Start of the Bhadrapada month in the North Indian lunar calendar — a month of major festivals.

Bhadrapada Begins marks the start of the sixth lunar month of the Hindu calendar, following Shravan, as reckoned by the North Indian Purnimanta convention in which each month begins the day after the full moon. The month takes its name from the Bhadrapada nakshatras. It carries the greatest concentration of festivals in the year: Ganesh Chaturthi, Hartalika Teej, Rishi Panchami, Radha Ashtami, Anant Chaturdashi, Onam, and the sixteen days of Pitru Paksha that close the month. Bhadrapada is regarded as auspicious for devotional observance and charity but is traditionally avoided for weddings and housewarmings, particularly during Pitru Paksha. In the Amanta regions of the South and West, Bhadrapada begins a fortnight later, after the new moon.

No fast is prescribed. The day simply marks a calendar transition and is used for planning the observances of the month ahead.