October 2019 Festivals, Events and Holiday Calendar: Dussehra, Karwa Chauth, Diwali; Know All Important Dates and List of Fasts for the Month
From Durga Puja to Dussehra (Vijayadashami) and Karwa Chauth to Diwali, the biggest Hindu festivals are taking place this month. Do make sure to bookmark this page and get all the information on holiday and festival updates. Do visit this section as we will also return with the monthly calendar of November 2019. For now Happy October!
The tenth month of the year and it could not get more exciting. Yes, it's October 2019, and the month is filled with festivals and events. Religious celebrations, national festival, international days, fasts and minor fun observances, the October calendar month has it all. From Durga Puja to Dussehra (Vijayadashami) and Karwa Chauth to Diwali, the biggest Hindu festivals are taking place this month. This also means people will have a good number of bank holidays to enjoy time with family and friends. The month is also important from health days point of view as October is declared Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Not only this, other health days like World Mental Health Day, World Obesity Day also falls in the same month. And with Halloween falling on October 31, expect the month to end on a fantastic note. Let us look at the September 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.
Week October 1, 2019, will witness one of the three national festivals of India, Gandhi Jayanti. Celebrated on October 2 every year, the day marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. This year, it's extra special as we commemorate Bapu's 150th birth anniversary. There is a lot happening in the first week, with Sharad Navratri 2019 celebrations taking place in full swing. Durga Puja will also kick-start in the eastern states, especially in West Bengal, Assam and Odisha from October 4 and last until October 8.
The highlight of Week 2 has to be Dussehra or Vijayadashami celebrations. The significance of the day is the victory of good over evil. While Bengali will be celebrating Maa Durga's victory over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura on Subho Bijoya, rest of the country will be celebrating Lord Rama's victory over the demon king, Ravana. On Vijayadashami, Bengali, especially women, participate in Sindoor Khela followed by Durga Visarjan (immersion of Durga idols). As for Dussehra celebrations, effigies of Ravana are burned that's significant of the end of evil. Karwa Chauth, a highly popular festival for Hindu married women, will also take place in Week 3 of the month.
The last week of the month will see people celebrate the most significant Hindu festival, Diwali or Deepavali. Called the 'Festival of Lights,' Diwali is celebrated to mark Lord Rama's victorious return to Ayodhya with Devi Sita. It is a five-day festival that witnesses many important rituals like Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdasi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj.
List of International Days and Bank Holidays in October 2019
| Sr. No. | Date | Day | Fasts/Festivals/ National/International Days |
| 1. | October 1 | Tuesday | International Day of Older Persons, World Vegetarian Day, International Coffee Day |
| 2. | October 2 | Wednesday | Gandhi Jayanti, International Day of Non-Violence, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Lalita Panchami |
| 3. | October 3 | Thursday | Skanda Sashti, Bilva Nimantran, |
| 4. | October 4 | Friday | Cinnamon Roll Day, Saraswati Avahan, Kalparambha, Akaal Bodhon, Durga Puja Begins, eDay (Electronic Waste Awareness Day in NZ), World Smile Day, World Animal Day |
| 5. | October 5 | Saturday | Saraswati Puja, Navpatrika Puja, International Day of No Prostitution, Ashwina Navapada Oli Begins, World Teachers' Day |
| 6. | October 6 | Sunday | Mahashtami (Durga Ashtami), Sandhi Puja, Saraswati Balidan, Maha Navami, National Poetry Day in Britain |
| 7. | October 7 | Monday | World Habitat Day, Durga Balidan, Shastra Puja (Ayudha Puja), Saraswati Visarjan, South Saraswati Visarjan, Bengal Maha Navami, Buddha Jayanti |
| 8. | October 8 | Tuesday | Durga Visarjan, Dussehra, Vijayadashami, Bengal Vijayadashami, Dasara, Vidyarambham Day, Sri Madhvacharya Jayanthi |
| 9. | October 9 | Wednesday | Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat |
| 10. | October 10 | Thursday | World Post Day, World Mental Health Day, World Sight Day, National Day of Fiji, Padmanabha Dwadashi |
| 11. | October 11 | Friday | International Day of the Girl Child, World Obesity Day, National Coming Out Day, Pradosh Vrat |
| 12. | October 12 | Saturday | International Migratory Bird Day, Fiesta Nacional de España (National Day of Spain), |
| 13. | October 13 | Sunday | World Thrombosis Day, International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, Ashwina Purnima, Ashwina Purnima Vrat, Anvadhan, Kojagara Puja, Sharad Purnima, Valmiki Jayanti, Meerabai Jayanti, Ashwina Navapada Oli Ends |
| 14. | October 14 | Monday | World Standards Day, Ishti, Kartika Begins* North |
| 15. | October 15 | Tuesday | Global Handwashing Day, White Cane Safety Day, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day |
| 16. | October 16 | Wednesday | World Food Day, Boss's Day, World Anaesthesia Day, Atla Tadde, Masik Karthigai |
| 17. | October 17 | Thursday | International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthi, Karwa Chauth |
| 18. | October 18 | Friday | World Vasectomy Day, Tula Sankranti, Rohini Vrat |
| 19. | October 19 | Saturday | |
| 20. | October 20 | Sunday | World Osteoporosis Day, World Statistics Day, |
| 21. | October 21 | Monday | International Day of the Nacho, Back to the Future Day, Trafalgar Day, Kalashtami, Ahoi Ashtami, Radha Kunda Snan |
| 22. | October 22 | Tuesday | International Stuttering Awareness Day, CAPS LOCK DAY |
| 23. | October 23 | Wednesday | Cyrus the Great Day, Mole Day, World Ballet Day |
| 24. | October 24 | Thursday | United Nations Day, World Development Information Day, Rama Ekadashi |
| 25. | October 25 | Friday | Govatsa Dwadashi, Dhanteras, Yama Panchaka Begins, Yama Deepam, Pradosh Vrat |
| 26. | October 26 | Saturday | Masik Shivaratri, Kali Chaudas, Hanuman Puja |
| 27. | October 27 | Sunday | World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, Narak Chaturdashi, Tamil Deepavali, Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, Deepamalika, Kedar Gauri Vrat, Chopda Puja, Sharda Puja, Kali Puja, Kamala Jayanti, Darsha Amavasya, Anvadhan |
| 28. | October 28 | Monday | International Animation Day, Kartika Amavasya, Ishti, Govardhan Puja, Annakut, Bali Pratipada, Dyuta Krida, Gujarati New Year |
| 29. | October 29 | Tuesday | World Stroke Day, National Cat Day (USA), Chandra Darshana, Bhaiya Dooj, Yama Dwitiya |
| 30. | October 30 | Wednesday | Mischief Night |
| 31. | October 31 | Thursday | Halloween, Nagula Chavithi, Vinayaka Chaturthi |
| 32. | October 1 - 31 | National Pizza Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month |
Apart from these significant Hindu festivities, there are numerous fasts (vrat) like Masik Durga Ashtami, Pradosh Vrat, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat and Lalita Panchami. There are international days, mostly health-related days such as International Day of Older Persons, World Mental Health Day, World Sight Day, International Day of the Girl Child, World Obesity Day, National Coming Out Day, World Food Day, Boss's Day, World Anaesthesia Day, World Vasectomy Day, World Osteoporosis Day and so many more.
Do make sure to bookmark this page and get all the information on holiday and festival updates. Do visit this section as we will also return with the monthly calendar of November 2019. For now Happy October!
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 05, 2019 02:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).