days and Bank Holidays in March 2019
| Sr. No. | Date | Day | Event Days |
| 1. | March 1 | Friday | Zero Discrimination Day |
| 2. | March 3 | Sunday | World Wildlife Day |
| 3. | March 4 | Monday | National Safety Day |
| 4. | March 8 | Friday | International Women’s Day |
| 5. | March 12 | Tuesday | Dandi March Day |
| 6. | March 14 | Thursday | World Kidney Day |
| 7. | March 20 | Wednesday | International Day of Happiness |
| 8. | March 20 | Wednesday | French Language Day |
| 9. | March 21 | Thursday | International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination |
| 10. | March 21 | March 21 | World Poetry Day |
| 11. | March 21 | Thursday | International Day of Nowruz |
| 12. | March 21 | Thursday | World Down Syndrome Day |
| 13. | March 21 | Thursday | International Day of Forests |
| 14. | March 22 | Friday | World Water Day |
| 15. | March 23 | Saturday | World Meteorological Day |
| 16. | March 23 | Saturday | Martyrs' Day |
| 17. | March 24 | Sunday | World Tuberculosis Day |
| 18. | March 24 | Sunday | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims |
| 19. | March 25 | Monday | International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade |
| 20. | March 25 | Monday | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members |
March 2019 Calendar With Hindu Fasts and Dates
| Sr. No. | Date | Day | Festivals/Fasts |
| 1. | March 2 | Saturday | Vijaya Ekadashi |
| 2. | March 3 | Sunday | Pradosh Vrat (Krishna) |
| 3. | March 4 | Monday | Maha Shivaratri, Masik Shivaratri |
| 4. | March 6 | Wednesday | Magha Amavasya |
| 5. | March 8 | Friday | Ramakrishna Jayanti |
| 6. | March 10 | Sunday | Vinayaka Chaturthi |
| 7. | March 13 | Wednesday | Rohini Vrat |
| 8. | March 14 | Thursday | Masik Durgashtami |
| 9. | March 15 | Friday | Meena Sankranti |
| 10. | March 17 | Sunday | Amalaka Ekadashi |
| 11. | March 18 | Monday | Pradosh Vrat (Shukla) |
| 12. | March 20 | Wednesday | Holika Dahan |
| 13. | March 21 | Thursday | Holi, Phalguna Purnima Vrat |
| 14. | March 24 | Sunday | Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 15. | March 31 | Sunday | Papamochani Ekadashi |
Some of the monthly fasts which will also take place in March are Pradosh Vrat dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati; Masik Durgashtami in honour of Goddess Durga; Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi dedicated to Lord Ganesha; Masik Shivaratri for Lord Shiva and Ekadashi to please Lord Vishnu. Apart from the regular ones, there are other religious vrat such as Vijaya Ekadashi, Meena Sankranti, Rohini Vrat, Amalaka Ekadashi and Papamochani Ekadashi. Keep glued to this section as we will return with the monthly calendar of April 2019.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2019 08:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).