Chaturdashi

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.
• Narsimha Chaturdashi is observed on Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi of Vaisakha month.^[4]
• 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.^[5]
• Holika Dahana is celebrated in the fourteenth day of the month of Phalguna.