Shukla paksha refers to the bright lunar

Moon

The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...

 fortnight

Fortnight

The fortnight is a unit of time equal to fourteen days, or two weeks. The word derives from the Old English fēowertyne niht, meaning "fourteen nights"....

 or waxing moon in the Hindu calendar

Hindu calendar

The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...

. Shukla

Shukla

Shukla paksha refers to the bright lunar fortnight or waxing moon in the Hindu calendar. Shukla the dark phase; paksha refers to a fortnight in the Hindu calendar....

 ( is Sanskrit

Sanskrit

Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...

 for "white", as opposed to "krishna

Krishna

Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...

, " (krishna paksh) the dark phase; paksha

Paksha

Paksha , is a fortnight in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Literally meaning side or period, that is either side of the Full Moon Day or Purnima...

 refers to a fortnight in the Hindu calendar.

A lunar month

Lunar month

In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygies . There are many variations. In Middle-Eastern and European traditions, the month starts when the young crescent moon becomes first visible at evening after conjunction with the Sun one or two days before that evening...

 in the Hindu calendar has two fortnights, and begins with the new moon, amavasya

Amavasya

Amavasya is the Indian name for a New moon. The word Amavasya is common to many Indian languages especially Sanskrit, Hindi, Assamese, Kannada, Bengali, Konkani, Marathi, Oriya, Telugu, and Gujarati...

. The lunar days are called tithi

Tithi

In vedic timekeeping, a tithi is a lunar day, or the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°. Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours. There are 30 tithis in each lunar month, named...

s and each month has 30 tithis, which may vary from 20 – 27 hours. Thus Shukla Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins on the Shukla Amavasya (New Moon

New moon

In astronomical terminology, the new moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon, in its monthly orbital motion around Earth, lies between Earth and the Sun, and is therefore in conjunction with the Sun as seen from Earth...

) day and culminating Poornima (Full Moon

Full Moon

Full moon is a lunar phase.Full Moon may also refer to:- Literature :* Full Moon , a novel by P. G. Wodehouse* Full Moon o Sagashite or Full Moon, a manga* Full Moon Press, an American small-press publisher...

) day and is considered auspicious, while following Waning moon period, known as Krishna Paksha (Krishna, Dark) is considered inauspicious, as the moon looses with light during this period.

Festivals during Shukla Paksha

Numerous festivals are held during this period, including the Navratri festivals, most importantly Chaitra

Chaitra

Chaitra is a month of the Hindu calendar....

 Navratri and Ashvin

Ashvin

Ashvin , also known as Aswayuja, is the seventh month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, the Tamil solar calendar where it is known as Aipassi and the solar India's national civil calendar. It is the sixth month of the solar Bengali calendar. It falls in the season of Shôrot, or Autumn...

 Navratri.

Day	Tithi Tithi In vedic timekeeping, a tithi is a lunar day, or the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°. Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours. There are 30 tithis in each lunar month, named...	Festival	Month
1st Day	Pratipada	Bali Pratipada, Govardhan Puja Govardhan Puja Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut , is celebrated as the day Krishna defeated Indra. Lord Krishna taught people to worship nature, as mountains bring rains to earth and to stop worshiping the God of Rains, Lord Indra. His was the message that we should take care of our nature...	Kartika Kartika (month) Kartika , is a month of Hindu and Bengali calendars, named after the Hindu god, Kartikeya....
2nd Day	Dvitiya	Bhaibeej	Kartika Kartika Kartika or Karthika may refer to:* alternative transliteration of Kartik** Kartikeya, the son of Shiva in the Indian mythology* alternative transliteration of Karthika, a feminine name in Indian languages** Kartika Rane, Indian actress...
3rd Day	Tritiya	Teej Teej Teej is a fasting festival for Hindu women. It takes place on the third day of Shukla Paksha of the Shraavana or Saawan month of Hindu calendar that normally falls from late July to early September...	Bhadrapad
3rd Day	Tritiya	Akshaya Tritiya Akshaya Tritiya Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej is a Hindu and Jain holy day, that falls on the third Tithi of Bright Half of the pan-Indian month of Vaishakha....	Vaishakha
4th Day	Chaturthi Chaturthi Chaturthi or Chaviti , is the fourth day of any lunar month in the Hindu calendar.-Festivals of Chaturthi:* Ganesh Chaturthi is one of prominent Chaturthi on which Lord Ganesha makes his presence on the earth....	Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival...	Bhadrapada
4th Day	Chaturthi	Ganesh Jayanti Ganesh Jayanti Ganesh Jayanti , also known as Magha shukla chaturthi, Tilkund chaturthi,"Vinayak Chaturthi" and Varad chaturthi, is a Hindu festival. This occasion celebrates the birth day of Ganesha, the lord of wisdom...	Magha
5th Day	Panchami Panchami Panchami is the fifth day of the fortnight in Hindu lunar calendar.-Festivals:Nag Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrated by Hindus in most parts of India. It is celebrated in Shravan month. On this day, people worship Nāga Devata . People go to temples and snake pits and worship the snakes...	Nuakhai Nuakhai Nuakhai or Nuankhai is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of western Orissa in India. Nuakhai is observed to welcome the new rice of the season...	Bhadrapad
5th Day	Panchami	Vivaha Panchami Vivaha Panchami Vivah Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrating the marriage of Ram and Sita. It is observed on the fifth day of the Shukla paksha or waxing phase of moon in the Margashirsha month as per Hindu calendar....	Margashirsha
6th Day	Shasthi	Sitalsasthi	Jyestha
9th Day	Navami Navami -Festivals:* Sri Rama Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating of the birth of Lord Rama. It is celebrated in Chaitra month .* Swaminarayan Jayanti is a Hindu Fesival celebrating the birth of Lord Swaminarayan.It is celebrated in Chaitra month on the ninth day which actually falls onto Sri Rama...	Rama Navami Rama Navami Ram Navami also known as Sri Ram Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Ram is the 7th incarnation of the Dashavatara of Vishnu. Years later Lord Rama was married to Sita on the...	Chaitra Chaitra Chaitra is a month of the Hindu calendar....
10th Day	Dasami	Vijayadashami Vijayadashami Vijayadashami also known as Dasara, is one of the most important festivals celebrated in various forms, across India, Nepal and Bangladesh...	Ashvin Ashvin Ashvin , also known as Aswayuja, is the seventh month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, the Tamil solar calendar where it is known as Aipassi and the solar India's national civil calendar. It is the sixth month of the solar Bengali calendar. It falls in the season of Shôrot, or Autumn...
11th Day	Ekadasi	Shayani Ekadashi Shayani Ekadashi Shayani Ekadashi or Maha-ekadashi or Prathama-ekadashi or Padma Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadha . Thus it is also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi or Ashadhi...	Asadha
11th Day	Ekadashi	Vaikunta Ekadashi Vaikunta Ekadashi Vaikunta Ekadashi or Mukkoti Ekadashi is the Shukla paksha Ekadashi that occurs during the Dhanurmasa period in the Hindu calendar . Vaishnavism culture believes that ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to Lord's Inner Sanctum’ is opened on this day...	Margashirsha
14th Day	Chaturdashi Chaturdashi In the Hindu calendar, Chaturdashi is the 14th day of the waxing phase or waning phase of the moon. This is the day prior to new moon or full moon...	Samvatsari Samvatsari Samvatsari is the last day of Paryushana —the eight or ten day festival of Jainism. It is the holiest day of the Jain calendar. Many Jains observe a complete fast on this day. The whole day is spent in prayers and contemplation. A yearly, elaborate penitential retreat called samvatsati...	Bhadrapada
15th Day (Full Moon)	Poornima	Guru Purnima Guru Purnima Guru Purnima is a festival traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists.On this day, disciples offer puja or pay respect to their Guru . It falls on the day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh of the Shaka Samvat, Indian national calendar and Hindu calendar...	Ashada

External links

• Hindu Festivals Calendar 2010
• Introduction to the Hindu Calendar (pdf)