Certain auspicious days are religiously observed and celebrated as festivals. These are called te'ohár and a few of them are here indicated.
During the month of Chaitra (March–April, Hind. Chait) eight occur:— (1). Sṛishṭyádi,* the first lunar day of the light half of the month. (2). Nava-rátra (Hind. Nau-rátr); the nine first nights of the year are chiefly employed in ceremonial worship and prayer and pilgrims from afar assemble at Nagarkoṭ (Kángra) and other places dedicated to the worship of Durga. (3). ´Sri-pañchamí, the fifth lunar day (of the light half of the month).* (4). Aśokáshtamí,* the eighth of the light half of the month. (5). Ráma-navamí, ninth day of the light half of the month, the birthday of Ráma. (6). Chaturdaśa (Hind. Chaudas) the fourteenth. (7). Púrṇa-mása (Hind. Púrṇmásí), the fifteenth. (8). Parivá (Sansk. Pratipada) the sixteenth calculating from the ´Sukla-paksha or light fortnight, or counting from Kṛishṇa-paksha (dark fortnight), the 1st, and according to the computation by which the beginning of the month is taken from Kṛishṇa-pakshá, this day will fall in the beginning of the second month which is Vaiśákha. Therefore with those who hold this view, the festival will occur on the 1st of Kṛishṇa-paksha which preceded the aforesaid Sukla-paksha,* and so with all the festivals that fall in Kṛishṇa-paksha, the difference of a month one way or the other arises between the two methods of calculation.
During Vaiśákha (April–May) there are four:—(1). Tíj (Sansk. Tṛitíya), the third lunar day of the light fortnight, the birthday of Paraśuráma.* (2). Saptamí, the seventh. (3). Chaturdaśí, the fourteenth, the birthday of Nara-Sinha. (4). Amávasa, the thirtieth.
During the month of Jyeshṭha (Hind. Jeṭh, May–June), there are three:—(1). Chaturthí, the fourth lunar day. (2). Navamí, the ninth. (3). Daśamí, the tenth which is called Daśa-hara.*
In the month of A´sháḍha (Hind. Asáṛh, June–July), the seventh, eighth and eleventh, and according to some the fifteenth.*
In the month of ´Srávaṇa (Hind. Sáwan, July–Aug.) three:—(1). Púrṇamása, the fifteenth of the light half of the month. This is the greatest festival with the Bráhmans throughout the year upon which they fasten the amulet called raksha-bandhana on the right wrists of the principal people. It is a cord of silk and the like, decorated by some with jewels and pearls. (2). (Nága-pañchami)* the fifth of the light fortnight.
In the month of Bhádra-pada (Hind. Bhádoṅn, Aug.–Sept.) there are five; the fourth, fifth, sixth, twelfth, and twenty-third. The latter is the birthday of Kṛishṇa. Some hold this to be on the eighth of (the dark half of) Srávaṇa.*
In the month of A´śvin there are two. As aforesaid (in the month of Chaitra) nine nights are accounted holy and the tenth (of the light fortnight) is called Daśa-hara. According to their writings the festival previously mentioned is called Daśa-hara and this is known as the Vijay-daśamí. On this day they pay particular attention to their horses and decorate them and place green sprouts of barley on their heads, and all workmen venerate their tools, and it is held as a great festival and particularly for the Kshatriyas. (Another) they call ´Sráddha-Kanya-gata* on the fifteenth of Kṛishṇa-paksha of the month of A´śvin by common consent, but those who compute the beginning of the month from its Kṛishṇa-paksha place it in the month preceding. During these fifteen days (of the dark fortnight) they give alms in the name of their deceased ancestors, either in money or kind, as has been related.
In the month of Kárrtika (Oct.–Nov.) there are six. The 1st or parivá. This is called Balirájya or the principality of Bali.* On this day they deck themselves and their cattle and buffaloes.
The second,* ninth, eleventh and twelfth are also festivals. The thirtieth is the Dípálí or row of lamps (Hind. Diwálí). A difference occurs in the calculation of its date. According to the ´Sukla-paksha computation, it is as above stated, but by the Kṛishṇa-paksha this is called the 15th of Márgaśírsha (Hind. Aghan, Nov.–Dec.) and they therefore hold this festival on the 15th of the Kṛishṇa-paksha of Kárttika. Lamps are lit as on the (Muhammedan) festival of Shab-í-barát. It begins on the 29th, and this night is considered auspicious for dicing and many strange traditions are told regarding it. It is the greatest of the festivals for the Vaiśya caste.*
In the month of Márgaśírsha, there are three, viz., the seventh of ´Sukla-paksha and the eighth and ninth of Kṛishṇa-paksha. In both these last a difference of computation as above occurs.
In the month of Pausha (Hind. Pús., Dec.–Jan.) the eighth of ´Sukla-paksha is held sacred.
In the month of Mágha (Jan.–Feb.) there are four, viz., the third, fourth, fifth and seventh. On the fifth a great festival is held called Vasanta in which they throw different coloured powders upon each other, and sing songs.
This is the beginning of the spring among the Hindus. Although this is much regarded among the people, yet in old works the seventh was considered the greater festival.*
In the month of Phálguṇa (Feb.–March) there are two. The fifteenth of ´Sukla-paksha is called the Holí* and extends from the 13th to the 17th. They light fires and throw various articles into them and fling coloured powder upon each other and indulge in much merriment. It is a great festival among the ´Súdras. The night and day of the 29th are held sacred: the night is called ´Siva-rátri. Some make this occur on the 14th of Kṛishṇa-paksha and by this computation the ´Siva-rátri falls on the 14th of the dark fortnight of Phálguṇa,* a month earlier. They keep the night in vigil, narrating wonderful legends. The Bráhmans also consider five days in each month sacred, the 8th, 14th, 15th and 30th, and Sankránti which is the day on which the sun passes from one Zodiacal sign into another.
Regarding the celebration of the various festivals marvellous legends are told, and they are the subject of entertaining narratives.