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Hindu Holidays

GOKULASHTAMI (August-September)

Maha Vishnu took various avatars to protect the mortal world from the evildoers and sinners. One such incarnation was his birth as the child of King Vasudeva and Queen Devaki Devi. Gokul Ashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna. It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of ‘Bhadrapada’ (August-September) and is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals. Lord Krishna was born at midnight.

A twenty-four hour fast is observed on this day, which is broken at midnight. The festival is called in different names as “Krishna Jayanti”, “Janma Ashtami”, “Krishnaashtami” , “Gokul Ashtami”, and as “Sri Jayanti”.

Birth of Lord Krishna The myth connected to the birth of Lord Vishnu is as follows. Vasudeva was the chief of ‘Shooras’ and married Devaki one of the seven daughters of Devaka. They were very happy, for none had ever seen so fine a man and a wife matched in such perfect harmony.

People treat this day as one of very great rejoicing. There is recitation of the “Bhagavatam”, singing and praying everywhere. Temples are decorated for the occasion, Kirtans are sung, bells are rung, the conch is blown, and Sanskrit hymns are recited in praise of Lord Krishna. At Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, special spiritual gatherings are organised at this time. Pilgrims from all over India attend these festive gatherings.

People observe a daylong fast, which is broken only at midnight, the time when Krishna is believed to have been born. The festival is a community celebration, and people visit Krishna temples, which are specially decorated and lit for the occasion. On the occasion of ‘Gokulashtami’, we can find kids forming a human pyramid to reach the pot full of curds (dahi-handi) and break it.

A little before midnight, devotees pour into temples to participate in the special ‘Arati’ and to relive the birth of Krishna. Till midnight, devotional songs are sung in anticipation of the holy birth. Special cradles are installed at temples and a small statue of the “Balgopal” is placed in them.

MAKAR SANKRANTI (January)

Makar Sankranti usually falls on 14th of January every year. This festival is one of the many festivals which have been celebrated since the vedic period. On this day the sun comes across the north of equator. On this very day it is believed that ‘the morning’ of the deities commences. This particular period, when the sun is positioned across the north of equator has been considered as an ‘accomplishment giving period’ by the scholars. Even Astrology endorses this fact and this period is supposed to be auspicious for the various activities like construction of the houses, performance of oblations, establishment of the deities etc. This period is considered to be so auspicious, that if a person dies during this period he is supposed to attain liberation.

The sun’s position towards the north of equator signifies the arrival of spring season and the end of winter season. The day starts to prolong. On this occasion, all the pilgrimage sites & holy rivers are the thronged by the devotees.

At Ganga-Sagar an inland emerges by the grace of deity Varun, which remains for a week and ultimately gets submerged into the sea. The scriptures narrate about the greatness of taking a holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. After taking the bath it is customary to eat food articles prepared from sesame seeds and ‘Kichadi’ (rice and pulse cooked together). Making donation of sesame seed is also considered as very auspicious.

Makar Sankranti usually comes in the Hindu month of ‘Magha’. The term ‘Magha’ is derived from the sanskrit word ‘Magh’ which means wealth i.e. gold, silver, apparels, ornaments etc. This month has been named as ‘Magha’ because it is considered to be the month of making donations of the above mentioned things.

In Punjab people celebrate it as ‘Lohadi’ a day before ‘Makar-Sanskranti’. On this day the people of Punjab offer maize, ‘Revadi’ (prepared from sesame seeds), in the fire, amidst the singing of folk songs.

In Gujarat and Maharashtra people decorate their houses with ‘Rangoli’. They eat food prepared from sesame seeds and jaggery. There is a saying in Maharashtra connected with this day which goes as follows- ‘TIL GUD GHYA ANI GARUD GARUD BOLA.’

Meaning; (Take sesame and jaggery and speak sweetly.)

Women of Maharashtra attired in beautiful apparels visit the houses of their relatives and friends, where they are welcomed with ‘Kheel’ and ‘Porridge’. The hosts honour them by applying ‘Kumkum’.

The festival of Makar Sanskranti is celebrated as ‘Pongal’ in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. On this occasion people decorate the idols of deities. Cultural programmes are organised to mark this occasion. ‘Pongal’ (Khichadi) is offered to the deities and then it is taken as prasadam.

During the ancient time, the third stage of the study of the Vedas commenced on this day. People used to send their wards to the ‘Gurukula’ after performing the sacred thread ceremony of children. On Vasant Panchami, which falls some days later, the worship of ‘Saraswati’ signifies the importance of the commencement of new learning session.

In the south, people still continue with the tradition of initiating their children into the study of Vedas, on this day.

VASANT PANCHAMI (January)

On the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha (Waxing moon of fortnightly) of the Magha month, coming of spring is celebrated. This is known as Vasant Panchami.

During this flowering and blossoming season one can listen distinctly to the kooing of the Koel (bird) and the entire ambiance becomes very beautiful. On this day one should dress up in beautiful attire and worship Lord Vishnu.

On this day Brahmins should be offered food. Pitru-Tarpan (liberation of deceased ancestors) can also be performed on this day. One can also worship Goddess Saraswati.In the coming of Spring, God of Love(Kamadev) and his wife Rati are also prayed and worshipped on this auspicious occasion. It is on this day when Abeer and Gulal are played with and songs of Holi are sung till Phalgun Poornima.All rejoice while celebrating this auspicious occasion.

HOLI (March)

Holi, which falls on the full moon day, in the Hindu month of ‘Falgun’, is the last major festival of the year. People celebrate this festival with enthusiasm and without making any discrimination between rich and poor, high and low.

It is very difficult to state, when this festival started, but the name of ‘holikotsav’ had been mentioned even in the Vedas and the Puranas. So ‘holikotsav’ has been celebrated since the Vedic period. During the ancient time, oblation was offered to the sacred fire of the Holi, amidst the chanting of the Vedic mantra.This mantra was chanted with the specific wish of destruction of the demon. On this very day Vaishwadev oblation commenced in which offerings of wheat, gram and Oat were made to the sacrificial fire.

In Sanskrit language, the fried cereals are called ‘Holka’. Holikotsav is named after it. Even today we continue with the tradition of offering wheat and oat into the Holika fire.

In due course of time, the form of this festival got transformed, due to numerous social influences and ultimately ended up in the form as we celebrate it today.

According to the Narad Puran, this day is celebrated in the memory of Prahlad’s victory and the defeat of his father’s-sister ‘Holika’. Hiranyakashipu – the father of Prahlad has instructed his sister Holika to sit in the burning fire with Prahlad in lap. She was blessed a boon, as a result of which no fire could burn her. But the opposite happened, Prahlad survived and Holika was charred to death. Thus ‘holi’ is celebrated to commemorate the victory of virtue over evil.

There is also an another incident related with the celebration of ‘Holi’, which has been mentioned in the ‘Bhavishya Puran’. During the reign of king Raghu, people were tormented by a giant named ‘Dhundha’. Sage Vashishth advised them to terrorize her by burning fire at as many places as they could. Thus they got rid of the giant. Even today we see children making mischief on the day of ‘holikotsav.

The mention of this festival in Jaimini Mimansa goes to prove its antiquity. A stone incription belonging to 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya, had mentioned of Holikotsav on it. King Harsha has mentioned about holikotsav in his work Ratnavali that was written during the 7th century.

The famous Muslim tourist – Ulbaruni too has mentioned about holikotsav in his historical memories. Other Muslim writes of that period have mentioned, that holikotsav were not only celebrated by the Hindus but also by the Muslims.

Thus we see that the tradition of celebrating holikotsav has been continuing since Vedic period without any hindrance. This festival unites all the Indian’s in a tremendous way.

Holi is the festival of the colours. But very few people are aware of the impacts the colours have on our body and on our health.

Western-Physicians and doctors believe that for a healthy body, colours too have an important place besides the other vital elements. Deficiency of a particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only after supplementing the body with that particular colour.

On Holi, people after enjoying themselves with the colours, take bath and then go to meet their relatives and friends. Discrimination is not made even with the enemy. The concept of enemy does not exist on this day. There is no difference between rich and poor on this day.

The concept of New Year (Samvatsar) varies in the different provinces of our country. In some provinces, the month commences from the ‘Krishna-Paksha’ on the other hand in some provinces it commences from ‘Shukla-Paksha’. For the former the year ends on ‘Purnima’ of the month of Phalgun. The new years begins next day – Chaitra, 1st day of the Krishna Paksha. For them on this day the last year has died. For this reason in some provinces like Bihar and UP. Holika dahan is also called ‘Samvatsar dahan? On this day all the bitterness and evil memories of the last year are burnt in the fire and the New Year is begun with a celebration.

RAM NAVAMI (April)

Ram Navami is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra and on the ninth day of the bright lunar phase, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sri Ram. The incarnation of Sri Ram materialized on this very day, to show the path of virtuosity and truth to the mankind, who had lost its way by establishing the high standards of moral values and ideals. Sri Ram – the founder of Ram Rajya faced al the problems of life with courage and righteousness.

Ramayan contains descriptions of all types of relation, which a man normally has in his life, like teacher-student, mother-father, Brother-sister in law, Husband-wife, friend-enemy, master-servant etc. The incidents described in Ramayan contain such high moral-value and ideals that they seems unbelievable and imaginary, but the fact remains that they are undoubtedly true.

Ram Navami is our national and cultural festival. In the present time, when there is a tendency of greed, selfishness prevalent among the common people, when the relation between family members has reached its lowest ebb, Ram Navami inspires us to reach that highest & idealistic pedestal, which was occupied by Sri Ram.

HANUMAN JAYANTI (April)

The birthday of Hanuman – the supreme devotee of Sri Ram is celebrated on full moon day of the bright lunar phase, in the Hindu month of Chaitra.

The most powerful and valiant Hanuman who was also the gem of the scholars has been an inspiration for all of us since time immemorial. Because of his phenomenal strength and power, Hanuman is revered by the wrestlers.

Hanuman’s bravery is unmatched. This is the reason why government of India has named the bravery award on him i.e. Mahavir-Chakra. Being inspired by Hanuman’s phenomenal valiance, the supreme warrior Arjun, had established him on the flag of his chariot.

Hanuman is not only brave but he is also an example of supreme loyality and faithfulness, which he had towards his master – Sri Ram. If a man worships Hanuman and takes his refuge, then he will be able to have darshan of Sri Ram in no time – just like Tulsidas.

When Sri Ram met Hanuman for the first time he was very impressed by his knowledge. He told Laxman-“O Laxman, it seems this person (Hanuman) has thoroughly studied the grammar. That is the reason why he did not pronounce incorrectly even a single word, during such a long conversation with me.”

Hanuman’s high degree of knowledge can be understood from the following incident.

Once Sri Ram asked Hanuman as to who he was. Hanuman replied by saying-

“If you consider me just as the possessor of my physical body, then I am your servant. If you consider me as a soul then I am your ‘Ansha’ (part). My belief is based on the fact that my existence is not different from you in any way.”

On Hanuman Jayanti the various games which are based on strength and power are organised, along with the traditional worship of Hanuman. People are made to understand the phenomenal character of Hanuman – the unmatched warrior of the Indian history, so that they are able to serve the country with fearlessness and without considering their own self-interest. Hanuman’s virtuosity, valiance, discipline and celibacy can prove to be an asset for any society or country.

RATH YATRA (July)

Rath yatra is observed on Aashad Shukla Dwitiya. On this day in Pushya Nakshatra a chariot of Subhadra and the Lord is paraded. This festival is celebrated in many parts of India, but the pomp and gaiety in Jagannathpuri is definitely worth watching.

JagannathPuri is one of the 4 most important religious places in India. Here we have even the Govardhan Peeth established by Shankaracarya. The main deity to be worshipped here is Lord Jagannath and this deity is the main centre of attraction. One can see a lot of crowd on this day. People from every corner of India come to see the idols of the Gods being paraded and seek their blessings.

The chariot of Lord Jagannath is 45 feet tall, 35 feet long and 36 feet bride, 16 wheel, 6 feet diameters are fixed to the chariot. The chariot of Balbhadra 44 feet tall and has 14 wheels. The chariot of Subhadra is 43 feet tall and it has 12 wheels. Every year new chariot is built. 4200 people pull the chariot and other than these others men-women devotees do pull these chariots.

The Lord stays for 3 days in Lanakpur there itself he meets Goddess Laxmi. After this the Lord return backs and is placed on his original position.

RAKSHA BANDHAN (August)

Among the Indian festivals, Raksha Bandhan is considered as a very important and historical festival. According to the Bhavishya Puran. Sachi – the wife of Indra had tied a protection -thread on the wrist of Indra, which had been purified by the mantras. This protection thread had made Indra invincible from his enemies. This very protection thread had also enabled Indra to defeat his enemies.

Since then, this great festival has been celebrated every year, on the full moon day, in the Hindu month of Shravan, reminding us of great tradition. Hindus have been progressing steadily on the path of life, by attaining neo energy, no faith and neo-strength. According to the Bhavishya Puran

SARVAROGOPSHAMANAM SARVASHUBH VINASHANAM; SAKRITKRITEBDAMEKAM YEN RAKSHA KRITA BHAVET

Meaning – The protection thread worn on this festival, destroys all the diseases and inauspiciousness. The person gets protected for the whole year.

YEN BADHDO BALI RAJA DANVENDRO MAHABALAH TEN TWAM PRATIBADHNAMI RAKSHE! MA CHAL! MA CHAL!

Meaning: The objective for which, the king of the demons – Mahabali had been tied with the protection thread, in the same way, O protection thread, I am tying you for the same objective.

(While making donation to lord Vishnu-incarnated as Vaman, king Bali was not affected the least i.e. he donated everything without any hesitation, because he had tied protection thread on his self.)

Sacred Festival of the Brothers & Sisters

During the time of foreign-rule, when the Hindu religion was passing through its darkest phase – when the double-edged darkest phase – when the double-edged swords of the Mughal were causing destruction to our civilization and culture by dishonouring our mothers and sisters, then it was only Rakshabandhan which boosted the morale of the Hindus by enthusing new inspiration.

Raksha bandhan, which is commonly known as Rakhi, was the symbol of love between the husband and wife during the ancient time. The same Rakhi turned into a symbol of love-bond between the brother and a sister in due course of time. During the Mughal period, Rajput women when threatened by the aggressors, requested for help from their Rajput brother to save their honour, by sending Rakhi to them. These brave Rajput men felt honoured and even gave up their lives to safeguard the honour of their sisters. These ‘raw-threads’ used to enthuse tremendous enthusiasm and power as soon as they got tied on the wrists of the brothers.

This tradition is still continuing and Rakshabandhan is celebrated with great enthusiasm by brothers and sisters.

GANESH CHATURTHI (September)

Ganesh Chaturthi is known as Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. Early in the morning after completing ones ablutions one should make a beautiful platform and place the idol of Ganeshji on it. One should worship the idol in the sixteen ceremonial methods/ steps and should sing devotional songs. One should offer Laddoos to Ganeshji on this occasssion. After the worship (pooja) one should offer Brahmins Laddoos and donate gifts etc. At night after moon rise one should worship the moon god and then offer water (Arghya).

After this the Brahmins should be offered food and after this one should partake laddoos. After giving Brahmins gifts one should discharge the idol of Ganeshji in the sea.

In Maharashtra the festival of Ganeshji Chaturthi is celebrated with pomp and gaiety. Here the idol of Ganeshji is kept for 1½, 3, 5, 7 or 9 days and is worshipped according to the scriptures. One who worships the idols for many days accordingly does the Visarjan (discharge). The day of the final discharge (Visarjan) is Anant Chaturdashi.

VIJAY DASHAMI (September)

Vijayadashami is considered to be an auspicious day for the Indian householder, on which he worships, protects and preserves ‘Shakti’ (power). By worshipping the ‘Shakti’ according tot the methods as written in the scriptures, on these nine-days (Navratra) the householders attains the threefold powers i.e. physical, mental and spiritual, which helps him to progress in life without any difficulty.

Some nine lakh years ago Sri Ram had proceeded on his mission of killing Ravan, after attaining powers by the worship of goddess Shakti for nine days. The world knows that Sri Ram became victorious in this battle and Ravan was killed along with his whole clan. The victory of Sri Ram over Ravan symbolises the victory of virtuosity and morality over unrighteousness and immorality the victory of justice over injustice.

Hindus remember the great deeds of Sri Ram even today in the form of Ramleela and by burning the effigies of Ravan. By burning the effigies of Ravan the Hindus show to the world that no matter how powerful an immortal person is, it gets destroyed ultimately.

AASHVINASYA SITE PAKSHE DASHAMYAM TARKODAYE; SA KALO VIJAYO GYEYAH SARVAKARYARTHSIDHDAYE.

SHRAVANARKSHE TU PUURNAAYAM KAKUTSTHAH PRASTHITIYATAH ULLANGHAYEYUH TADDINARKSHE TATO NARAH.

Meaning: The auspicious time (Muhurta) – Vijay occurs on the tenth day of the bright half of the lunar month in the Hindu month of Ashwin. This auspicious time gives great accomplishment.

Because Sri Ram proceeded on his mission to defeat Ravan on the tenth (Purnatithi) and which combined with the constellation of ‘Shravan’. This day is considered to be so auspicious that a person can even cross all the limits to achieve success in any field.

DIPAVALI

Dipavali has a special place among all the festivals of India. The enthusiasm with which this festival is celebrated is not visible in other festivals. Although Dipavali is our most ancient festival, but it’s greatest characteristic is, that it is not related with any specific caste, class or province, rather it is an universal festival. Indian’s celebrate this festival in all types of circumstances – during peace time, during war time, in their joyous times in their sorrowful time etc.

Though the festival of Dipavali has undergone some changes, in due course of time, yet it has continued to be celebrated since the time immemorial. Even the ‘storms’ of the aggressors could not extinguish the lamp of Dipavali.

People make preparation for Dipavali, weeks ahead by cleaning their households. On the last day of the dark half of a lunar month, and in the Hindu month of Kartik innumerable lamps illuminate the dark night. Women, children, youth, old people worship goddess Laxmi with devotion. They request goddess Laxmi to visit their homes. People put on new clothes. They also purchase new utensils.

The business community commences their new year on this day by worshipping Ganesh an Laxmi and maintaining new account books.

It is difficult to state that, since when the festival of Dipavali has been celebrating in its present form. In our Country whose economy is based on agriculture, this festival was believed to be started as the celebration of ‘rituparva’ thousands of years ago. By this time the harvest of crops were complete. As a result the people had not to worry about food for the rest of year. This joys of their reflected ion the illumination of countless lamps.

In due course of time, numerous historical incidents got connected with this festival. There are many tales in the Puranas related with this festival.

There are difference of opinions in the Skand, Padm and Bhavish Puran, regarding the origin of Dipavali. Somewhere it is described, that this festival started being celebrated in joy, become King Prithu had successfully exploited the means for extracting crops and wealth from the earth. At other places it has been described that on this day, goddess Laxmi manifested herself while the ocean was being churned by the deities and the demon. Some are of the opinion that Lord Krishna has killed the demon Narakasura on the fourteenth day of the dark half of the lunar month, and liberated 16000 princesses kept under his captive. So the next day which was the last day of the dark half of a lunar month (Amavasya), people which was the last day of the dark half of a lunar month (Amavasya), people celebrated diwali to show their joy and happiness.

According to the Mahabharat when the Pandavas returned from exile, people decorated their houses and made celebrations. According to some hearsay’s, people celebrated by illuminating their houses on the occasion of Vikramaditya becoming an emperor.

So it becomes clear, that people generally worshipped Laxmi-Narayan to show their indebtedness, for being blessed with prosperity. In due of time, many historical events too got connected with it.

There is an interesting reason behind the worship of goddess Laxmi on Dipavali. According to Sanatkumar-Sanhita, once Bali – the king of demon had the whole world under his control. He put all the deities including goddess Laxmi, in the prison. In the absence of Laxmi, all the activities related with oblation came to a halt. On the request of the deities, lord Vishnu in his incarnation of Vaman, free Laxmi from Bali’s captive. People expressed their joys by illuminating their houses with burning lamps. Laxmi was especially worshipped as she had been freed after a long period of captivity. This way the worship of goddess Laxmi became a tradition which is sill being continued.

BHAIYYA DOOJ (October)

The festival of brother and sister Bhaiyya Dooj is celebrated on the 2nd day of the Shukla Paksha of the Caitra Month, and the 2nd day of Shukla Paksha of the Kartik Month.

On this day before afternoon itself worship is performed. Those women who cannot move out of their homes they near the door of the house make two small idols of ruddle which indicate brother and sister in law and worship the idols with rice (parched), a mixture of lime and turmeric (roli) and offer food to the idols.

After this, the door itself is worshipped and outside just below the doorsteps, at the entrance and altar (Square shaped) of Gobar (cow dung) is made. On the altar at every cornet there is one idol of cow dung placed and in between one idol is placed, Domestic commodities such as Hearth, grind mill, the pots are made of cow dung are decorated and placed every where around.

At the doorstep the idol of brother and sister-in-law are made. Firstly parched grains, mixture of lime and turmeric, incense offerings are offered and the altar is worshipped and after that the idols kept at the doorstep one worshipped and then a story is told, After the story is over the women with the pestle say. Who ever are jealous of my brother and are with intention to do bad, I will destroy his fall with this pestle.

NAVRATRI (FESTIVAL OF NINE DAYS) (October)

The whole delusions of the world consists of nine elements – ‘Panchamahabhurt’ (the fine basic & fundamental elements from which the matter is made.) and four ‘Antahkaran’ (four types of consciousness).

According to the Sadhakas, these nine elements symbolize the nine forms of ‘Shakti’ or goddess Durga. This Shakti prevails in the whole world. The same Shakti is known as ‘Mahakali’ (which symbolises physical, strength & power), ‘Mahalaxmi’ (which symbolises materialistic wealth and prosperity), and ‘Mahasaraswati’ (which symbolises mental).

Eighteen days have been fined as the most auspicious days, for the worship of three forms of Durga. Out of these eighteen days, nine days come in the Hindu month of ‘Vasant’ (spring) and the remaining nine-days fall in the Hindu month of ‘Sharad’ (Autumn). This is the reason behind the importance of the number nine of the famous Navratras.’

KANYA PUJAN (Worship of the girl child)

During the Navratra especially on the eighth day and ninth day, worship of small girl-child is customary. The girl child is worshipped with complete devotion, after purifying them by the chanting of mantras and he is made to seat on a special pedestal. She is worshipped by offering ‘akshat’ (rice grains) and by burning incense sticks.

She is worshipped because, according to the philosophy of ‘Striyah Samastastava Devi Bhedah’, women symbolize ‘Mahamaya’ (The goddess Durga). Even among these a girl child is considered to be the purest, because of her innocence.

If the worshipper is desirous of acquiring knowledge then he should worship a Brahmin girl child. If he is desirous of acquiring power, then he should worship a Kshatriya-girl child. Similarly if he is desirous of acquiring wealth and prosperity, then a girl child belonging to a Vaishya family should be worshipped by him. If a person is desirous of attaining Tantrik-power, Mohan (hypnotizing), Uchchatan (causing hurdle in the path of other success), then he should worship a shudra-girl-child.

This way a devotee of mother Jagdamba, contributes his lot in the social integration, by having a provision of girl child worship of all the four castes.

Scientific Explanations

The festival of Vijayadashami, nourishes all the aspects of human life including religiousness, the aspects, spiritual aspects and it also provide us with an opportunity for entertainment. No other festival has such a combination of religion and politics, art and culture, as the festival of Vijayadashmi.

When a devotee wakes up in the morning and takes a bath in a nearby river or pond, then worships goddess ‘Dashahara’, it helps him to destroy al the ten forms of sin.

This festival also in an occasion for family gets together. After the worship of goddess Durga, receipt of ‘Prasad’, strengthen the physical aspect of the devotee.

Watching the Ramleela in the evening gives mental nourishment. It also inspires us to follow the ideal path of Sri Ram. The burning of the effigy of Ravan warns us against evil conducts. Ravan – who was killed by Sri Ram, some nine lakh years ago also strengthens our belief, that no matter how powerful a sinful person becomes, he is ultimately doomed to destruction.

The scriptural command for ‘Seemolanghan (not being tied down by the boundary) symbolizes progress. It inspires a man to constantly try to make progress and not get tied down by restrictions.

A provision of tree-worship is also made on Dashahara. This signifies the importance of the preservation of our forest-wealth.

TULSI VIVAHA (November)

On the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha (Waxing moon of fortnightly) of the Magha month, coming of spring is celebrated. This is only known as Vasant Panchami.

On this day Brahmins should be offered food. Pitru-Tarpan (liberation of deceased ancestors) can also be performed on this day. One can also see worship of Goddess Saraswati. The companion of Spring, God of Love Kamadev and his wife Rati are also prayed and worshipped on this auspicious occasion. It is on this day when Abeer and Gulal are played with and songs of Holi are sung till Phalgun Poornima. Because of the happiness and joyous it is obvious that we rejoice while celebrating this auspicious occasion.

Holi

Holi (also called Holaka or Phagwa) is an annual festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March). It celebrates spring, commemorates various events in Hindu mythology and is time of disregarding social norms and indulging in general merrymaking.

Holi is probably the least religious of Hindu holidays. During Holi, Hindus attend a public bonfire, spray friends and family with colored powders and water, and generally go a bit wild in the streets.

History and Meaning of Holi

Celebrated all over India since ancient times, Holi’s precise form and purpose display great variety. Originally, Holi was an agricultural festival celebrating the arrival of spring.

This aspect still plays a significant part in the festival in the form of the colored powders: Holi is a time when man and nature alike throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colors and liveliness of spring.

Holi also commemorates various events in Hindu mythology, but for most Hindus it provides a temporary opportunity for Hindus to disregard social norms, indulge in merrymaking and generally “let loose.”

The legend commemorated by the festival of Holi involves an evil king named Hiranyakashipu. He forbade his son Prahlad from worshipping Vishnu, but Radhu continued to do offer prayers to the god. Getting angry with his son, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to sit on a pyre with his wicked aunt Holika who was believed to be immune to fire. (In an alternate version, Holika put herself and Prahlad on the fire on orders from her brother.)

Prahlad accepted the challenge and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika was burnt to death, while Prahlad survived without a scar to show for it. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. According to some accounts, Holika begged Prahlad for forgiveness before her demise, and he decreed that she would be remembered every year at Holi.

An alternative account of the basis of the holiday is associated with a legend involving Lord Shiva, one of the major Hindu gods. Shiva is known for his meditative nature and his many hours spent in solitude and deep meditation. Madana, the God of love, decided to test his resolve and appeared to Shiva in the form of a beautiful nymph. But Shiva recognized Madana and became very angry. In a fit of rage he shot fire out of his third eye and reduced her to ashes. This is sometimes given as the basis of Holi’s bonfire.

The festival of Holi is also associated with the enduring love between Lord Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu) and Radha, and Krishna in general. According to legend, the young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about why Radha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply colour on Radha’s face and see how her complexion would change. Because of this associated with Krishna, Holi is extended over a longer period in Vrindavan and Mathura, two cities with which Krishna is closely affiliated.

Krishna’s followers everywhere find special meaning in the joyous festival, as general frivolity is considered to be in imitation of Krishna’s play with the gopis (wives and daughters of cowherds).

Holi Rituals and Customs

Holi is spread out over two days (it used to be five, and in some places it is longer). The entire holiday is associated with a loosening of social restrictions normally associated with caste, sex, status and age. Holi thus bridges social gaps and brings people together: employees and employers, men and women, rich and poor, young and old. Holi is also characterized by the loosening of social norms governing polite

behavior and the resulting general atmosphere of licentious merrymaking and ribald language and behavior. A common saying heard during Holi is bura na mano, Holi hai (“don’t feel offended, it’s Holi”).

On the evening of the first day of Holi, a public bonfire is held, commemorating the burning of Holika. Traditionally, Hindu boys spend the weeks prior to Holi combing the neighborhood for any waste wood they can find for the bonfire. The fire is lit sometime between 10 PM and midnight (at the rising of the moon), not generally in an orderly fashion. Everyone gathers in the street for the event, and the air rings with shouts, catcalls, curses and general mayhem.

The central ritual of Holi is the throwing and applying of colored water and powders on friends and family, which gives the holiday its common name “Festival of Colors.” This ritual is said to be based on the above story of Krishna and Radha as well as on Krishna’s playful splashing of the maids with water, but most of all it celebrates the coming of spring with all its beautiful colors and vibrant life.

In Bengal, Holi features the Dolayatra (Swing Festival), in which images of the gods are placed on specially decorated platforms and devotees take turns swinging them. In the meantime, women dance around and sing special songs as men spray colored water at them.

Hindu Festivals

Every year a lot of festivals are celebrated in India. Different rituals mark every festival. These rituals are very important and are usually followed with an aesthetic and spiritual fervor.

The rituals of Indian festivals are being followed since the past several centuries in the same way that they used to several hundred years ago.

Festivals and Rituals form an integral part of Indian Hindu culture. This culture will continue to be followed with the same zeal and enthusiasm for centuries to come. The following are some of the most important festivals followed by Hindus in India.

Navratri:

It is believed that the world consists of nine elements – ‘Panchamahabhurt’ (the basic elements from which matter is made.) and four ‘Antahkaran’ (consciousness).

According to the Hindus, these nine elements are the nine forms of goddess Durga. She is believed to be the “Shakti”. The same Shakti is known by different names or forms like ‘Mahakali’ (goddess with physical, strength & power), ‘Mahalaxmi’ (goddess of wealth and prosperity), and ‘Saraswati’ (goddess of knowledge).

These nine days are divided and devoted to these different forms of Goddess durga. Three days are dedicated for Durga. Three other days for Lakshmi. And three days for Sarswati.On the fifth day (Lalita Panchami), it is traditional, to gather all books, light a lamp and invoke Sarswati. On the eighth and ninth day, it is traditional to perform Yagna (sacrifice offered to the fire) to honor the Divine Mother. This is the reason behind the importance of the number nine of the famous Navarathri.’

Diwali (Dipavali):

Dipavali has a special place among all festivals in India. It is one of the most ancient festivals. Preparations for Dipavali start weeks ahead. Hindu’s clean their households. On the last day of the month of Kartik many lamps (diyas) are lit.

During this festival goddess Laxmi is worshipped. According to the legend, Bali – (king of demon) controlled the whole world. He put goddess Laxmi, in the prison. So all the deities requested lord Vishnu so he incarnated as Vaman, and freed Laxmi from Bali’s captivity. So, people on this day express their happiness by lighting their houses with burning lamps.

Vijay Dashami(October):

Ganesh Chathurthi(September):

Ganesh Chaturthi Early in the morning after offering prayers, make a platform and place the idol of Ganesh on it. The worship of the idol happens in sixteen ceremonial methods. One should offers favorite food of ganesha like Laddoos. After the worship (pooja) one offers ladoos and other gifts to Brahmins. At night after moon rise one should worship the moon god and then offer water (Arghya).

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with pomp. The idol of Ganesh is kept for either 1½, 3, 5, 7 or 9 days and is worshipped. Then the idol goes on a long procession and then is discharged into water (visarjan). This day of discharge is called Anant Chaturdashi.

Raksha Bandhan(August):

Among the Indian festivals, Raksha Bandhan is an important and historical festival. According to the legend, Sachi, the wife of Indra tied a protective thread on the wrist of Indra. This protection thread had protected Indra from his enemies and he defeated his enemies. Ever since, this festival is being celebrated every year, on the full moon day, in the month of Shravan. This tradition now has changed to become a symbol of love bond between the brother and a sister. The sister ties this protective thread around his wrist and in turn, the brother takes the responsibility of the protection of the sister.

Ram Navami(April):

Ram Navami is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra and on the ninth day of the bright lunar phase, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sri Ram. The incarnation of Sri Rama is for showing humans he path of virtuosity and truth.

Rama is considered as an ideal in all types of relationships like, teacher-student, mother-father, Brother-sister in law, Husband-wife, friend-enemy. Incidents that happened with Rama may seem larger than life, but many believe that they are undoubtedly true.

Holi:

In Sanskrit language, fried cereals are called ‘Holka’. Holikotsav is named after it.

Holi is celebrated in the memory of Prahlad’s victory over his father’s sister named ‘Holika’. Prahalad’s father asked his sister Holika(she had a boon that fire couldn’t burn her) to sit in the burning fire with Prahlad in her lap. But the opposite happened, Prahlad survived the fire but Holika was charred to death. Thus ‘holi’ is celebrated to mark the victory of virtue over evil.

Makar Sankranthi:

Makar Sankranti usually is on the 14th of January every year. On this day the sun comes across the north of equator. Lord Surya it is believed begins His journey northward into the Makara Rasi in his dazzling chariot that has thousands of spokes and magnificent wheels, and is driven by seven horses. When he gets Makara Rasi it is beleievd that our lives are filled with light and there is no darkness. Even according to astrology, this period is supposed to be auspicious for activities like construction of the houses. This period so auspicious, that if a person happens to die during this period is supposed to attain moksha.

Ugadi – Telugu New Year

All Hindu festivals have their own significance and importance. Hindu culture has a rich heritage, with numerous festivals. Each celebrated festival throughout the year has its own distinct value and ritual practice. Ugadi is celebrated in many states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Hindus take pride in celebrating festivals, because it is time for getting together as families. Ugadi like many other Hindu festivals believes in replacing vices with Virtues. This festival is celebrated to thank and celebrate the bounteous crop and also is a sign of the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one.

Significance of Ugadi

The name “Ugadi” came from Yuga + Aadi which means “Beginning of a New age. It is believed that the creator according to Hinduism, Lord Brahma started his work of creation on the Chaitra suddha padhyami(Ugadi). The onset of spring also in some way symbolically marks the beginning of new life. The new life seen in the fields and meadows, with colorful blossoms, also signify prosperity and well-being.

It is believed that Ugadi will be the next age of the Eternal World Drama Cycle, after the Kaliyuga. It is commonly believed that world drama cycle repeats every 5000 years with 1250 years for each yuga.

Ugadi is also regarded the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon’s orbit. On this day predictions are made for the New Year. The panchanga shravanam or listening to the yearly calendar is done traditionally at the temples. Preparations for the festival begin almost a week ahead. Houses are cleaned. Shopping to buy new clothes and other items add to a lot of excitement.

The Ugadi rituals

On Ugadi, people wake up before the break of dawn and have a head bath. The entrances of their house are decorated with fresh mango leaves. According to the legend, Kartik asked people to tie green mango leaves to the doorway. It signifies a good crop and general well being.

It is believed that, everyone has the right to get Peace, Prosperity, Health, Wealth and Happiness and this can be done through the festival of Ugadi. Everyone has to change him or herself by replacing the vices with good virtues with the help of Spiritual or Godly knowledge.

If one looks closely, mango leaves and coconuts are used to initiate any pooja or any other auspicious occasions to please gods. People splash fresh cow dung water in front of their houses and make good rangoli’s. This is a common sight in front of every household. People perform puja to worship God. They invoke his blessings before they start anything in the New Year. They pray for their prosperity health and wealth.

Ugadi is considered as the most auspicious time to start new ventures. Some people make a mixture with mango pieces, jaggery and Neem flowers. Jaggery represents joy and happiness while and Neem flowers represent sorrow.

Rakhi -Raksha Bandhan

Rakhi is known to be a festival to celebrate the bond between a brother and a sister. This festival also symbolizes the emotional bond between them. The relationship between brothers and sisters has lots of regard and purity attached to it. Hindu Religion devotes an entire day of the year for the celebration of this pious relationship. This day is celebrated as a special festival and is called ‘Rakhi’ or ‘Raksha-Bandhan’. The literal meaning of ‘Raksha-Bandhan’ is ‘the bond of protection’. On Rakhi it is customary that the brothers makes a promise to his sister to protect and safeguard her against all the evil forces.

Though Rakhi festival emphasizes on the special importance on the brother and sister yet, the entire family, relatives, celebrate this festival with good zeal and enthusiasm. Thus the festival of Rakhi not only represents the siblings’ emotional bond but is also an occasion where the family gets together. It is an occasion for reviving relationships and social harmony.

With time the concept of celebrating Rakhi festival has been changing. In the ancient times, especially in the Vedic period of the Indian history; Rakhi has been a symbol of seeking help or protection from the powerful ones by the weaker ones. This festival was never just about the siblings’ relationship only as it is generally believed to be today. From time to time the concepts of this festival’s celebrations have changed a lot but the basic idea of ‘a bond of protection’ has remained unchanged.

Even in the modern times celebration of the Rakhi festival is beyond factors such as caste systems, religious issues, haves and have-not differences and other such boundaries. For instance, people from all over the country either personally tie the Rakhi or send it through postal services, to their brothers wherever they might be. It is the spirit of Indians that this festival is celebrated throughout India in a joyous mood.

History:

Hindu scriptures and mythology are the source of all Hindu rituals and festivals. There are explanations for all the Hindu traditions and customs in the religious Hindu texts. The origin of Rakhi as a festival is also rooted in the Hindu mythology.

There is no confirmed date and time available about the history of Rakhi festival but the story goes as follows.

On a ‘Shravan Poornima’ day that is a Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan, the deities and the demons are in a battle against each other. Unfortunately the demons were in a better position as compared to the deities. The king of all the deities, Lord Indra, was really worried about the result of the battle. Then his wife Indrani (Shashikala) could not take her husbands pain and prayed to the almighty. Indrani was a very religious lady so she prepared a sacred thread with her religious power and tied it around Indra’s right wrist. She thought that this thread would safeguard Indra against the demons. She was right about her belief because that day the deities won the battle and Lord Indra was unhurt.

As this sacred thread had the power of protecting the one who tied it, it was called as the ‘Raksha Sutra’ and the ceremony of tying this thread is called as ‘Raksha Bandhan’. Since then this ceremony was celebrated on Shravan Poornima’ day. Today the concept of protection still continues and has become a tradition every year.

Dusshera

Dussehra is also known as “Vijayadashmi”. It is one of the most fascinating festivals of India. It is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm for around ten days. Dussehra actually means “The Tenth Day”. This day also forms the end of the nine days of Navratri. Nine days are spent for the worship of goddess Durga and all these nights are known as Navaratri. This festival is celebrated in the Hindu month of Ashwin.

The tenth day of Dussehra is also celebrated in honor of Durga. Vijayadashami is considered to be an auspicious day for the Indian householder, on which he worships, protects and preserves ‘Shakti’ (power). By worshipping the ‘Shakti’ according to the methods as written in the scriptures, on these nine-days the householders attains the threefold power i.e. physical, mental and spiritual, which helps him to progress in life without any difficulty.

Celebrations:

People decorate the entrances of their houses & shops with flowers, which are strung together called ‘Toran’. At night, huge figures of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghanad are filled with crackers and set alight to mark their destruction. This is an enjoyable sight because of the beautiful fireworks on the ground.

This festival like many other Hindu festivals is thought of as the ‘Victory of Good over Evil’. It also marks the return of Rama from exile. Because dussehra is considered auspicious, people inaugurate their new vehicles, machineries, and tools by asking god to bless them.

Dussehra is celebrated differently in different parts of India. In Bengal the festival is based on Durga Puja. In Tamil Nadu, goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Shakti are worshipped.

Dussehra is the festival, which concludes the immersion of Durga idols that are worshipped for nine days. In some traditional families it is also the day when formal education for children is started. The Dussehra celebrations in Mysore are very popular and are celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Legend:

Some nine lakh years ago Sri Ram had proceeded on his mission of killing Ravan, after attaining powers by the worship of goddess Shakti for nine days. The world knows that Sri Ram became victorious in this battle and Ravan was killed along with his whole clan. The victory of Sri Ram over Ravan symbolizes the victory of virtuosity and morality over unrighteousness and immorality the victory of justice over injustice.

Hinduism is a widely followed religion of India. No matter which part of the country Dussehra is celebrated as a day of victory of good over evil.

Diwali – Festival Of Lights

There are a number of stories connected with the origin of Diwali. Diwali is commonly known as the day when Lord Rama returned to Ayodya after he had won the battle against Ravana. This account about Diwali is the most commonly accepted account with regard to the other stories attached to the origins of Diwali.

There are four reasons why it is celebrated.

First legend:

King Rama’s return to Ayodhya is celebrated because he won an epic war with Ravana, the king of demons in Lanka. With happiness of the return of their king after 14 years of exile, the whole city was lighted up with rows of lamps. With this war ending the whole of the kingdom of Lanka was destroyed.

Second legend:

In many rural areas, Diwali is still celebrated as a Harvest Festival. This festival comes at the end of a cropping season. This reinforces the hypothesis of its having originated as a harvest festival. Every harvest signifies prosperity. Indian farmers celebrate this festival after they reap their harvests.

Third legend:

Narakasura, who was a monster created havoc among the gods and the sages by disturbing their penance or by creating havoc during religious rituals.

Dejected by the trouible caused by him, all the gods went to Lord Krishna and pleaded him to protect them from “Narakasura”. Satyabhama (sister of lord Krishna) appealed to Krishna to give her the opportunity to destroy Narakasura. Narakasura had a curse on him that a woman would kill him. Satyabhama kills Narakasura. In the battle field. This depicts the victory of good over evil. Since then, Diwali is celebrated by people every with great joy.

Fourth legend:

According to the fourth legend goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean of milk which is called the Ksheer Sagar. She brought wealth and prosperity for mankind with her.

On diwali, Lakshmi Pooja is performed to honor her. Many people believe that Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth and good fortune, visits the homes of her devotees on this day.

Celebration:

The First day of Diwali is called Dhanteras or Dhantryaodashi, which is the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The Second day of Diwali is called Narak Chaturdasi which is the fourteenth lunar day of the dark forthnight of kartik month. On this day Lord Krishna helped destroy the demon Narakasur and freed the world from fear.

The third day is called Diwali. On this day, the entrances of all houses are lit up and decorated with rangoli. Goddess Lakshmi, who is the godess of wealth and luster is prayed to with devotion. Diwali is also considered as the last day of the financial year for Hindu businesses. Diwali is considered as an auspicious festival for setting up new business.

The Fourth day is called as Padwa or Varsha Pratipada which marks the crowning of King Vikramaditya. This day is celebrated by dressing in new clothes, wearing new jewellery. They exchange sweets, dry fruits and gifts.

Festivity:

Every house entrance is made colorful with lovely “Rangoli” to welcome goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. The Preparations for Diwali begin a week in advance. People decorate their houses, prepare sweets, light their homes with colorful lights, buy clothes and Jewelry. Lighting of lamps in the night is a way of paying tribute to god for good health, wealth, knowledge and peace.

Fireworks are burnt out and also distributed so that everyone enjoys the festival thoroughly.

Holi Festival Of Colors

Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Falguna. This festival celebrates spring. Holi is one of the least religious of Hindu holidays. During Holi, people attend a public bonfire, and spray friends and family with colors in the form of powders and water.

History and meaning of Holi:

This festival is celebrated all over India. Actually, Holi is an agricultural festival, which celebrates the arrival of spring. It is a festival that everyone irrespective of social and economic status celebrate together. There are many reasons why Holi is celebrated. In Sanskrit language, fried cereals are called ‘Holka’. Holikotsav is named after it.

Holi is celebrated in the memory of Prahlad’s victory over his father’s sister named ‘Holika’. Prahalad’s father asked his sister Holika (she had a boon that fire couldn’t burn her) to sit in the burning fire with Prahlad in her lap. But the opposite happened, Prahlad survived the fire but Holika was charred to death. Thus ‘holi’ is celebrated to mark the victory of virtue over evil.

Another account is involving Lord Shiva. Shiva was meditating in solitude deeply. Then Madana (god of love) decides to test Shiva’s resolve and appeared to him in the form of a beautiful damsel. But Shiva recognizes Madana and in a fit of anger burns him with his third eye and reduces him to ashes. This is sometimes given as the reference for Holi’s bonfire.

The festival of Holi is also associated with the everlasting love between Lord Krishna and Radha. According to the legend, little Krishna asked his mother Yashoda, why Radha was fair and he so dark. Yashoda then told him to apply colour on Radha’s face and see how her complexion would change. So the new reference to the festival also started.

Holi rituals and customs: :

Holi is celebrated over two days. This festival is associated with a loosening of social restrictions normally associated with caste, sex, status and age. Holi is thus known to bridge social gaps and bring people together. It is also known for the loosening of social norms and licentious merrymaking and jovial behavior. On the evening of Holi, a public bonfire is held, signifying the burning of Holika.

The main ritual of Holi is to throw and apply colored water and powders on friends and family. Thus the name, “Festival of Colors.” In Bengal, Holi has the Dolayatra (Swing Festival), according to which, images of god are placed on specially decorated platforms and people take turns swinging on them. Men and women dance and sing songs as they spray colored water at eachother.

Pongal – Festivals of Kites

Pongal is one of the important festivals in India. Prayers are offered to the Sun God on this occasion. In many other parts of India, it is known as Sankaranthi. The reason for worshipping the sun god is that he is considered powerful and helps in the growth of paddy and other plantations. This festival is important for farmers and so is celebrated in a very grand manner in villages. The houses are washed, and all maintenance jobs are completed. During the festival, many different kinds of Rangoli are drawn before the houses early in the morning.

Bhogi:

The celebrations start on the day which is known as “Bhogi”. On this day, generally everyone gets up early in the morning, takes a head bath. Then a bon fire is made with all the trash in front of the house. All the old and useless things are disposed from our house and replaced with new ones. Then rangoli is drawn in front of the houses.

Pongal:

On this day the paddy is reaped. Using the newly reaped rice, “pongal” is made and offered first to God. The sun God is said to come on a chariot that is driven by seven horses. Turmeric sprigs and sugarcane is placed in the pooja. The pooja is dedicated to the sun god and his chariot.

Then food is offered to God. Once the pooja is done, everyone in the house take a little Pongal and sprinkle it around the house. This is done as a ritual to ask God to bless their home. People on this day generally wear new dresses, use new utensils or even household items and discard the old ones the previous day. New rice on this day is cooked in pots until it over flows.

This overflowing of rice means Pongal. This ceremony of overflowing of rice is considered as a joyous occasion. This occasion has no actual meaning but is an expression of happiness that the new harvest is here and they enjoy it by dancing and making music. The dish called Pongal is cooked and prepared, with rice dal and sugar. Pongal is also called as “venpongal”, ven means white. Another kind of it is prepared with dhal and jaggery which is called chakraipongal. chakrai means sweet. The other common dishes prepared during pongal are Brinjal, Sambar, vada , idli.

Maatu Pongal:

The next day is called as maattu Pongal – which is pongal for the cows. Cows are worshipped on this day (according to Hindu culture cows are considered holy). The cows are decorated. Their horns are painted, colors are applied and some clothes are tied on the cows. Then the cow is taken around to each house. On this day in some villages in south India, there are bull fights are held.

Kaanum Pongal:

This is the last day of Pongal. People on this day go out and enjoy. This is a day when everyone spends time outside the house. People on this day travel to see their near relatives. During this day, the smaller members of the family pay their respects to their elders, and the elders bless them by giving them some money. Some food is left on some leaves for birds to eat. Some begin their day by visiting the temple.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Lord Ganesh is considered as a symbol of wisdom and a luck charm. His elephant head symbolizes wisdom. His small shrewd eyes and long ears are known to miss nothing. The long trunk of his can smell anything. The mouse, which is his vehicle, reflects how important the smaller forms of life are. Lord Ganesh is also known as a great clearer of obstacles (vigneshwara). Any kind of program or work or even new ventures, like new company is started with a prayer of lord Ganesh.

Mythology:

According to the legend, Lord Shiva left kailasa for a long time as theer was a war between the gods and demons. His wife, Parvati, bored of being alone, used her divine powers to create a son, whome she named Ganesh. She gave him the responsibility of protecting the house. After the war when Lord Shiva returned victorious to his home, Parvati was in her bath. Ganesh refused to allow lord shiva inside the house not knowing who he was. Angry at the denial by Ganesh, Lord Shiva chopped off the boy’s head.

When Parvati came to see what happened she was shocked to see her son dead. Lord Shiva, to pacify her, promised to replace the head of Ganesh with that of the first creature that came up the hill. The first visitor who walked up the hill was an elephant, so his head was cut off and placed on that of Lord Ganesh and life was put back into him.

Lord Shiva then gave Ganesh the powers of a God and said that no activity will begin without taking his name or blessings. Since then, it is said, no new venture or an inauguration of a company, the opening of a shop, the foundation of a building, entering a new home – is complete by Hindus without a Ganesh puja.

The festival:

Ganesh is worshipped on the 4th day of every month of the Hindu calendar. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as his birthday. Ladoos are an important ingredient during the festival. They are distributed to relatives and friends by tradition. ladoos are also placed in corners of the house and eaten just before the meal. Milk also is offered to the idols of lord Ganesh at home and even sometimes at temples. Ganesh puja is also performed at all temples.

Important aspects of Ganesh Chaturthi rituals in India include feasting and distribution of sweets offered to Lord Ganesh. Hindus position the idol of Lord Ganesha temporarily in their houses. They are made in different shapes and sizes. These idols are made especially for the occasion by cottage industries and small street side artisans. After all the nine days of prayers and those that do not wish to keep the idol any longer, immerse them in the nearest water body (like rivers, lakes or the sea).

Tilak’s contribution to Ganesh Chaturdi:

One of Tilak’s strongest movements to evoke nationalism is through the organisation of festivals like Ganesh chaturthi. Through this kind of organization they inspired feelings of Hindu unity and also gave freedom fighters an opportunity to meet when the British was against any gatherings, writings and slogans that could incite violence.

Because of Tilak , Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in a big way. Thousands of gigantic idols of lord Ganesh are immersed with the help of huge cranes in various water bodies. The people in the processions shout loudly, “Ganapati Bapa Morya”.

Diwali

Diwali is the festival of lights for Hindus and Sikhs. The celebration lasts for five days and is marked by sweets, fireworks and lights. It celebrates the triumph of good, light and knowledge over evil, darkness and ignorance. Diwali celebrates a good year of harvesting and honors the Goddess of Wealth.

Diwali usually takes place in October or November, but the date is different each year because it is based on the Hindu calendar. During this holiday, all buildings are adorned with many Diyas, which are oil lamps. It is believed that the lamps guide Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, to the homes of Hindus. Hindus thank Lakshmi by opening the windows of their houses and by drawing images of lotus flowers. They also draw colorful patterns on the floor called Rangolis. During Diwali, Hindus give and receive gifts — especially sweets. They also celebrate with feasts and gambling.

Makar Sankranti

Maker Sankranti is celebrated in January and it is the first Hindu holiday on the western calendar. It is observed in different ways in various regions of India and occurs when the sun goes into the zodiac sign of Makar, which makes the days longer.

Hindus in Maharashtra and Gujarat celebrate by flying kites. However, in Punjab, Makar Sankrant is called Lohri and they celebrate by making make large bonfires, having sweets and throwing rice. It is called Kicheri in Uttar Pradesh, where Hindus bathe in the rivers. The festival is called Pongal in Southern India, where it is celebrated for three days. Hindus in that region present rice boiled in milk to the God of Rain on the first day and the God of the Sun on the second day. They bathe cows and adorn them with flowers on the third day to honor their hard work in the fields.

Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri celebrations honor Shiva, destroyer of the universe. Unlike other Hindu celebrations, this one is celebrated the night and day before the new moon.

Hindus celebrate the night of Maha Shivaratri on the night that Hindu folklore says that Shiva performed a dance called the “Tandav.” The new moon symbolizes Shiva. Shiva’s followers prepare certain foods to offer him and the next morning they eat the offerings. Young women hope that by fasting in honor of Shiva, he will give them nice husbands. During the night, Hindus pray and sing to honor their lord.

One of the Hindu traditions during Maha Shivaratri is to bathe a sculpture of Shiva with water, honey and milk before rubbing it with sandalwood paste and adorning it with flowers.

Shiva can come in five different forms. Some of these forms are good, while others are bad. The five forms are Rudra, “the roarer,” Mahadeva, “the great god,” Nataraja, “the lord of dance,” Bharaiva, “the terrible,” and Sundareshvara, “the beautiful lord.” Shiva can appear dancing, meditating or as an inanimate sculpture with multiple pairs of hands.

Holi

Holi is the Hindu festival of colors. It marks the beginning of spring and all that spring symbolizes. Holi is not a religious holiday, although it does have a religious history. It is most commonly celebrated in Northern India and usually takes place in February or March. During this time (known as Phagun) Hindus build bonfires to help get the evil spirits out of the air and celebrate with gifts of food. It is a very happy time when Hindus are all recognized as equal with no difference in wealth, gender or age.

Holi is called “The Festival of Colors” because people paint each other and throw dye and colorful powder all over their bodies. The colored powder that they throw during the festival is called Gulal. Children use toy objects to put paint on friends and family. They do this because when everyone is covered in paint, it symbolizes that there is no class distinction and everyone is the same. Holi used to celebrate fertility and harvest, but the holiday also now honors Hindu legends.

Ram Navami

Ram Navami takes place in April and celebrates the birth of Lord Rama. On this holiday, Hindus clean and decorate their houses with fruits and flowers. The youngest girl in the house leads the prayers (called puja) by putting a red mark (called a tilak) on her family. They put an image of Rama as a baby in a cradle, and at midday, they remove the cover of the cradle and feed a special food (called Prasad) to him.

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandan celebrates love for comrades and brothers. Hindus celebrate it when there is a full moon. This usually takes place in August. Raksha means “protection” and Bandhan means “to tie.” During this festival, sisters put a bracelet called a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists as a symbol of their love and affection for them. The priests put rakhis on the wrists of members of their congregation and women put rakhis on the wrists of the prime minister. When a woman puts a rakhi on a man, the man has a duty to protect her. The bracelets usually have many colors and the people say a chant in Punjabi or Sanskrit once the bracelets are tied.

Krishna Janmashtami

Janmashtami is a festival celebrating Krishna’s birth. Krishna is the god that Hindus worship the most. They celebrate his birthday in August, eight days after Raksha Bandhan. The celebration lasts two days.

The first day is called Krishnashtami or Gokulashtami. The second day is called Kalastami or more popularly Janmashtami. Hindus usually do not sleep during these two days. They sing songs called bhajans and fast for the first day. They perform many songs, dances and plays of Krishna’s childhood to worship him.

Navaratri

Navaratri is a fun and religious holiday in October. During this time, Hindus from all over India put aside their daily chores and prepare for Navaratri, a nine-day celebration honoring three goddesses of the religion: Durga, the goddess of valor; Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. Hindus dedicate three days of celebration to each of the three goddesses, which are the incarnations of Goddess Shakti (the Mother Goddess).

During Navaratri, some people fast or only eat fruit once a day. During these nine days, people who are not fasting can go to any temple in India at any time to get free food. Hindus come from all over India to feed the goddesses on the last day and pray in the temples. The festival comes to the end on the tenth day of Vjay Dashmi or Dussehra, when the idols of the Goddess Shakti are tossed into the river to mark the end of Navaratri.

Hindu Caste System

The caste system is a social hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based on their karma and dharma. Many scholars believe the system dates back more than 3,000 years.

The four main castes (in order of prominence) include:

Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders
Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of society
Vaisyas: the skillful producers
Shudras: the unskilled laborers

Many subcategories also exist within each caste. The “Untouchables” are a class of citizens that are outside the caste system and considered to be in the lowest level of the social hierarchy.

For centuries, the caste system determined every aspect of a person’s social, professional and religious status in India.

Hindus observe numerous sacred days, holidays and festivals.

Some of the most well-known include:

Diwali: the festival of lights
Navaratri: a celebration of fertility and harvest
Holi: a spring festival
Krishna Janmashtami: a tribute to Krishna’s birthday
Raksha Bandhan: a celebration of the bond between brother and sister
Maha Shivaratri: the great festival of Shiva

A Personal Faith

Today we’re going to highlight some of the most important rituals, ceremonies and festivals of Hinduism. Since there are so many of these, we’re going to try and highlight the main ones. However, even when limiting our scope to just the major ones, the lesson will still be rather heavy on Eastern terms. In order to combat this, we’ll try and link these unfamiliar terms to our Western paradigm.

Hinduism is considered a very personal faith. Although Hindu worship takes on many forms, one of the rarest is actually that of congregational worship. Unlike in the West where people worship in congregation with a priest, pastor or leader at the helm, most Hindu worship takes place in a solitary manner within the hom

Puja

This Hindu act of worship is termed puja. In their worship, Hindus can personally choose which god they would like to worship and what they would like this worship to look like. In other words, puja is usually very, very personal.

Some choose to sing, some choose to sacrifice. Often times, personal puja will consist of a repetitious word or sound that aids in the concentration of worship. This word or sound, known as a mantra, is also a very personal part of Hindu puja, with the most sacred mantra actually being the word Om.

Cows and Festivals

Although much of the Hindu puja is very personal, Hindus also have celebrations and things that bring them together in worship. For instance, most Hindus will hold to the concept of cow veneration. Although very alien to those of us from the West, Hindus believe cows represent divinity and, therefore, are to be protected and honored. Most scholars link this veneration to the large part cows played in the pastoral economy of ancient India. Although we in the West don’t hold to this veneration, I’m guessing all of us have still heard someone exclaim, ‘Holy Cow!’

Along with the general belief in cow veneration, Hindus also have many religious celebrations. The most popular of these is Holi, or The Festival of Colors, highlighting the god Vishnu. Celebrated to mark the passage of winter, Holi welcomes spring and is full of vivid colors. The best parts of this celebration are giant paint fights accompanied with water balloons, water guns, music and singing! Although it’s a rather Western way to do it, I like to remember Holi as their main Holiday!

With Holi, the Hindu culture also celebrates Diwali. As a Festival of Lights, Diwali honors the Hindu god of prosperity and actually marks the beginning of the Hindu fiscal year. Since it deals with prosperity and wealth, I like to remember Diwali as a celebration of the Dollar. Again, very, very Western, but a great way to keep them straight!

Hinduism: Practices and Rituals

Like all other faiths, Hinduism contains many practices and rituals that carry deep and significant meaning for adherents to the faith. Hinduism has three major celebrations: Holi (the Festival of Colors), Diwali (the Festival of Lights), and Dussehra (the Festival of Triumph). Hindus celebrate these holidays on both a personal and community level. Hinduism also has many ceremonies – also called rituals – including the Upanayana, or rite of passage, and the Antyeshti, or death rite.

Hindu Ceremonies

Religious ceremonies or rituals are repetitive events that help an individual or community recognize a significant religious truth or an important stage of life. Read on for more details regarding Hindu ceremonies.

The Hindu Custom of Cow Veneration

Among well-known Hindu, customs is the veneration of cows. In Hinduism, the cow represents the belief in divinity; historically, respect for cows is likely associated with India’s ancient pastoral economy. In India, it is illegal to kill a cow, and worshippers are unified through their shared adoration of cattle.

Upanayana in Hinduism

The Upanayana is among the most famous Hindu religious practices. Upanayana is a rite of passage for Hindu men that represents the transition from childhood to spiritual awareness and is generally restricted to the three upper tiers of the Hindu caste system. When a young man desires initiation, he bathes ritually and receives a triple-braided and knotted thread, worn throughout his life over his left shoulder.

Hindu Celebrations

Hindu celebrations are also referred to as festivals. There are three major festivals in Hinduism.

Holi

Holi is celebrated in the spring and is sometimes called the Festival of Colors. During this festival, adherents and guests throw colored powder on one another to celebrate springtime and recognize Lord Krishna’s victory over evil. The festival draws on many colors, but the most popular shades represent specific traits that Hindus seek to develop. They include orange (bravery), yellow (sincerity), green (vitality), blue (power), purple (dedication to self-development), pink (friendliness), and red (unity).

At a Holi festival, attendees will gather up handfuls of powder (and sometimes water) and throw them on one another to represent unity and express gratitude for the community’s development.

Lesson Summary

Hinduism has many rituals, or repetitive events that teach a religious truth or recognize an important stage of life. The most common rituals include Puja, or private, in-home worship of Hindu gods and goddesses through adoration of statues and mantras, or specific words or sounds that are repeated to aid in concentration. Unlike the West, Hindu worship generally does not occur as a community but rather is a personal event that takes place in the home. Hindus also venerate the cow, which unifies Hindus, represents divinity, and references the ancient pastoral society of India. The Upanayana is a rite of passage for young men that symbolizes the transition from childhood to spiritual awareness and is represented by a sacred thread worn over the left shoulder. Antyeshti is the Hindu death rite, wherein a body is cremated, the ashes are given to a sacred river, and the family permitted nearly two weeks of formal mourning to assist the deceased spirit in their journey to their next physical body.

There are three main Hindu festivals. Holi is the Festival of Colors. It is the most common Hindu festival and celebrates the coming of spring and the unity and development of the community. Diwali is the five-day Festival of Lights that honors the goddess Lakshmi and Lord Krishna through lights, community gatherings, and honoring of family bonds. Dussehra is the Festival of Triumph that commemorates the god Rama’s defeat of the ten-headed demon Ravana with theatrical reenactments and community gatherings.

Top 10 Most Important Hindu Gods You Should Know

Unlike other major religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism which believe that there is only one god, Hinduism is a religion with thousands of gods although many are reincarnations of another. Each of the gods and goddesses has different abilities and legends.

The three most important gods are called the Trimurti, comprising of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Their supreme importance is due to their roles in the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe.

However, many other gods are also highly esteemed by Hindus, especially those with beneficial powers. For example, Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity and domesticity, Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, art, and music, and Ganesh is the remover of obstacles.

Quick Facts
The three most important gods, referred to as the Trimurti include Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
Even though there are numerous gods and goddesses in Hinduism, they believe that these are all ultimately just varying parts of Brahman, the Supreme Being.
An avatar is the incarnated form of a god or goddess. Its role is to restore dharma, or moral order.
A god or goddess may have many avatars. Vishnu is a well-known example of a god with many avatars.
There are various denominations in Hinduism which are distinguished by the main god that they worship.
Indians also often take names associated with gods, like Hari, another name for Lord Krishna.

Brahma, Hindu God of Creation
Brahma the Creator is the first god listed as one of the Trimurti, along with Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. He is not to be confused with Brahman the Supreme Being, or Brahmin the highest caste in the Hindu caste system. Brahma is depicted with four heads and arms.

Hindu concept of time is cyclical, meaning, that everything gets created by Brahma, preserved by Vishnu, and then destroyed by Shiva. This happens periodically, so that creation is not just a one-time event.

2.Vishnu, Hindu God of Preservation
Vishnu is the blue eagle-riding god with four arms, also known as the Preserver or the Sustainer of life. In accordance with his title, Vishnu’s role is to protect the world from danger, in which case he would be incarnated as various avatars who will defend the world. He represents order, righteousness, and truth.

His two consorts are well-respected in their own right. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and domesticity, while Devi is the Earth goddess. He has a total of ten avatars, but his most famous and commonly worshipped are Rama and Krishna.

3.Shiva, Hindu God of Destruction
Shiva is known as The Destroyer, whose role is to destroy the world that has been created by Brahma and preserved by Vishnu. He can be distinguished by his third eye on his forehead which is usually closed. It is said that he is able to destroy by opening his third eye.

Mahashivrartri is a festival which takes place in February or March, celebrating the wedding of Shiva and Parvati. On this day, Hindus perform rituals such as chanting, fasting, and meditating.

One of the best places to witness the Mahashivrartri celebration is in Varanasi, the home of Kashi Vishwanath temple. This temple is one of the most important Shiva temples in India.

4.Rama, Hindu God of Truth and Virtue (7th Avatar of Vishnu)
Rama is the beloved central character in the legend of Ramayana, one of the epic mythologies of Hinduism. He is portrayed as the ideal human being mentally, spiritually, and physically. The story tells about his struggles as a young prince in exile for 14 years.

Diwali, or Festival of Lights, is a famous Indian festival that celebrates Rama’s triumph over a demon king called Ravana, after which Rama was able to return to his people after 14 years of exile.

The celebration takes place over five days and each day has its own significance. During this festival, light lights around their homes, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The goddess Lakshmi is also commonly worshiped during this festival.

5.Krishna, Hindu God of Love and Compassion (8th Avatar of Vishnu)
Krishna is known as the blue-skinned god commonly depicted playing his flute with seductive powers. He is one of the most well-known gods with a witty and playful character. As one of Vishnu’s avatars, his role is to bring hope to the earth and free it from the evil rulers.

Krishna’s story unravels in Bhagavad Gita, which is the story section of Mahabharatha, the longest poem in the world. In the story, Krishna’s role is as a moral advisor to Arjuna, the main protagonist.

Janmashtami festival in August celebrates the birth of Krishna. During the two-day festival, Hindus pray, fast, sing, and perform enactments of the life of Krishna. In Mumbai, this festival culminates in an exciting activity called Dahi Handi where people form a human pyramid to reach a clay pot of yogurt that hangs from a tall building.

6.Saraswati, Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Art, and Music

Saraswati who is the wife of Brahma, and the daughter of Shiva and Durga (Devi), is the goddess of knowledge, art, and music. She is portrayed sitting on a white lotus and playing the veena which is a traditional stringed instrument.

Hindu students are encouraged to pray to her especially before examinations or other intellectual pursuits as she is believed to be able to impart wisdom.

7.Lakshmi, Hindu Goddess of Prosperity and Domesticity
Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, is the goddess of prosperity, domesticity, beauty, and purity. She is distinguished by her four arms and golden complexion. In Hindu mythology, Lakshmi is incarnated as the avatars of Vishnu’s wives, namely as Sita, the wife of Rama, and Rukmini, the wife of Krishna.

It is common for Indian households to have her image in the home. She is celebrated during the 5-day Divali festival along with Rama.

8.Parvati, The Divine Mother
Parvati is the wife of Shiva and is also known as The Divine Mother. She is the reincarnation of Sati, who is Shiva’s first wife. Her popular avatars are Durga and Kali, the goddess of time and death.

The wives of the Trimurti gods together include Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, are referred to as the ‘Tridevi’, which means triple goddess.

Durga Puja, Hindu Goddess of War (Avatar of Parvati)
Durga is the goddess of war and one of the avatars of Parvati. Reflected in her title, she is a fierce and frightening goddess with ten arms who fights to restore dharma (moral order).

Durga Puja is the celebration of Durga defeating the buffalo demon Mahishasura. This 5-day festival is celebrated in Kolkata and West Bengal every September or October. In the rest of India celebrates Navaratri in place of Durga Puja. The two festivals are similar and actually occur at the same time. During Navaratri, Hindus focus on the purity of their minds and on cleansing negative feelings.

During Durga Puja, each neighborhood competes to make the largest and best statue of Durga which are then paraded around the city for viewing and submerged into the Hugli River on the last day of celebrations.

Ganesha, Hindu Elephant God of Success and Remover of Obstacles
Ganesha, recognizable by his elephant head, is the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is one of the most beloved Hindu gods because of his role as the remover of obstacles and god of success. Pictures or statues of Ganesha can be found in most Hindu households and even hanging in cars or trucks.

The city of Mumbai celebrates his birth through a 10-day festival every year calledGanesh Chaturthi. Similar to Durga Puja, during Ganesh Chaturthi festival, there is a competition between neighborhoods to make the most beautiful statue of Ganesh.

The statue is then given offerings and celebrated with rituals until it is carried to the ocean on the last day and submerged, symbolizing its departure from Earth to the heavens.

Every god and goddess has its own unique characteristics and is celebrated by Hindus in a different way. Experience some of India’s most popular festivals and exotic temples as you learn about Hinduism during your trip to India. Travel with us and learn about how local people worship the Hindu gods through our tailor-made tours and one-on-one service!

Sacred Blooms: Discover the 10 Favorite Flowers of Hindu Gods

“Flowers please the mind and grant prosperity. Hence, men with righteous deeds bestowed the name Sumana on them.”

According to this verse from the epic Mahabharata, when a pious man with a pure heart offers flowers to the deities, the deities become gratified and as a result bestow prosperity upon him.

Yes, flowers play a significant role in almost every religious ritual in Hinduism. Any religious ceremony, be it offering prayers or performing Aarti, is incomplete without flowers. Worshiping Hindu Gods and Goddesses with Hindu flowers that are mentioned in the Hindu mythology that are not only considered auspicious but have their own importance too is considered to be an auspicious deed and therefore, these flowers are an integral part of every pooja. Although any type of flower can be offered to any God yet, there are certain ones that happen to be the favorite flowers of Hindu Gods that can bring you good fortune if offered to Hindu Gods and Goddesses for instance, Mahadev’s favourite flower is considered to be Datura.

Know here what flowers God and Goddesses love to get adorned with:

1. Dhatura

According to the Hindu religious text Vamana Purana, when Lord Shiva drank the poison which was churned out of the ocean by the Gods and demons, Dhatura appeared from the chest of Lord Shiva. Since then, Dhatura has become Lord Shiva’s favorite flower. Hence, Dhatura is offered to Lord Shiva during Shiv Puja to get rid of the poison of ego, rivalry, envy, and hatred. While there are some other Shiva flowers like Akand, and Bael Patra, Ketaki flower is never used in the worship of Shiva. The story of the cursed Ketaki flower serves as a powerful lesson in devotion, integrity, and humility. Lord Shiva, the destroyer of falsehood, teaches that true devotion is not built upon lies and manipulation but on sincerity and authenticity. The exclusion of the Ketki flower from Shiva’s offerings serves as a constant reminder of the consequences of deception and the need for genuine reverence in worship.

2. Red Hibiscus

This enchanting and ravishing red-colored flower is offered to Goddess Kali. It is because the shape of the flower represents Maa Kali’s tongue and it’s red color symbolizes Maa Kali’s fierceness. Thus, in West Bengal, Goddess Kali is adorned with a garland of 108 red Hibiscus flowers during Kali pooja.

3. Parijata

Parijata flower or Night-flowering coral Jasmine is a divine flower whose roots are in heaven since it is a Vishnu flower. This flower is believed to be the favorite of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Laxmi, and their incarnations. According to Hindu mythology, this tree came out as a result of the churning of the ocean by the Gods and demons. Lord Indra found this tree and brought it to heaven where its beautiful and fragrant flowers spread beneath the tree and pleasured the Gods.

4. Lotus

The Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Laxmi sits on a lotus flower and thus, this flower becomes Goddess Laxmi’s favorite flower. If you offer a Lotus flower to goddess Laxmi during Diwali or Laxmi pooja, it will make her gratified and in return, she will grant wealth and good fortune. In fact, if you keep a lotus seed mala or rosary in the temple of your home, it will please Goddess Laxmi.

5. Marigold

All red colored flowers are dear to Lord Ganesha but the saffron yellow flower named Marigold is Lord Ganesha’s favorite flower. Especially Red Genda or Red Marigold flowers are believed to please the Vinayaka greatly. This flower is special because it is the only flower of the Hindu deities that can be divided into its petals. The Marigold’s vibrant petals and its universal appeal make it a fitting emblem of devotion that spans cultures and faiths. From its cherished place in Hindu rituals, where it embodies the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, to its recognition in diverse traditions, the Marigold stands as a testament to the timeless connection between the human spirit and the beauty of the natural world.

6. Palash

The Goddess of knowledge who wears a white saree and sits on a white Lotus, Devi Saraswati is fond of Palash flowers. Although all white colored flowers are liked by Devi Saraswati, Palash flowers are considered to be the essential component in Saraswati puja. In fact, the worship of Devi Saraswati is considered incomplete without Palash flowers.

7. Tulsi

Tulsi, a medicinal plant acts both as a flower and an auspicious leaf which is used in the worship of Lord Krishna. It is because Tulsi or Basil leaves are loved by Lord Krishna and thus, in most of the temples, Tulsi leaf is also offered as Prasada. Hence, Tulsi is also known as Krishna Tulsi. Other flowers like blue Lotus and coral flowers are also loved by Lord Krishna. Tulsi stands as a unique embodiment of devotion, purity, and the divine within the world of flowers. Its presence in Hindu rituals, its rich mythological background, and its remarkable medicinal properties all contribute to its status as a god flower. In gardens, homes, and temples, Tulsi serves as a constant reminder of the harmonious connection between nature, spirituality, and the human spirit.

8. Crown Flower

Lord Shiva’s favorite flower has intrigued devotees and scholars alike for generations, sparking discussions about its symbolism and significance in Hindu mythology. Many enthusiasts of Hinduism often wonder, “What is Lord Shiva’s favorite flower?” This question has led to various interpretations and cultural practices associated with divine offerings.With a white and purple shade, this flower is one of Lord Shiva’s favourite flowers, has five petals along with a crown-like ring and hence the name crown flower. Also known as Akanda, this is a poisonous flower and, therefore is a must-have ingredient for Shiv Puja. Crown flowers have beautiful shades of purple and though considered to be poisonous, the auspiciousness of the flower can be determined by it being used in pujas and offered to Lord Shiva also popular as the destroyer within the Trimurti. Lord Shiva’s favorite flower has intrigued devotees and scholars alike for generations, sparking discussions about its symbolism and significance in Hindu mythology.

9. Red Nerium Oleander

Yet another beautiful choice of flowers, these flowers with beautiful hues of pink and are offered to Goddess Durga, Kali, Gauri as well as her other “Roopas”. This flower is also important in “Tantrik worship” which is yet another important aspect of Hindu mythology. Even the scrubs of these flowers are important when worshipping the Goddesses and it is also believed that the devotee who takes the path of “Tantra” has to worship and complete the related”Mantra Jaap” near a red Oleander tree. For those seeking to perform a puja or any other spiritual ritual,

10. Jasmine

Although Jasmine flowers are known for their fragrance and medicinal properties, these flowers, besides being considered Lord Hanuman’s favourite flower also hold a religious importance. Jasmine is loved by Lord Hanuman and according to the ritual, five Chameli or Jasmine flowers should be offered to please Lord Hanuman. Offering Jasmine oil along with sindoor or vermilion to Lord Hanuman also helps in warding off evils from your life.

Hinduism is one of the most diverse religions in the world and is associated with a multitude of myths and deities. This belief in more than one god brings with it a plethora of festivals. Here, Culture Trip takes a look at Hindu festivals.

Thinking of a trip to India? Join our 10-day adventure through Rajasthan to see the region’s most magnificent highlights, or our nine-day trip to Kerala to explore the southern part of the country.

Diwali
The festival of lights – Diwali or Deepavali – is the most popular festival on the Indian subcontinent. The underlying essence of Diwali revolves around light superseding darkness, or the triumph of goodness over evil. Glimmering diyas (lamps) adorn every nook and cranny of every residence in the evening, and there are also fireworks and a delicious traditional banquet.

Holi is a festival of colour and a harbinger of spring in India. The onset of Holi is marked by the burning of an effigy of Holika – an evil entity from Hindu mythology – to signify the triumph of good over evil. The night of revelry around the bonfire goes on until the embers die. The following morning kicks off with people smearing coloured powder on each other, more carousal and occasionally the consumption of bhang, an intoxicating edible cannabis preparation.

Onam is the official state festival of Kerala, and is celebrated with the utmost fervour and festivities that include traditional sports like boat races and tug of war. The legend behind the celebration of Onam concerns the homecoming of a demigod called Mahabali, and is similar to the legend of Holika and the Holi festival. In both cases, the triumph of hope over despair is celebrated, although Mahabali is regarded with the utmost respect and Holika is not. Onam is growing beyond religious frontiers and establishing itself as a religiously diverse festival in Kerala.

Maha Shivaratri
Shiva is the foremost deity in the Hindu pantheon and regarded as the destroyer. Maha Shivaratri, or ‘the great night of Shiva’, commemorates the supremacy of Shiva. People refrain from sleeping and instead pray to the great lord. Most dedicated disciples of Lord Shiva celebrate Maha Shivaratri by fasting and chanting the hymns to Tandava, a dance performed by Lord Shiva.

Krishna Janmashtami
Lord Krishna has a prominent place in Hindu folklore. Krishna Janmashtami is the joyous festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, with a lot of merriment, dancing and singing. The gaiety of Krishna Janmashtami is often accompanied by competitions, notably breaking a pot filled with yoghurt that is suspended high in the air. Competitors form human pyramids in an attempt to break the pot and spill the contents, which is then formally offered as prasada (ritual offering).

Makar Sankranti
In the Hindu calendar, the sun enters the Makara (Capricorn) part of the zodiac on 14 January every year. Surya (the sun god) is also worshipped all across the country with unparalleled devotion on this day. Although this day is popularly known as Makar Sankranti, the nomenclature varies from state to state, as do the corresponding customs. Tamils call it Pongal, Assamese celebrate it as Bihu and most North Indians call it Lohri. Regardless of the monikers, Makar Sankranti is a festival made unique by its celebrations, ranging from kite-flying to bonfires and riverbank rituals.

Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi’s status as one of the most popular festivals in the country is partly due to its eccentricity, something the festival shares with its corresponding deity, Lord Ganesh. Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva, the destroyer. Yet Ganesh is at odds with his father in his convictions and appearance. His face resembles that of an elephant, while his witty and playful temperament inspires devotion from people of all age groups. Ganesh Chaturthi commemorates the birth of Ganesh with the formal offering of prayers to a clay idol of the deity. The idol is later immersed in a body of water amid further festivities.

Navratri – Dussehra – Durga Puja
Akin to the recurring theme in Hindu mythology of the victory of good over evil, the legend behind the Navratri festival has to do with Lord Rama’s triumph over Ravana, a demonic entity. An alternative legend revolves around the victories of the goddess Durga against the diabolical forces that once walked the face of the Earth. Navratri, meaning nine nights, is a time to honour the deities and plead for their blessings and goodwill.

The invigorating festival centres around the goddess Durga in East India, and goes by the name of Durga Puja. The world-famous Dussehra of Mysore also falls on the final day of Navratri, and the festival as a whole essentially serves as the precursor to the coming Diwali.

Rama Navami
The epic poem of the Ramayana has vast religious significance in Hinduism. Its protagonist, Lord Rama, with his divine prowess and benevolence, slays immoral beings, conquers the realm and establishes order. The day marking the birth of Lord Rama is celebrated as Rama Navami, and the observances include charity, recitals and prayers.

Ugadi
Conforming to the Hindu calendar, Ugadi is New Year’s Day for Hindus. The festival of Ugadi is celebrated predominantly in the South Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Premises are decorated with mango leaves, flowers and other embellishments; floral patterns are drawn on the floor, and savoury snacks are prepared in a bid to welcome the new year on a high note. Additionally, the consumption of bevu bella – a blend of neem (bevu) and jaggery (bella) – is obligatory. Neem is bitter in taste and jaggery is sweet; together, they signify the acceptance of life’s bitterness and happiness in equal parts.

10 Hindu Goddesses You Must Know
These ten Hindu goddesses are important figures in Hinduism. Each one of them represents something different, from prosperity to knowledge and strength. Learn more about each goddess—and how their worship can bring abundance into your life.

You may be well versed in Hinduism, but do you know all ten goddesses and what they stand for?

Let’s explore each one and start with one of my favorite goddesses – the beautiful and soothing…

Lakshmi
Lakshmi is a Hindu goddess of prosperity and wealth. She is the consort of Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism, and also a member of the Tridevi, the triple goddesses. Lakshmi symbolizes good luck, fortune, beauty, grace, fertility, love, and devotion. She is also known as Sri or Thirumagal because of her association with Vishnu.

Lakshmi is represented in Indian art and sculpture in a variety of forms, but she most commonly appears seated, holding two lotuses in her hands, symbolizing wealth and purity. Her four arms represent the four directions of the universe and the wheel of life. Lakshmi is often portrayed with a golden complexion, wearing a red dress and green or gold jewelry.

She is worshipped by Hindus all over the world during special occasions such as Diwali and Navaratri, which celebrate wealth and prosperity. Offerings of flowers, incense, fruits, sweets, and coconuts are made to her as a way to seek her blessings. Through her worship, Hindus hope to attain both worldly and spiritual riches.

In modern times, Lakshmi has become synonymous with wealth and money. She is often used as a symbol of financial success in business circles and markets and is associated with the financial markets themselves. Her energy is believed to bring luck and prosperity, which is why she is invoked on many auspicious occasions.

In conclusion, Lakshmi is a beloved Hindu goddess who brings wealth and fortune to those who worship her. She represents good luck, beauty, grace, fertility, devotion, and love. Through her worship, Hindus hope to achieve both spiritual and worldly riches. She is often used as a symbol of financial success in modern times, and her energy is believed to bring luck and prosperity. Therefore, worshipping Lakshmi can be beneficial for those seeking good fortune in life.

Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess associated with fertility, love, beauty, and devotion. She is the consort of Lord Shiva, one of the most important deities in Hinduism. In some parts of India, she is also known as Uma or Gauri. Her four main aspects are Adi Parashakti (the Primordial Energy), Jagatmata (the Mother of the Universe), Uma (the Light of Consciousness), and Bhavani (the Goddess of Nature).

Parvati is often portrayed as a gentle, nurturing goddess who supports her devotees. She is often associated with ideas such as fertility, compassion, sensuality, and devotion. She symbolizes love, beauty, fertility, intelligence, and strength. She is also the mother of two important Hindu gods: Ganesha (the god of success) and Kartikeya (the god of war).

Parvati’s festivals are celebrated throughout India with great enthusiasm. The most important festival dedicated to her is the nine-day Navratri Festival in April which is celebrated in honor of all nine forms of the Goddess.

Navratri is an important Hindu festival that symbolizes the victory of good over evil and celebrates the divine feminine within each person. Devotees of Parvati often perform rituals such as offering flowers, food, and prayers to her during this festive season.

Parvati is worshiped by millions of Hindus all over the world. She is seen as a symbol of strength, love, and fertility, and her devotees look upon her with great devotion. Her teachings are believed to bring peace and harmony to the lives of her devotees, and she continues to be one of the most beloved Hindu goddesses.

Saraswati
Saraswati is a Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning. She is the consort of Lord Brahma (the creator) and is also sometimes referred to as Vak Devi. In Hinduism, Saraswati represents intellect and creative energy. She has four hands representing various aspects such as wisdom, purity, tranquility, and power. She is usually depicted riding a swan or peacock, some of the symbols of purity and grace.

Saraswati is widely worshipped in India and Nepal during festivals such as Basant Panchami, Vasant Utsav, and Navratri. People offer her prayers for knowledge, progress, and success in their studies and other endeavors.

Her temples are also frequented by musicians to seek divine inspiration while composing music or playing instruments. Her temples often contain musical instruments like veena (stringed instrument), drums, flutes, and cymbals near her idols to highlight her association with music.

In the Hindu tradition, Saraswati is considered an advocate of learning and the development of intelligence. Her four hands are symbolic of the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness, and ego. Hence Saraswati also stands for spiritual enlightenment and inner growth. Worshipping her is believed to bring prosperity and good luck to those seeking knowledge.

As a goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and music, she is one of the most important deities in Hinduism. She symbolizes purity, power, and grace while urging us to strive for excellence in all endeavors through education and creativity.

By praying to Saraswati, we can gain access to the divine source of knowledge, which will ultimately lead us toward spiritual awakening and success in life.

Kali
Kali is the Hindu goddess of time and change. She is considered by Hindus to be a powerful force who brings both good and bad things into people’s lives. She is often depicted as having four arms and wearing a garland of severed heads or skulls, representing her power over death.

Kali also represents Shakti, divine energy, fertility, and prosperity. In some stories, she is said to be born from the brow of Durga, another powerful Hindu goddess.

People worship Kali in many different ways, from simple pujas or prayers to elaborate temple services. She is an important part of Hindu mythology and culture and is often seen as a symbol of empowerment for women. No matter how you view her, Kali represents an important aspect of the religion and is revered by many Hindus throughout the world.

Durga
Durga is a Hindu goddess who represents power, strength, and protection. She is also known for her great courage and fearlessness in fighting evil forces. Durga is often depicted riding a lion or tiger, with multiple arms carrying weapons and symbols of divine energy.

As the embodiment of Shakti (feminine energy), she is said to be the destroyer of all evil and powerful enough to protect her devotees from harm. She is seen as an object of worship in many temples dedicated to her. Devotees celebrate festivals such as Navaratri, during which they honor Durga’s greatness by singing hymns, performing rituals, and offering prayers.

Celebrations include traditional music and dance performances that depict her story and prowess in battle against demons. Her divine power is said to aid in the victory of good over evil and protect those who worship her with devotion. In essence, Durga symbolizes strength, courage, and protection for all devotees.

In Hindu mythology, she is often referred to as “Mahishasuramardini” or “Slayer of Mahishasura,” which identifies her role in defeating the demon Mahishasura. The story behind this legend further reinforces Durga’s strength, fearlessness, and power in protecting the gods from the forces of evil. This event has been commemorated through a nine-day festival known as Navratri, during which celebrations are held throughout India to honor Durga’s triumph over evil. Today, Durga remains a powerful and beloved Hindu goddess who is revered for her strength and courage in protecting devotees from harm.

In Hinduism, Durga’s worship is considered to be very important as she is believed to be the protector of all good things. She is also seen as a symbol of female power that should not be taken lightly or underestimated. Worshipping her with devotion brings peace, prosperity, and well-being into one’s life.

Durga stands out among other Hindu gods due to her unique characteristics and powers. From her fearlessness in the battle against evil forces to her role as a protector of devotees, she is an important deity whose greatness continues to be celebrated in India and around the world. Her divine power remains a source of hope for many, and her legacy lives on through her worshipped status among Hindus worldwide.

Thus, Durga stands out as a powerful goddess who embodies strength, Kundalini Awakening, courage, and protection for all her devotees. Through worshiping Durga’s divine power, one can invoke the blessings from this revered Hindu deity, thereby improving their life with peace, prosperity, and well-being.

Radha
Radha is a beloved Hindu goddess, best known for her divine love and devotion to Lord Krishna. As one of the most important deities in Hinduism, Radha symbolizes pure feminine energy and unconditional, selfless love.

In traditional stories, Radha serves as the representation of divine love between humans and God. She is often portrayed as an epitome of beauty and devotion, with her beauty being compared to that of the full moon. Her teachings emphasize the importance of living a life devoted to Krishna, which is accomplished through meditation, chanting mantras, and selfless acts of service.

Radha’s compassion and understanding are an inspiration for many devotees in their spiritual journeys. She is said to bring inner joy and peace to all who seek her guidance. Radha teaches us that true love is free from expectations and judgments and transcends all boundaries of time, space, and material possessions. Through her example, we find solace in the wisdom that there is something greater than ourselves.

Ganga
Ganga is one of the most beloved and worshipped Goddesses in Hinduism. She is known as a river goddess, and her source is believed to be Lake Manasarovar, high up in the Himalayas. Ganga is seen as an epitome of purity and holiness since she originates from Lord Shiva’s locks.

In Hindu stories, Ganga descended on Earth for the purpose of washing away the sins of mankind, as well as bringing fertility to all lands through which she flowed. Devout Hindus believe that bathing in or touching the waters of the Ganga can bring divine blessings, peace, and salvation.

Pilgrims often congregate at great shrines along the banks of the river Ganges to pay homage to this holy river. Ganga continues to be an important part of Hindu tradition and is considered a symbol of devotion and renewal in the modern age.

Sita
Sita is a principal goddess from the Hindu epic, The Ramayana. She is known for her strength of character and devotion to her husband, Rama. Sita is also revered as an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi – the consort of Lord Vishnu.

Sita was born out of a furrow in the earth and adopted by King Janaka, who raised her as his own daughter. After demonstrating her remarkable strength by lifting Shiva’s bow at her swayamvara (a gathering where suitors gather to win over the bride), she marries Rama, and they embark on their journey together.

Throughout their travels, Sita’s loyalty to Rama never wavers; she is always by his side, willing to do anything he commands. When Rama is exiled from his kingdom, Sita bravely follows him into the forest and works hard to keep their lives as comfortable as possible despite the difficult circumstances.

At the end of their journey, Sita faces immense adversity when she is tested for her purity in a fire ordeal known as agni-pariksha. Although she has been faithful to Rama all along, she must prove it in front of the entire kingdom. In the end, her faithfulness and courage are rewarded, and after being reunited with Rama, they return home together.

In modern Hinduism, Sita is revered for her devotion to Rama and loyalty to her husband. Her story is a reminder of the power of faith and determination in the face of adversity, setting an example for all women who seek strength and courage.

Sita continues to be celebrated throughout India during festivals like Durga Puja, where she is honored alongside Rama as one half of their divine pairing – Ram-Sita, or Sri Ram-Lakshmi (as Sita represents Lakshmi). She remains an important figure in Hindu culture, inspiring Hindus around the world to remain true to their convictions despite any challenges they might face.

Additionally, Sita symbolizes feminine strength and resilience, showing that even in difficult times, women can rise up and take control of their own lives. Her perseverance and devotion to Rama are an example of how loyalty and faith can conquer any obstacle.

In this way, Sita serves as a symbol of hope for many Hindu women today. By connecting with her story, they are reminded that their strength will prevail even in the face of adversity – just like Sita’s did.

Today, Sita continues to be honored and revered in India and around the world. Celebrations such as Ram Navami (a day dedicated to celebrating the birth of Lord Rama) often include honoring the goddess by chanting hymns or retelling stories from The Ramayana. Additionally, temples throughout India feature statues depicting scenes from The Ramayana and honoring Sita in her role as the loyal wife of Rama.

Annapurna
Annapurna is a Hindu goddess of nourishment and abundance. She is often depicted as a beautiful young woman wearing red clothing and holding a basket of food in her hands. Annapurna is regarded as the mother of all nourishing forces in nature and provides sustenance to both humans and deities.

Annapurna’s blessings are said to be infinite, providing an abundance of grains, fruits, and vegetables to cultivate one’s spiritual growth.

Her worship has been popular since ancient times when Hindus celebrated festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu, and Navratri that honor her powers. Temples dedicated to Annapurna are found throughout India, where devotees offer prayers and offerings to the goddess. Annapurna is also associated with the festival of Diwali, which celebrates her powers to provide light and joy to everyone during dark times.

Annapurna’s presence is a reminder of how she gives us sustenance both physically and spiritually. Her devotion reminds us that we are all connected; no matter the path we take, her love will always be there for us, just as it is for her devotees. With her blessings, we can stay nourished in body, mind, and soul. May Annapurna bring abundance into your lives!

Prithvi Mata
Prithvi Mata is a Hindu goddess and the personification of mother earth. She is widely worshipped in Hindu mythology, folklore, ancient texts, and contemporary practices. In Indian culture, Prithvi Mata is considered to be both an aspect of the divine feminine principle, Shakti, and the source from which all other gods are born.

Prithvi Mata is depicted in many sculptures and paintings across India. Some depict her with four arms holding weapons such as a trident or sword; others show her seated on a lotus flower accompanied by elephants or cows.

The most commonly seen image of Prithvi Mata shows her kneeling with two arms raised above her head while embracing a cow. This gesture reflects her role as the provider and protector of all living creatures.

In Hinduism, Prithvi Mata is believed to be the source of both material wealth and spiritual knowledge. It is said that she provides us with the resources necessary for human existence, such as air, water, land, food, minerals, and vegetation. She is also revered for her ability to provide physical and mental strength, enabling us to progress in life.

The worship of Prithvi Mata has been an integral part of Hindu culture for centuries. Devotees make offerings to her during festivals or on special occasions like birthdays or marriage ceremonies. They also pray to her for guidance when facing difficult times in their lives. Prithvi Mata’s blessings are seen as essential for fertility, growth, and prosperity.

Hindus seek to honor the earth and its many gifts by worshipping Prithvi Mata. They recognize that human life would not be possible without her grace and generosity. Hence, Prithvi Mata is a key figure in Hinduism, and her worship forms an important part of tradition and practice.

Hindu Calendar

Hindu calendar is a collective name for most of the luni-sidereal calendars and sidereal calendars traditionally used in Hinduism.

The Hindu calendars have undergone many changes in the process of regionalisation. Some of the more prominent national and regional Hindu calendars include the official Nepali calendar in the himalayan country Nepal and in India Punjabi calendar, Bengali calendar, Odia calendar, Malayalam calendar, Kannada panchanga, Tulu calendar, Tamil calendar, Vikrama Samvat and Shalivahana calendar in the Deccan states of Karnataka , Telangana, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

The common feature of many regional Hindu calendars is that the names of the twelve months are the same (because the names are based in Sanskrit). However, the month which starts the year also varies from region to region.

Most of the Hindu calendars derived from Gupta era astronomy as developed by Āryabhaṭa and Varāhamihira in the 5th to 6th century. These in turn were based on the astronomical tradition of Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa.

Regional diversification took place in the medieval period. The astronomical foundations were further developed in the medieval period, notably by Bhāskara II (12th century). The Indian national calendar or “Saka calendar” was introduced in 1957 based on the traditional Hindu calendars.

The following is a general overview of the Hindu lunisolar calendar.

Day

In the Hindu calendar, the day is the time between the sunrises. There’re five “concepts” (aṅgas). They are :

1) The Phase/Tithi

It refers to 1/30 synodic month, which coresponding to 12° longitudinal angle between the Moon and the Sun. Phase/Tithi varys from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours. The phase decides the date of the day from the sunrise in the phase. If the there’re two sunrise in a phase, the second day is an extra day. If there’s no sunrise in a phase, the phase is a vancant date.

2) The Weekday/Vasara

Vasara refers to the weekdays and the names of the week in many western cultures bear striking similarities with the Vāsara. The term vasara is often realised as vara or vaar in Sanskrit-derived and influenced languages. There are many variations of the names in the regional languages, mostly using alternate names of the celestial bodies involved.

Sanskrit Name : Ravivasara or Bhanu vasara
Hindi Name : Ravivār
English Name : Sunday
Celestial Body : Ravi, Aditya = Sun

Sanskrit Name : Maṅgalavāsara
Hindi Name : Mangalavar
English Name : Tuesday
Celestial Body : Mangala = Mars

Sanskrit Name : Somavāsara
Hindi Name : Somavar
English Name : Monday
Celestial Body : Soa = Moon

Sanskrit Name : Budhavasara
Hindi Name : Budhavar
English Name : Wednesday
Celestial Body : Budha = Mercury

Sanskrit Name : Brihaspativasara or Guruvasara
Hindi Name : Guruvar
English Name : Thursday
Celestial Body : Deva- Guru Brihaspati = Venus

Sanskrit Name : Sukravasara
Hindi Name : Sukravar
English Name : Friday
Celestial Body : Sukra = Venus

Sanskrit Name : Śanivāsara
Hindi Name : Sanivar
English Name : Saturday
Celestial Body : Sani = Saturn

3) The mansion/ Nakṣatra

The ecliptic is divided into 27 Nakṣatras, which are variously called lunar houses orasterisms. These reflect the moon’s cycle against the fixed stars, 27 days and 7¾ hours, the fractional part being compensated for by an intercalary 28th nakṣatra titled Abhijit. Nakṣatra’s computation appears to have been well known at the time of the Rigveda (2nd–1st millennium BC).The nakṣatras are not just single stars but are segments on the ecliptic characterised by one or more stars.

4) The Yoga (1/27 synodic month)

The Sanskrit word Yoga means “union”, but in astronomical calculations it is used in the sense of “alignment”. First one computes the angular distance along the ecliptic of each object, taking the ecliptic to start at Meṣa or Aries (Meṣādi, as defined above): this is called the longitude of that object. The longitude of the sun and the longitude of the moon are added, and normalised to a value ranging between 0° to 360° (if greater than 360, one subtracts 360). This sum is divided into 27 parts. Each part will now equal 800′ (where ‘ is the symbol of the arcminute which means 1/60 of a degree). These parts are called the yoga. The yoga that is active during sunrise of a day is the prevailing yoga for the day.

5) The half phase, Karaṇa (1/60 synodic month)

A karaṇa is half of a tithi. To be precise, a karaṇa is the time required for the angular distance between the sun and the moon to increase in steps of 6° starting from 0°.

Since the tithis are 30 in number, and since 1 tithi = 2 karaṇas, therefore one would logically expect there to be 60 karaṇas. But there are only 11 such karaṇas which fill up those slots to accommodate for those 30 tithis. There are actually 4 “fixed” (sthira) karaṇas and 7 “repeating” (cara) karaṇas.

The 4 fixed karanas are : –

Śakuni
Catuṣpāda
Nāga
Kiṃstughna

The 7 “repeating” karaṇas are : –

Vava or Bava
Valava or Bālava
Kaulava
Taitila or Taitula
Gara or Garaja
Vaṇija
Viṣṭi (Bhadra)

Now the first half of the 1st tithi (of Śukla Pakṣa) is always Kiṃtughna karaṇa. Hence this karaṇa’ is “fixed”.

Next, the 7-repeating karaṇas repeat eight times to cover the next 56 half-tithis. Thus these are the “repeating” (cara) karaṇas. The 3 remaining half-tithis take the remaining “fixed” karaṇas in order.

Thus these are also “fixed” (sthira) and one gets 60 karaṇas from those 11 preset karaṇas.

The Vedic day begins at sunrise. The karaṇa at sunrise of a particular day shall be the prevailing karaṇa for the whole day. Together 5 limbs or properties are labelled under as the pañchāṅgas.

Hindu Month/Zodiac

The astronomical basis of the Hindu lunar day. Also illustrates Kshaya Tithi (Vaishaka-Krishna-Chaturdashi (i.e. 14th)) and Adhika Tithi (Jyeshta- Shukla-Dashami(i.e. 10th)) There are two traditions being followed with respect to the start of the month. Amavasyant (Amanta) tradition followed mainly in the western and southern states of India (namelyAndhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka,Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu) considers a new moon occurring before sunrise on a day to be the first day of the lunar month. Purnimant tradition, on the other hand, considers the next day of a full moon to be the first day of the lunar month. This tradition is chiefly followed in the northern and eastern states of India (Bihar, Himachal Pradesh,Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh). Having the two active traditions in practice would also mean that while the month names of the Hindu lunar calendar remains the same, there is on an average 15 days’ difference in starting and ending of the month between the two traditions. This has its effects in the dates of recurring annual events such as the holy month of Śrāvaṇa.

A month contains two halves(pakṣas), the waxing half and the waning half. Each half is 15 phases long. There are two different systems for making the lunar calendar :

Amāvāsyanta or mukhya mana system – a month begins with a new moon and ends at new moon(the waning half follows the waxing half), mostly followed in south India.

Pūrṇimānta or gauna mana system – a month begins with a full moon and ends at full moon(the waxing half follows the waning half), followed more in north India. Pūrṇimānta is also known as Śuklānta Māsa and this system is recommended byVarāhamihira.

The zodiac decides the number of the month which the zodiac enters. If there’s no zodiac enters a month, the month is an extra month. If there’re two zodiacs enter a month, the second zodiac decides a vacant month.

Hindu Month Names

There are 12 months in Hindu lunar calendar :

Chaitra
Vaiśākha
Jyeṣṭha
Āṣāḍha
Śrāvaṇa
Bhādrapada, Bhādra or Proṣṭhapada
Ashvin
Kārtika
Agrahāyaṇa, Mārgaśīrṣa
Pauṣa
Māgha
Phālguna

Names of months are interesting. It depends on the aster-ism name, the moon is in at full moon day of the month. for e.g. Chaitra month is when full moon is in Citrā nakṣatra , Ashvin month is when full moon is in Aśvinī nakṣatra.

There are 12 rāśi names, there are twelve lunar month names. When the sun transits into the Meṣa rāśi in a lunar month, then the name of the lunar month is Chaitra which has both Mīna rāśi and Meṣa rāśi . When the sun transits into Vṛṣabha rāśi, then the lunar month is Vaiśākha which has both Meṣa rāśi and Vṛṣabha rāśi.

Seasons in Hindu Calendar

If the transits of the Sun through various constellations of the zodiac (Rāśi) are used, then we get solar months, which do not shift with reference to the Gregorian calendar.

The Sanskrit derivation of the lunar month names Chaitra etc. is seen for example in the (lunar) month which has its central full moon occurring at or near the Citrā nakṣatra. This month is, hence, called Chaitra.

Another example is when Pūrṇimā occurs in or near Viśākha nakṣatra, this in turn results in the initiation of the lunar month titled Vaiśākha Māsa.

Similarly, for the nakṣatras Viśākha, Jyeṣṭhā,(Pūrva) Āṣāḍhā, Śravaṇa, Bhādrapadā, Aśvinī, Kṛttikā, Mṛgaśiras, Puṣya, Meghā and (Pūrva/Uttara) Phalguṇī, the names Vaiśākha etc. at pūrṇimā, the other lunar names are derived subsequently.

Adhika Māsa in Hindu Calendar

When the sun does not at all transit into anyrāśi but simply keeps moving within a rāśi in a lunar month (i.e. before a new moon), then that lunar month will be named according to the first upcoming transit. It will also take the epithet of adhika or “extra”. For example, if a lunar month elapsed without a solar transit and the next transit is into Meṣa, then this month without transit is labelled Adhika Chaitra Māsa. The next month will be labelled according to its transit as usual and will get the epithet nija (“original”) or Śuddha(“unmixed”). In the animation above, Year 2 illustrates this concept with Bhadrapada repeating; the first time the Sun stays entirely within Simha rashi thus resulting in an Adhika Bhadrapada.

Extra Month, or adhika māsa (māsa = lunar month in this context) is also known as puruśottama māsa, it is said that the name has been given by Lord Vishnu as his name to this month.

This is been done for bridging of the lunar and solar calendars. Twelve Hindu mas (māsa) are equal to approximately 354 days, while the sun passes through the sidereal zodiac in 365 1/4 days. This creates a difference of about eleven days, which is offset every (29.53/10.63) = 2.71 years, or approximately every 32.5 months. No adhika māsa falls during Kārtika to Māgh.

A month-long fair is celebrated in Machhegaun during adhika māsa. It is general belief that one can wash away all one’s sins by taking a bath in the Machhenarayan’s pond.

Kṣaya Māsa in Hindu Calendar

If the sun transits into two rāshis within a lunar month, then the month will have to be labelled by both transits and will take the epithet kṣaya or “loss”. There is considered to be a “loss” because in this case, there is only one month labelled by both transits. If the sun had transited into only one raashi in a lunar month as is usual, there would have been two separate months labelled by the two transits in question.

For example, if the sun transits into Meṣa and Vṛṣabha in a lunar month, then it will be called Chaitra-Vaiśākha kṣaya-māsa. There will be no separate months labelled Chaitra andVaiśākha.

A Kṣaya-Māsa occurs very rarely. Known gaps between occurrence of Kṣaya-Māsas are 19 and 141 years. The last was in 1983. 15 January through 12 February were Pauṣa-Māgha kṣaya-māsa. February onwards was (Adhika) Phālguna.

Special Case:

If there is no solar transit in one lunar month but there are two transits in the next lunar month, the first month will be labelled by the first transit of the second month and take the epithet Adhika andthe next month will be labelled by both its transits as is usual for a Kṣaya-Māsa. This is a very very rare occurrence. The last was in 1315.

8 October to 5 November were Kārtika Adhika-Māsa.

6 November to 5 December were Kārtika-Mārgaśīrṣa Kṣaya-Māsa.

6 December onwards was Pauṣa.

Month Names, 12 Month Names in English and Hindi

Month Names: Here we are covering 12 month names in English, hindi and total number of days occurring each month, special day and holiday in each month.

Time is a fascinating concept, and it’s one that has been divided and measured by humans in various ways throughout history. One of the most common ways we measure time is through the use of months. Months are the building blocks of our calendar, allowing us to organize our lives, track seasons, and celebrate important events. In this article, we’ll explore the 12 month names in English and Hindi, and provide a list of these months along with the number of days they contain, from January to December.

12 Month Names in English

The English calendar, often referred to as the Gregorian Calendar, consists of twelve months. The 12 month names in English provided in the table below.

12 Month Names in English

January February March

April May June

July August September

October November December

12 Month Names in Hindi

Here are the 12 month names translated into Hindi:

12 Month Names in Hindi

जनवरी फरवरी मार्च

अप्रैल मई जून

जुलाई अगस्त सितंबर

अक्टूबर नवंबर दिसंब

All Month Names

In our calendar, we find a total of 12 months, each with its unique characteristics, special days, holidays, and varying numbers of days. Below, we will cover the specifics of each month, providing comprehensive information about their individual attributes and significance.

January

January kicks off the year as the first month in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It boasts 31 days and is universally celebrated as New Year’s Day. In India, it holds special significance as Republic Day falls on January 26, and it’s also the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23.

February

The second month of the year, February, typically has 28 days but extends to 29 in leap years, with the additional day known as a leap day. In India, February’s weather varies from mild and pleasant at the beginning to a warmer tropical climate by month-end.

March

March, the third month, boasts 31 days and is associated with the Roman god of battle, Mars. As summer approaches, temperatures begin to rise in India, with warmer conditions further south. The vibrant Festival of Colors, Holi, is celebrated throughout March.

April

With 30 days, April is the fifth month in the early Julian calendar. It can be characterized by hot and sunny days as spring nears its end. Rainfall is rare, and the skies remain clear. Notable festivals in this month include Baisakhi, Easter, and Good Friday.

May

May is the third of seven months with 31 days and falls as the fifth month in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s spring, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it marks the height of summer in India, leading to generally high temperatures. Sunscreen and ample hydration are essential. May 1 is celebrated as May Day in many countries.

June

June, the sixth month, spans 30 days. In India, it marks the onset of the monsoon season, with heavy rainfall, particularly in the northeastern and coastal regions. Carrying an umbrella and raincoat is advisable.

July

July is the seventh month, offering 31 days on both the Georgian and Julian calendars. Monsoons reach their peak at the beginning of July, with increased humidity and lower temperatures despite cloudy skies.

August

The eighth month, August, is another 31-day month on both calendars. On August 15, India observes its Independence Day.While temperatures remain warm, rain showers are frequent, and overcast skies are common.

September

September, the ninth month with 30 days, marks the end of the monsoon season that began in mid-June. Rainfall can be light or heavy but is usually brief. September tends to be drier and sunnier in India. The celebration of Teacher’s Day occurs on the 5th of September.

October

October, the tenth month with 31 days, occasionally experiences rainfall and warming temperatures. It signifies the end of the monsoon season in India, heralding the return of warm and sunny weather.World Teacher’s Day is celebrated on the 5th of October.

November

November is the eleventh month, encompassing 30 days. As temperatures begin to cool down and the monsoon season officially concludes, most of India starts its tourist season. The average temperature in India during November is around 23°C (74°F), and November 14 is celebrated as Children’s Day.

December

December, the twelfth and final month in both the Georgian and Julian calendars, has 31 days. In India, December can be quite chilly, especially in the northern Himalayas. The worldwide celebration of Christmas takes place on December 25th.

12 Month Names in English and Hindi

Now, let’s explore the 12 month names in English and Hindi:

12 Month Names in Hindi and English

Month Names in Hindi Month Names in English

जनवरी January

फरवरी February

मार्च March

अप्रैल April

मई May

जून June

जुलाई July

अगस्त August

सितंबर September

अक्टूबर October

नवंबर November

दिसंबर December

12 Month Names List with Number of Days

Here’s a list of the 12 month names in English along with the number of days they contain:

12 Month Names List with Number of Days

Month Names Number of Days

January 31 days

February 28 days (29 in leap years)

March 31 days

April 30 days

May 31 days

June 30 days

July 31 days

August 31 days

September 30 days

October 31 days

November 30 days

December 31 days

The 12 months of the year serve as our constant companions, guiding us through the seasons and helping us mark the passage of time. Whether you’re planning events, tracking the weather, or simply reflecting on the cyclical nature of life, these month names in English and Hindi connect us to our history, culture, and the natural world.

Month Names in Hindi

Hindi, one of the prominent languages in India, possesses its own set of month names. The 12 Hindi month names widely used in North India – Chaitra, Vaisakha, Jyeshta, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwin, Kartika, Agrahayana, Pausha, Magha, and Phalguna – find their astrological origins in ancient Hindu calendars and the Sanskrit language.

Here are the corresponding month names in Hindi:

जनवरी (January)
फ़रवरी (February)
मार्च (March)
अप्रैल (April)
मई (May)
जून (June)
जुलाई (July)
अगस्त (August)
सितंबर (September)
अक्टूबर (October)
नवंबर (November)
दिसंबर (December)

How Month Names pronounced in English

Learning to pronounce the names of the months in English can be a bit challenging, as they have origins from Latin and Roman gods. Here’s a guide on how to pronounce them correctly:

January – (Jan-yoo-air-ee)
February – (Feb-roo-air-ee)
March – (Mar-ch)
April – (Ay-prill)
May – (May)
June – (Joon)
July – (Jy-ly)
August – (Aw-gust)
September – (Sept-em-ber)
October – (Oc-toe-ber)
November – (No-vem-ber)
December – (Di-sem-ber)

Why February Has 28 Days

February has 28 days in a regular year and 29 days in leap years. This happens because of the way the Gregorian calendar is set up:

Most months in the calendar have either 30 or 31 days, but February is an exception with fewer days.

A standard calendar year consists of 365 days. However, it actually takes the Earth approximately 365.24 days to complete its orbit around the sun.

To account for this extra fraction of a day, an additional day is added to February every 4 years. This makes that year a leap year, having 366 days in total.

Therefore, in a leap year, February gets 29 days instead of its usual 28.

The Gregorian calendar was designed in this way to ensure that the calendar stays in sync with the changing seasons over long periods. Since February normally has the fewest days, it was chosen as the month for the extra day (leap day) to minimize disruptions to the other months.

Names of Months in Hindi

The traditional Hindu calendar, used in North India and some parts of South India, features 12 months that are synchronized with the lunar cycle. These Hindi months’ names hold astrological significance and trace their origins back to ancient Hindu texts and the Sanskrit language. Unlike the Gregorian solar calendar, the dates of the Hindi months’ names shift each year in accordance with the solar cycle. Understanding the traditional Hindi months’ names remains culturally relevant, particularly for festivals and religious observances.

The 12 Hindi months’ names, in order, are as follows:

Chaitra (March-April)
Vaisakha (April-May)
Jyeshta (May-June)
Ashadha (June-July)
Shravana (July-August)
Bhadrapada (August-September)
Ashwin (September-October)
Kartika (October-November)
Agrahayana (November-December)
Pausha (December-January)
Magha (January-February)
Phalguna (February-March)

These names not only mark the passage of time but also reflect the rich cultural and religious heritage of India.

Days Name in Month

The days of the week in our calendar have their origins in ancient Roman mythology, specifically from the seven classical planets: the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. These days’ names in English trace back to the Old English period when Germanic people adopted the Roman naming system. In various other languages, the names of the days are also influenced by Roman and Norse gods.

Here’s a breakdown of the names:

Sunday is named after the Sun.
Monday is named after the Moon.
Tuesday is named after Mars.
Wednesday is named after Mercury.
Thursday is named after Jupiter.
Friday is named after Venus.
Saturday is named after Saturn.

Our modern calendar has an uneven distribution of days in each month. January, March, May, July, August, October, and December have 31 days. April, June, September, and November have 30 days, while February has either 28 or 29 days. These irregularities stem from the original Roman calendar and were later corrected in the Gregorian calendar in 1582. However, the number of days per month and their mythological names have remained consistent since Roman times.

Hindu Calendar: Days, Months, Years and Epochs

Background

Dating back to ancient times, different regions of the Indian subcontinent kept track of time using different types of lunar- and solar-based calendars, similar in their principle but different in many other ways. By 1957, when the Calendar Reform Committee established a single national calendar for official scheduling purposes, there were about 30 different regional calendars in use in India and the other nations of the subcontinent. Some of these regional calendars are still used regularly, and most Hindus are familiar with one or more regional calendars, the Indian Civil Calendar and the western Gregorian calendar.

Like the Gregorian calendar used by most western nations, the Indian calendar is based on days measured by the movement of the sun, and weeks measured in seven-day increments. At this point, however, the means of time-keeping changes.

While in the Gregorian calendar, the individual months vary in length to accommodate the difference between the lunar cycle and the solar cycle, with a “leap day” inserted every four years to ensure that a year is 12 months long, in the Indian calendar, each month consists of two lunar fortnights, beginning with a new moon and containing exactly two lunar cycles. To reconcile the differences between the solar and lunar calendars, an entire extra month is inserted about every 30 months. Because holidays and festivals are carefully coordinated with lunar events, this means that dates for important Hindu festivals and celebrations may vary from year to year when viewed from the Gregorian calendar. It also means that each Hindu month has a different starting date than the corresponding month in the Gregorian calendar. A Hindu month always starts on the day of the new moon.

The Hindu Days

Names of the seven days in the Hindu week:

Raviãra: Sunday (day of Sun)
Somavãra: Monday (day of Moon)
Mañgalvã: Tuesday (day of Mars)
Budhavãra: Wednesday (day of Mercury)
Guruvãra: Thursday (day of Jupiter)
Sukravãra: Friday (day of Venus)
Sanivãra: Saturday (day of Saturn)

The Hindu Months

Names of the 12 months of the Indian Civil Calendar and their correlation with the Gregorian calendar:

Chaitra (30/ 31* Days) Begins March 22/ 21*
Vaisakha (31 Days) Begins April 21
Jyaistha (31 Days) Begins May 22
Asadha (31 Days) Begins June 22
Shravana (31 Days) Begins July 23
Bhadra (31 Days) Begins August 23
Asvina (30 Days) Begins September 23
Kartika (30 Days) Begins October 23
Agrahayana (30 Days) Begins November 22
Pausa (30 Days) Begins December 22
Magha (30 Days) Begins January 21
Phalguna (30 Days) Begins February 20* Leap years

Hindu Eras and Epochs

Westerners used to the Gregorian calendar quickly notice that the year is dated differently in the Hindu calendar. Western Christians, for example, all mark the birth of Jesus Christ as year zero, and any year before that is denoted as BCE (before Common Era), while the years following are denoted CE. The year 2017 in the Gregorian calendar is therefore 2,017 years after the assumed date of Jesus’ birth.

Hindu tradition marks large spaces of time by a series of Yugas (roughly translated as “epoch” or “era” that fall in four-era cycles. The complete cycle consists of the Satya Yuga, the Treta Yuga, the Dvapara Yuga and the Kali Yuga. By the Hindu calendar, our present time is the Kali Yuga, which began in the year corresponding to the Gregorian year 3102 BCE, when the Kurukshetra war is thought to have ended. Therefore, the year labeled 2017 CE by the Gregorian calendar is known as the year 5119 in the Hindu calendar.

Most modern Hindus, while familiar with a traditional regional calendar, are equally familiar with the official civil calendar, and many are quite comfortable with the Gregorian calendar, as well.

There are 12 months in Hindu lunar Calendar:

Chaitra (30 / 31* Days) Begins March 22 / 21*
Vaisakha (31 Days) Begins April 21
Jyaistha (31 Days) Begins May 22
Asadha (31 Days) Begins June 22
Shravana (31 Days) Begins July 23
Bhadra (31 Days) Begins August 23
Asvina (30 Days) Begins September 23
Kartika (30 Days) Begins October 23
Agrahayana (30 Days) Begins November 22
Pausa (30 Days) Begins December 22
Magha (30 Days) Begins January 21
Phalguna (30 Days) Begins February 20

12 Months in the HINDU CALENDAR (lunar) :

Chaitra (30 / 31* Days) Begins March 22 / 21*

Vaisakha (31 Days) Begins April 21

Jyaistha (31 Days) Begins May 22

Asadha (31 Days) Begins June 22

Shravana (31 Days) Begins July 23

Bhadra (31 Days) Begins August 23

Asvina (30 Days) Begins September 23

Kartika (30 Days) Begins October 23

Agrahayana (30 Days) Begins November 22

Pausa (30 Days) Begins December 22

Magha (30 Days) Begins January 21

Phalguna (30 Days) Begins February 20

Twelve Hindu mas (māsa, lunar month) are equal to approximately 354 days, while the length of a sidereal (solar) year is about 365 days.

This creates a difference of about eleven days, which is offset every (29.53/10.63) = 2.71 years, or approximately every 32.5 months.

The twelve months are subdivided into six lunar seasons timed with the agriculture cycles, blooming of natural flowers, fall of leaves, and weather. To account for the mismatch between lunar and solar calendar, the Hindu scholars adopted intercalary months, where a particular month just repeated.

The choice of this month was not random, but timed to sync back the two calendars to the cycle of agriculture and nature.

Amanta, Purnimanta systems:

Two traditions have been followed in the Indian subcontinent with respect to lunar months: Amanta tradition which ends the lunar month on no moon day, while Purnimanta tradition which ends it on full moon day.

FESTIVALS/RITUALS

1. Chaitra

The month of Chaitra is also associated with the coming of Spring, since Holi, the spring festival of colour, is celebrated on the eve of Chaitra (namely, the last day of Phalgun month). Exactly 6 days after which the festival of Chaiti Chhath is observed.

In lunar religious calendars, Chaitra begins with the new moon in March/April and is the first month of the year. The first of Chaitra – is celebrated as New Year’s Day, known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Chaitrai Vishu and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Other important festivals in the month are; Ram Navami, the birth anniversary of Lord Ram celebrated on the 9th day of Chaitra, and Hanuman Jayanti that falls on the last day (purnima) of Chaitra.

2. Vaiśākha

The harvest festival of (Baisakhi) is celebrated in this month. Vaisakha Purnima is celebrated as Buddha Purnima or the birthday of Gautama Buddha amongst southern Buddhists or the Theravada school. Purnima refers to the Full Moon. Known in Sinhalese as Vesak, it is observed in the full moon of May

3.Jyaiṣṭha

Vat Pournima is a celebration observed in Maharashtra and Karnataka, India. It is celebrated on the full moon day (the 15th) of the month of Jyeshtha on the Hindu Calendar, which falls in June on the Gregorian Calendar. Women pray for their husbands by tying threads around a banyan tree on this day. It honors Savitri, the legendary wife of Satyavan who escaped death for her husband’s life.

Snana Yatra is a bathing festival celebrated on the Purnima the Hindu month of Jyeshtha. It is an important festival of the Jagannath Cult. The deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, Sudarshan, and Madanmohan are brought out from the Jagannath Temple (Puri) and taken in a procession to the Snana Bedi. They are ceremonially bathed and decorated for a public audience.

Sitalsasthi Carnival is being conducted in this month on the day of Jyeshtha Shuddha Shashthi in Odisha for many centuries

4. Asadha

Guru Purnima, a festival dedicated to the Guru, is celebrated on the Purnima (Full Moon) day of the month. Prior to it Shayani Ekadashi, is observed on the eleventh lunar day (Ekadashi) of the bright fortnight.

5. Sravana

Shravana(jupaka) is considered to be a holy month in the Hindu calendar due to the many festivals that are celebrated during this time. Krishna Janmashtami, marking the birth of Krishna, falls on the 8th day after the full moon. Raksha Bandhan, the festival of brothers and sisters, is celebrated on Shraavana Poornima (Full Moon). This day in Maharashtra is also celebrated as Narali Poornima (Naral in Marathi language means coconut). In the coastal regions of Maharashtra i.e. Konkan, a coconut is offered to the sea for calming it down after the monsoon season. Fishermen now start fishing in the sea after this ceremony. Nag Panchami is also celebrated in many parts of India on the fifth day after Amavasya of Shraavana month. The snake god Nāga is worshiped. The last day of the Shraavana is celebrated as Pola, where the bull is worshiped by farmers from Maharashtra.

In TamilNadu (& also in Kerala) Aadi Amavasaya is celebrated with great importance in all temples. It is an equivalent to Mahalaya Amavasaya of north India.In Karnataka Basava Panchami is celebrated on 5th day after amavasya.

Shravani Mela is a major festival time at Deoghar in Jharkhand with thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims bringing holy water around 100 km on foot from the Ganges at Sultanganj.Shravan is also the time of the annual Kanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage of devotees of Shiva, known as Kanwaria make to Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch holy waters of Ganges River

6. Bhādrapada or Bhādra also Proṣṭhapada

Anant Chaturdashi is a Jain religious observance is performed on the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla paksha) of Bhadrapad month.

Madhu Purnima (Bengali for ‘honey full-moon’) is a Buddhist festival celebrated in India and Bangladesh, especially in the region of Chittagong. It occurs on the day of the full moon in the month of Bhadro (August/September).

7.Asvina

Several major religious holidays take place in Ashvin, including Durga Puja (6-10 Ashvin), Dasehra (10 Ashvin) and Divali (29 Ashvin), Kojagiri festivals and Kali Puja (new moon of Ashvin),

8.Kartika

The festival of Kartik Poornima (15th day Full Moon) falls in this month, celebrated as Dev Deepavali in Varanasi. This coincides with the nirvana of the Jain Tirthankara – Mahavira and the birth of the Sikh Guru Nanak Guru Nanak Jayanti. And also, the well known festival, for the god of Sabarimalai, Ayyappan’s garland festival.

9.Agrahāyaṇa

Vaikuṇṭha Ekādaśī, the Ekādaśī (i.e. 11th lunar day) of this Mārgaśīṣa month, is celebrated also as Mokṣadā Ekādaśī. The 10th Canto, 22nd Chapter of Bhāgavata Purāṇa, mentions young marriageable daughters (gopis) of the cowherd men of Gokula, worshiping Goddess Kātyāyanī and taking a vrata or vow, during the entire month of Mārgaśīṣa, the first month of the winter season (Śiśira), to get Śrī Kṛṣṇa as their husband.

Kālabhairava Aṣṭamī (or Kālabhairava Jayanti) falls on Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa Aṣṭamī of this month of Mārgaśīṣa. On this day it is said that Lord Śiva appeared on earth in the fierce manifestation (avatāra) as Śrī Kālabhairava. This day is commemorated with special prayers and rituals.

10. Pausa

The harvest festival of Pongal/Makar Sankranti is celebrated on this month.

11. Magha

Vasant Panchami, sometimes referred to as Saraswati Puja, Shree Panchami, or the Festival of Kites is a Sikh and Hindu festival held on the fifth day of Magha (in early February) marking the start of spring and the Holi season. On this day Hindus worship Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, art and culture.

Ratha Saptami or Rathasapthami is a Hindu festival that falls on the seventh day (Saptami) in the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu month Maagha. It marks the seventh day following the Sun’s northerly movement (Uttarayana) of vernal equinox starting from Capricorn (Makara).

12.Phalguna

Most parts of North India see early celebration of the famous Hindu festival Holi in this month. Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (Phalguna Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March.

The Hindu festival of Shigmo is also celebrated in Goa and Konkan in the month of Phalguna.

Hindi Months Name: 12 Months of the Year in Hindi and English

Hindi Months Name: All of us know the names of months in English because they are taught to us in school and also, in our homes, we use the English calendar. But do you know the Hindi names of these months? It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re a teacher, a student, or a standard person, no matter you’re, however, you use the month, year, week, etc. as a time unit. but the unhappy factor is that several people don’t know the hindi months name. Here, in this article, we will learn about the names of months in Hindi.

12 Months – English Months Name – Hindi Months Name

Months Name in English Months Names in Hindi

(Hindu Calendar) Months in Devanagari

January पौष – माघ जनवरी

February माघ – फाल्गुन फरवरी

March फाल्गुन – चैत्र मार्च

April चैत्र- वैशाख अप्रैल

May वैशाख- ज्येष्ठ मई

June ज्येष्ठ – आषाढ़ जून

July आषाढ़- श्रावण जुलाई

August श्रावण – भाद्रपद अगस्त

September भाद्रपद – आश्विन सितम्बर

October आश्विन – कार्तिक अक्टूबर

November कार्तिक – मार्गशीर्ष (अगहन) नवम्बर

December मार्गशीर्ष – पौष दिसम्बर

Hindi (Hindu) Calendar

A calendar is generally used to organize days, this is done by giving the name to the period like days, weeks, months, and years. There are so many different types of calendars used around the globe in different communities and one of them is our Hindi Calendar which we also call it Hindu Calendar or Panchang or Panjika. This Panchang is a set of various lunisolar calendars which is used traditionally in Indian sub-continents and Southeast Asia. There is a major difference between the English calendar (the Gregorian calendar) and the Hindi calendar.

Features of the Hindu Calendar

The main features of Hindu calendar are:

This is a multi-dimensional calendar which means it offers a multi–dimensional way of structuring time, combining information about lunar days, solar days, lunar months, and solar months also the movement of the Sun and the Moon in relation to the settler constellation.

It consists of 12 lunar months as well as 12 solar months.
Lunar Months Solar (civil) Months

Chaitra Mīna

Vaisakha Meṣa

Jyeshtha Vṛṣabha

Ashadha Mithuna

Shraavana Karkaṭa

Bhadra Siṃha

Ashvin Kanyā

Kartik Tulā

Agahana Vṛścika

Pausha Dhanu

Magha Makara

Phalguna Kumbha

 Seasons within the Hindu (Hindi) calendar year starts with a New Moon before the Sun enters the Zodiac sign of Aries (Meṣa).

 The Hindu calendar also tracks some more astronomical time spans like Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana.

 The dates of many Hindu holidays are determined according to the lunisolar calendar which means that the festivals coincide with the Full Moon or a New Moon.

Seasons(Ritu) Months as per Hindu Calendar Months (Georgian Calendar/English)

Vasanta (Spring) Chaitra – Vaisakha March-April

Grishma (Summer) Jyeshtha – Ashadha May – June

Varsha (Monsoon/Rainy) Shravana – Bhadra July – August

Sharada (Late Monsoon/Autumn) Ashvin – Kartik September – October

Hemanta (Early Winter) Margashirsha (Agrahayana) – Pausha November – December

Shishira (Winter) Magha – Phalguna January – February

Differences between Hindu and English Calendar

Below are the main difference between the Hindu and English calendar:

English Calendar Hindu Calendar

The Gregorian calendar (English Calendar) is based on the earth’s revolution around the sun.

The Hindu calendar is based on the Moon’s revolution around the earth.

In this calendar, each month out of 12 months has 30 or 31 days except the month of February. February has 28 days normally. Every leap year Feb has 29 days.

Whereas here there are only 30 days in every month.

They add an extra full month after every 32-33 months by complex rules to cover the gap of previous days which is known as “Adhik Maas” or “Purushottam Maas”

According to this calendar, the year starts on 1 January The Hindu calendar begins in Chaitra (March-April).

The name of the months according to this calendar are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.

Here the names are Chaitra, Vaisakha, Jyaistha, Asadha, Shravana, Bhadra, Ashwin, Kartika, Mārgasirsa (Agrahayana), Pausha, Magha, and Phalguna.

As per this calendar, there are four seasons; summer, spring, winter, and autumn.

Whereas here there are six seasons; Vasant Ritu (spring), Greeshma (summer), Varsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn or late monsoon), Hemant (early winter), and Shishira (winter season)

In this Calendar, the whole day is divided into 24 hours with 60 minutes in each hour.

Whereas according to this calendar, the day is divided into 15 muhurtas, each of which has 48 minutes and the night is similarly divided.

In the Gregorian calendar, the days of the week are named after Roman gods, as well as the sun and moon.

In the Hindu calendar, each week has seven days and those are named for Hindu deities. Each day also corresponds with a separate planet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. From which month does the Hindi Calendar start?

Ans. Hindi Calendar starts from Chaitra month (March-April).

Are You Curious to Know the Names of Hindu Months?

Hindu months names are based on the Indian calendar.

Hindu calendar includes 12 months. Let’s find out the more information about these months

12 Hindu Months Names

12 Hindu months are related to solar system. This is also known as Sanskrit Lunar Months.

Hindu Months Corresponding Gregorian Calendar Months

1. Chaitra April – May

2. Vaisakha May – June

3. Jyeshtha June – July

4. Ashadha July – August

5. Shravana August – September

6. Bhadrapada September – October

7. Ashvin October – November

8. Kartik November – December

9. Marghashirshya December – January

10. Pausha January – February

11. Magha February – March

12. Phalguna March – April.

What are the 12 Hindu Months?

Let’s know about 12 months in Hinduism culture.

Chaitra

Chitra is the first Hindu month. This is the Hindu New Year. This begins with the new moon in the April month as per English calendar.

Vaishakh

Vaishakh is the second month in the Hindu Calendar. In many Indian states the harvest festival is celebrated in the Vaishakh.

Jyeshtha

Jyeshtha is the third month of Hindu Calendar. It has 31 days. Traditionally, this month is considered as summer month.

Ashadha

As per the Hindu calendar Ashadha is the fourth month. This is a rainy season month.

Shravana

Shravan month is the 5th month of the Hindu calendar. Hindus considerer this month as holy month. Many people fast in this month and worship God and Goddesses.

Bhadrapada

Bhadrapada is the 6th month in the lunar religious calendar of Hindus. This month is very special for Hindus as people celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadrapada.

Ashvin

Aswayuja is another name for Ashvin month. This is the 7th month in Hindu calendar. This month has many important days and celebrations such as Navaratri and Durga Pooja in Hinduism culture.

Kartik

Karthik is the 8th month. In this month people celebrate Kartik poornima. It means, full moon day in the Kartik. This month welcomes many Hindu festivals such as Diwali.

Marghashirshya

It is the 9th month in Hindu calendar. This is the month of Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebration for Hindus.

Pausha

This is the 10th month and winter month as per Hindu calendar. This month corresponds with January month of English calendar.

Magha

Month number 11 is Magha. This month is named Magha because in this month the moon is found nearby the “Magha” star cluster.

Phalguna

Phalguna is the last and the 12th month in the Hindu Calendar. Hindus celebrate Holi and Shigmo that are famous Indian festivals in this month.

Hindu stories about Krishna for kids-

As a result of a calendar reform in 1957 C.E., the National Calendar of India is a formalized lunisolar calendar in which leap years coincide with those of the Gregorian calendar (Calendar Reform Committee, 1957). However, the initial epoch is the Saka Era, a traditional epoch of Indian chronology. Months are named after the traditional Indian months and are offset from the beginning of Gregorian months (see the table below).

In addition to establishing a civil calendar, the Calendar Reform Committee set guidelines for religious calendars, which require calculations of the motions of the Sun and Moon. Tabulations of the religious holidays are prepared by the India Meteorological Department and published annually in The Indian Astronomical Ephemeris.

Despite the attempt to establish a unified calendar for all of India, many local variations exist. The Gregorian calendar continues in use for administrative purposes, and holidays are still determined according to regional, religious, and ethnic traditions.

Rules for civil use

Years are counted from the Saka Era; 1 Saka is considered to begin with the vernal equinox of C.E. 79. The reformed Indian calendar began with Saka Era 1879, Caitra 1, which corresponds to C.E. 1957 March 22. Normal years have 365 days; leap years have 366. In a leap year, an intercalary day is added to the end of Caitra. To determine leap years, first add 78 to the Saka year. If this sum is evenly divisible by 4, the year is a leap year, unless the sum is a multiple of 100. In the latter case, the year is not a leap year unless the sum is also a multiple of 400. Table 5.1.1 gives the sequence of months and their correlation with the months of the Gregorian calendar.

Months of the Indian Civil Calendar Days Correlation of Indian/Gregorian

1. Caitra 30* Caitra 1 March 22*

2. Vaisakha 31 Vaisakha 1 April 21

3. Jyaistha 31 Jyaistha 1 May 22

4. Asadha 31 Asadha 1 June 22

5. Sravana 31 Sravana 1 July 23

6. Bhadra 31 Bhadra 1 August 23

7. Asvina 30 Asvina 1 September 23

8. Kartika 30 Kartika 1 October 23

9. Agrahayana 30 Agrahayana 1 November 22

10. Pausa 30 Pausa 1 December 22

11. Magha 30 Magha 1 January 21

12. Phalguna 30 Phalguna 1 February 20

* In a leap year, Caitra has 31 days and Caitra 1 coincides with March 21.

Principles of the religious calendar

Religious holidays are determined by a lunisolar calendar that is based on calculations of the actual postions of the Sun and Moon. Most holidays occur on specified lunar dates (tithis), as is explained later; a few occur on specified solar dates. The calendrical methods presented here are those recommended by the Calendar Reform Committee (1957). They serve as the basis for the calendar published in The Indian Astronomical Ephemeris. However, many local calendar makers continue to use traditional astronomical concepts and formulas, some of which date back 1500 years.

The Calendar Reform Committee attempted to reconcile traditional calendrical practices with modern astronomical concepts. According to their proposals, precession is accounted for and calculations of solar and lunar position are based on accurate modern methods. All astronomical calculations are performed with respect to a Central Station at longitude 82°30’ East, latitude 23°11’ North. For religious purposes solar days are reckoned from sunrise to sunrise.

A solar month is defined as the interval required for the Sun’s apparent longitude to increase by 30o, corresponding to the passage of the Sun through a zodiacal sign (rasi). The initial month of the year, Vaisakha, begins when the true longitude of the Sun is 23° 15’ (see table below). Because the Earth’s orbit is elliptical, the lengths of the months vary from 29.2 to 31.2 days. The short months all occur in the second half of the year around the time of the Earth’s perihelion passage.

Solar Months of the Indian Religious Calendar Sun’s Longitude deg min Approx. Duration d Approx. Greg. Date

1. Vaisakha 23 15 30.9 Apr. 13

2. Jyestha 53 15 31.3 May 14

3. Asadha 83 15 31.5 June 14

4. Sravana 113 15 31.4 July 16

5. Bhadrapada 143 15 31.0 Aug. 16

6. Asvina 173 15 30.5 Sept. 16

7. Kartika 203 15 30.0 Oct. 17

8. Margasirsa 233 15 29.6 Nov. 16

9. Pausa 263 15 29.4 Dec. 15

10. Magha 293 15 29.5 Jan. 14

11. Phalgura 323 15 29.9 Feb. 12

12. Caitra 353 15 30.3 Mar. 14

At right, Rajputs are leading a camel herd to Pushkar, India. Each year during Kartik Purnima, which is the full moon in the Indian calendar month of Kartika, thousands of Rajputs lead their camels across the desert to the town of Pushkar for the annual camel fair. They come to sell, buy, and trade animals.

Lunar months are measures from one New Moon to the next (although some groups reckon from the Full Moon). Each lunar month is given the name of the solar month in which the lunar month begins. Because most lunations are shorter than a solar month, there is occasionally a solar month in which two New Moons occur. In this case, both lunar months bear the same name, but the first month is described with the prefix adhika, or intercalary. Such a year has thirteen lunar months. Adhika months occur every two or three years following patterns described by the Metonic cycle or more complex lunar phase cycles.

More rarely, a year will occur in which a short solar month will pass without having a New Moon. In that case, the name of the solar month does not occur in the calendar for that year. Such a decayed (ksaya) month can occur only in the months near the Earth’s perihelion passage. In compensation, a month in the first half of the year will have had two New Moons, so the year will still have twelve lunar months. Ksaya months are separated by as few as nineteen years and as many as 141 years.

Lunations are divided into 30 tithis, or lunar days. Each tithi is defined by the time required for the longitude of the Moon to increase by 12o over the longitude of the Sun. Thus the length of a tithi may vary from about 20 hours to nearly 27 hours. During the waxing phases, tithis are counted from 1 to 15 with the designation Sukla. Tithis for the waning phases are designated Krsna and are again counted from 1 to 15. Each day is assigned the number of the tithi in effect at sunrise. Occasionally a short tithi will begin after sunrise and be completed before the next sunrise. Similarly a long tithi may span two sunrises. In the former case, a number is omitted from the day count. In the latter, a day number is carried over to a second day.

History of the Indian calendar

The history of calendars in India is a remarkably complex subject owing to the continuity of Indian civilization and to the diversity of cultural influences. In the mid-1950s, when the Calendar Reform Committee made its survey, there were about 30 calendars in use for setting religious festivals for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jainists. Some of these were also used for civil dating. These calendars were based on common principles, though they had local characteristics determined by long-established customs and the astronomical practices of local calendar makers. In addition, Muslims in India used the Islamic calendar, and the Indian government used the Gregorian calendar for administrative purposes.

Early allusions to a lunisolar calendar with intercalated months are found in the hymns from the Rig Veda, dating from the second millennium B.C.E. Literature from 1300 B.C.E. to C.E. 300, provides information of a more specific nature. A five-year lunisolar calendar coordinated solar years with synodic and sidereal lunar months.

Indian astronomy underwent a general reform in the first few centuries C.E., as advances in Babylonian and Greek astronomy became known. New astronomical constants and models for the motion of the Moon and Sun were adapted to traditional calendric practices. This was conveyed in astronomical treatises of this period known as Siddhantas, many of which have not survived. The Surya Siddhanta, which originated in the fourth century but was updated over the following centuries, influenced Indian calendrics up to and even after the calendar reform of C.E. 1957.

The author Pingree provides a survey of the development of mathematical astronomy in India. Although he does not deal explicitly with calendrics, this material is necessary for a full understanding of the history of India’s calendars.

Learning about Hindu Calendars

Calendars have been used for thousands of years to help us keep track of time and important events. Most of the world uses the Gregorian calendar, but did you know that there are more calendars still in use today, such as the Chinese calendar, the Islamic calendar, the Jewish calendar, and the Hindu calendars?

Do you know what calendars your ancestors used to keep track of cultural and personal life events?

Lunar and Solar Calendars

Calendars are usually based on the moon, the sun, or a combination of both. Lunar calendars, such as the Hijiri or Islamic calendar, are based on cycles of the moon. Solar calendars, such as the Gregorian calendar, are based on the position of the earth in its orbit around the sun. Lunisolar calendars, such as the Saka Samvat, use both the moon and the sun to calculate time.

To mark seasons and help organize Hindu celebrations and astrology, several calendars have been established throughout the centuries. At one time, there were 30 calendars in use in India! Some of the calendars used in Hindu countries today are the Saka Samvat, the Vikram Samvat, the Hijiri, the Tamil Calendar, and the Gregorian calendar.

Saka Samvat

Known as the India national calendar, the Saka Samvat is a lunisolar calendar. This calendar is also used in various countries in the Indian subcontinent, such as Bali and Java, and even exists in places outside that region, such as the Phillipines.

The Saka Samvat was adopted as the official calendar of India in 1957, and it is used in news broadcasts and government communications. It has 365 days divided into 12 months, similar to the Gregorian calendar. The new year begins during the month of Chaitra (around March 21 in the Gregorian calendar).

This calendar has a different starting year than the Gregorian calendar. Using the Gregorian calendar, the Saka Samvat’s year 0 is 78 AD, the year Kanishka the Great ascended the throne, an important person in ancient Indian history. This difference means that the Saka Samvat count is 78 years behind the Gregorian calendar, though 79 years behind from January to March. For example, the Gregorian year 2023 in the month of October is the year 1945 in the Saka Samvat calendar.

The image to the right is from The Gazette of India, an official publication that still uses the Saka Samvat. You can see that the date for this particular publication is written in both the Gregorian date and the Saka Samvat date.

Vikram Samvat

The Vikram Samvat is used in northern and western regions of India and other countries in the Indian subcontinent, is a lunar-based calendar. A lunar year is only 354 days, about 11 days shorter than a solar year.

To make up the difference, every third year, an extra lunar month is added. This month is known as Adhik, and is observed as a more auspicious month of the year.

This calendar in particular is used to keep track of auspicious days based on the Hindu religion. As one of the national calendars in Nepal, the Vikram Samvat sets the dates each year for important holidays and festivals.

The Vikram Samvat has a different starting year than the Gregorian calendar. Using the Gregorian calendar, the Vikram Samvat’s year 0 is 56 BC, which is supposedly the year the legendary King Vikramaditya invaded a neighboring land and declared the new Vikram era. This difference means that the Vikram Samvat appears to be 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar, though only 56 years ahead from January to April. For example, the Gregorian year 2023 in the month of July is the year 2080 according to the Vikram Samvat.

Hindu Calendar Names

There are several websites available to convert dates to help calculate your ancestors’ important dates.

Vikram Samvat Gregorian

Baishakh April–May

Jestha May–June

Ashadh June–July

Shrawan July–August

Bhadra August–September

Ashwin September–October

Kartik October–November

Mangsir November–December

Poush December–January

Magh January–February

Falgun February–March

Chaitra March–April

Saka Samvat Gregorian

Chhaitra March 21–April 20

Vaishakha April 21–May 21

Jyeshtha May 22–June 21

Ashadha June 22–July 22

Shravana July 23–August 22

Bhaadra August 22–September 22

Ashwin September 23–October 22

Kartika October 23–November 21

Agrahayana November 22–December 21

Pausha December 22–January 20

Magha January 21–February 19

Phalguna February 20–March 20/21

Hindu Festivals

Sacred days, holidays, and festivals are an important part of Hindu worship and culture. Whether based on the Vikram Samvat or the Saka Samvat, these special days are an important part of culture in the Indian subcontinent.

Given the months based on the Gregorian calendar, could you convert the below holidays to months based on the Vikram Samvat or the Saka Samvat?

Diwali, or the festival of lights, is a religious festival held usually between mid-October and mid-November.
Navaratri is a celebration of fertility and harvest. It is held in spring around March and April and in fall around September and October.
Holi is sometimes known as the festival of colors. Occurring in spring around the end of March, Holi celebrates new beginnings and triumph of good over evil.
Krishna Janmashtami is a celebration of Krishna’s birthday, usually in August or September.
Raksha Bandhan is usually held in August. This celebration honors the bond between brother and sister.
Maha Shivaratri is the great festival of Shiva and overcoming darkness and ignorance. Held in late winter around February and March, it is observed with prayers, fasting, and meditation.

Starting Your Hindu Family Research

Calendars are used to keep track of important life events, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Whether your ancestors used the Vikram Samvat, the Saka Samvat, the Gregorian calendar, or something altogether different, do you know when their important life events happened?

FamilySearch is a free genealogy site that helps you record what you know about your ancestors. Collect stories, records, and images from living family members to start building a time line of your ancestors’ lives. Once you’ve added all this information to FamilySearch, begin researching to learn more!

WHAT IS SO RIGHT ABOUT THE HINDU CALENDAR?

Time and space are two wonders, which extends infinitely behind and ahead of us at the same time. It has made human wonder and explore the outer realms of space and gaze at stars as if to search for patterns, regularities, periods and intervals. He sought answers on how to measure time, in the astronomical phenomena manifesting in the sky.

The primitive man hunted during the day and rested in the night. But, when he transformed from a hunter to a farmer growing crops, he inevitably needed to relate his agricultural operations to the sun and the moon. He started observing the cyclical pattern in seasonal changes and in the waxing and waning of the moon. The necessity of a developing a framework for time-keeping increased, as man grew as a social animal and engaged in more trades. To linearize the time-scale, he sought to calibrate it with the path and duration of sun, moon and stars in the sky.

Computation and calculation of time was a hallmark of all ancient civilizations. Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilization had their abiding interest in chronology and astronomy. The oldest and the largest civilization, the Indus valley civilization, was by far the most advanced and sophisticated in terms of chronological and astronomical acumen. They even had professional astronomers, called ‘nakshatra darshaks’ or ‘star gazers’, who meticulously observed and recorded the phases of the moon in reference to fixed constellations of stars. This method of calculation and its precision, sharply distinguishes Indian astronomy from the astronomy of all other countries.

How is the Hindu calendar different from Western calendar?

Difference of Western and Indian calendar lies in the frame of reference. The western calendar is based on the sun, where a year is defined as the time taken by the earth to traverse one orbit around the sun. Advanced scientific instruments have measured this to be precisely 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds. This solar year comprises of 12 arbitrarily designated months — all of which have either 30 or 31 days, except February, which has 28 in common years and, 29 every fourth year (called the leap year).

The Indian calendar is ingeniously based on both the sun as well as the moon. It uses a solar year, but divides it into 12 lunar months. A lunar month, is the time required for the moon to orbit once around the earth and pass through its complete cycle of phases. Furthermore, these months are formulated in accordance with the successive entrances of the sun into the 12 rashis or the signs of the zodiac derived from the 12 constellations marking the path of the sun.

Origins of Gregorian and Hindu calendar system

A brief historical preview of the Western calendars will help explain why the Indian system is so precise and scientific. The present day western calendar has its origin from the ancient Roman calendar. The term ‘calendar’ has it origin from the first month of Roman calendar- ‘Kalendea’. In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar announced a reformation in the system of dating, called the Julian calendar. It was the Greek astronomer, Sosigenes, who advised Caesar to have this new calendar, because he calculated the length of the solar year to be 365¼ days. To compensate for errors that had accumulated over previous years, Caesar decided to allocate 445 days to the first year. Not surprisingly, 46 BCE later became infamous as ‘The Year of Confusion’. Unfortunately, because of other misunderstandings, the new calendar was not in smooth operation until 8 CE.

In 730 CE, St. Bede the Venerable, an Anglo-Saxon monk, miscalculated and announced that the 365¼ day Julian year was 11 minutes and 14 seconds too long. On the basis of Bede’s calculation, the accumulative effect of the error in Julian calendar had shifted the dates by 14 days, by the 16th century. Displacement of almost a day per century! Pope Gregory VIII in 1582 and ordained a reformation to restore the calendar to its ‘correct’ schedule. The resolution from the Pope Gregory too was flawed because he estimated only a 10-day adjustment. And so the change was effected, by advancing the calendar by 10 days on 4th October 1582. The following day became 15 October 1582! The foibles in the omission and commission, was so evident that the vernal (spring) equinox which occurred on 21st March in 325 CE had shifted to 11th March in 1582!

Needless to say, the non-Catholic countries were reluctant to accept the new Gregorian calendar. It was not until the turn of the 20th century that Russia and Greece converted to Gregorian calendar system. England, too, adopted it very late in 1752. Many Christians abhorred the new system, because the New Year’s Day, which had until then been celebrated on 25th March, had to be moved to 1st January. The major bone of contention though was the Easter Sunday. The Christian ecclesiastical (church) calendar was originally bound by the belief that Jesus’ resurrection was on a Sunday, and so Easter should always fall on a Sunday. Later, it was decreed that the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox should be regarded as Easter Sunday. Despite all this, though, the date still varies from astronomical reckoning because certain important factors of the lunar period were not considered.

The present day Gregorian calendar commences from, the ‘year of grace’, which signifies the year in which Jesus was born, and the beginning of the Christian Era. The year is followed by the initials ‘AD’ which stand for ‘Anno Domini’, which in Latin means ‘in the year of our Lord’. But the Bible clearly gives reference to Jesus being born during the reign of King Herod, who died in 4 BC! All of Christendom now universally accepts that Jesus was born between 8–4 BC.

On the other hand, references from Vedic literature show that the knowledge of chronology (science of Time) and chronometry (scientific measurement of Time) existed even during Vedic times, thousands of years before the Christian era. Knowledge of planetary motions, constellations, eclipses, solstices, seasons, etc. has existed since the beginning of the Vedic age. A method of distributing time into various periods such as days, fortnights, months and years was adopted for the purposes of civic life, these divisions being intimately connected with the affairs of the people. And because of the very fact that the Indian calendar was devised to serve the affairs of day-to-day living, it was allowed the freedom of being both lunar and solar. The Rig Veda, cites months being lunar, but years luni-solar.

This means that there was a constant correlation between the solar year and its monthly lunar divisions. A lunar month is precisely 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes and 3 seconds long. Twelve such months constitute a lunar year of 354 days 8 hours 48 minutes and 36 seconds. To help the lunar months coincide with the solar year, the practice arose of inserting intercalary (extra) months. In general, 60 solar months = 62 lunar months. And so an extra month, called the Adhik Maas (extra month), is inserted every 30 months, approximately every 2½ years. Such a practice was prevalent even in Vedic times. An intercalary month mentioned in the Rig Veda {Vedamãso dhrutavrato dvãdasha prajãvatah; vedã ya upajãyate. (I/25:8)} proves that the month was added to preserve the correspondence between a whole solar year and the 12 lunations.

Such an adjustment assures that the seasons, festivals, etc. retain their general position to the solar year. That is why, for example, Diwali always falls between late October and early November. The omission of intercalary months to the lunar months would have resulted in festivals falling at different times of the year, every year. This is exactly what is lacking in the lunar month system followed according to the Islamic calendar, wherein Muslim festivals such as Eid and Ramadan never fall at the same time every year.

A lunar month is divided into 30 lunar days. Lunar days in the Indian calendar are called tithis. They, too, are calculated very scientifically using the difference of the longitudinal angle between the position of the sun and the moon. Each tithi is defined by the time required for the longitude of the Moon to increase by 12° over the longitude of the sun. The Vedic astronomers had knowledge the orbit of the moon around the earth was elliptical and calculated the duration of each lunar day(or tithi). The length of a tithi was allowed to vary in length from about 20 hours to nearly 27 hours. That is why we find at certain times, a tithi being ‘omitted’, and at certain times, two consecutive days sharing the same tithi.

Ancient Indian astronomers had terms for measurements of time as minute as 34,000th a second! The precision, accuracy and scientifically-proven system of Hindu calendar became popular in Nepal, Tibet, Thailand, Java, as well as the Islamic West and other regions of south-east Asia. Several Indian texts on astronomy got translated into Chinese, during the Sui and Thang Dynasties (581–907CE). Foreign astrologers and astronomers were attracted to India from as far as Persia and Arabia. David Pingree noted this positive influence during his extensive study of the history of Indian literature. He writes in Jyotishastra — Astral and Mathematics Literature, Volume IV– “The basic traditions of Indian astronomy imposed on these external [Babylonian, Greek and Islamic] systems its peculiar stamp, and transformed the science of Mesopotamia, Greece and Iran to something unique to India.”

The two-part lunar month

In the Indian calendar, the month follows the phases of the moon. The interval between two consecutive new moons (no moon) or full moons was the basis of calculating the length of a month. Two systems of month-reckoning were prevalent in different parts of India at different times: the Purnimanta system — in which the month ends with a full moon; and the Amasanta system — in which the month ends with a ‘no moon’ night. Each month is divided into two parts or pakshas- the Shukla paksh and the Krishna paksh. When the moon waxes from new moon to full moon, it is the Shukla paksh (light lunar fortnight). When the moon wanes from the full moon to the new moon, it is the Krishna paksh (dark lunar fortnight). Each paksh is consisting of 15 Tithis. The first day of Shukla paksh starts with Amavasya (‘no moon’) and reaches Purnima (full moon) on the 15th tithi, thereafter starts the first day of Krishna paksh, which ends in new moon on 15th tithi of Krishna paksh. This system of dissecting a month equally into two, and again into 15, is a truly ingenious, logical and simple.

The seven day week

The Hindu calendar system as per the Vedic scriptures does not have any mention about a week concept. This concept of a seven-day clustered week was adopted from the Greeks around third century CE. Vāsara or Vara refers to the weekdays whose names are based on zodiac planets. The Hindu names of the week show great correlation with other Indo-European calendars. For example the latin name of monday being Lunae, which means the moon, whereas the Sanskrit equivalent is ‘Soma’, and hence monday is ‘Soma-Vāsara’

Just like months, the Hindu calendar has two measures of a day, one based on the lunar movement and the other on solar. The solar day or civil day, called divasa, has been what most Hindus traditionally use, is easy and empirical to observe, with or without a clock, and it is defined as the period from one sunrise to another. Traditionally, and quite logically it seems, a new day begins at sunrise (not midnight), and the night, at sunset (not after noon or evening).

Seasons within the Hindu calendar

It is even more interesting, how the solar year was classified on the basis of seasons. The 12 lunar months of a solar year are divided into six ritus (seasons), each comprising of approximately two months. Since the seasons are solar based, each of the six seasons — Sharad (late monsoon), Hemant (early winter), Shishir (winter), Vasant (spring), Grishma (summer) and Varsha (monsoon)- commence around the 21st date (±2) of each even month of the Western calendar.

The Hindu calendar recognizes the importance of the summer solstice and winter solstice in a solar year, determining the six seasons. The Dakshinayana or the sun’s southern course starts from June 21 till December 21, during which the day-length is successively getting shorter until it is the shortest in december. The Uttarayana or the sun’s northern course progresses from December 21 until June 21, during which the day-length gets successively longer until it is the longest in June. Sun reaches the equinox twice in a year, during which the length of day and night are equal. The first point is Vernal Equinox in March 20(Vasant Sampaat). The other point is called Autumnal Equinox in September 22(Sharad Sampaat).

When does the year start?

The start of the year varies from one region to another, predominantly based on the cultural as well as agricultural harvest season. In most regions, the year starts on the New Moon before the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries (Meṣa). This happens on or around the day of the March equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It is during this time of the year that the grains have been harvested and the new season of sowing starts. It follows the spring equinox (Vasant Sampat) and generally falls on 14 April of the Gregorian year. The same date is observed as the traditional new year in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Tripura, Bihar, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh. Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Sinhalese in Sri Lanka also celebrate the same day as their new year.

Hindu Calendars

The Hindu Calendar is of two types:

the solar calendar or the saura maana, and

the lunisolar calendar or the chaandra maana.

We will describe both in detail in this article.

The Basic Structure

The structure of the Hindu Calendar is of course composed of days making months making years. The system of describing days is the same in both the solar and lunisolar calendars. The system of describing months and hence years is what distinguishes the solar and lunisolar calendars from each other. We shall first describe the day, then the months and year of the solar calendar, and then the months and year of the lunisolar calendar. Then we shall speak about year numbering and the 60 names of the years.

The Day

The Hindu calendrical day starts with local sunrise. It is allotted five “properties”, called anga-s. They are:

the tithi active at sunrise

the weekday

the nakshatra in which the moon resides at sunrise

the yoga active at sunrise

the karana active at sunrise.

Together these are called the panchaanga-s where pancha means “five” in Sanskrit. An explanation of the terms follows.

Tithi

The angular distance (measured anticlockwise) between the sun and moon as measured from the earth can vary between 0° and 360°. This is divided into 30 parts. Each part ends at 12°, 24° etc. The circle ends at 360°. The time spent by the moon in each of this parts (i.e. the time taken for the angular distance to change by 12°) is called one tithi.

The month has two paksha-s or fortnights. The first 15 tithi-s constitute the bright fortnight or shukla paksha and the next 15tithi-s constitute the dark fortnight or krishna paksha. Tithi-s are indicated by their paksha and ordinal number within thepaksha. The 15th tithi of the bright fortnight (full moon) is called puurnimaa and the 15th tithi of the dark fortnight (new moon) is called amaavaasyaa.

The tithi in which the moon is at the time of sunrise of a day is taken to be the tithi for the day.

Weekday

The weekdays are as usual seven. They are (starting from Sunday):

Ravi vaasara

Soma vaasara

Mangala vaasara

Budha vaasara

Guru vaasara

Shukra vaasara

Shani vaasara

There are many other variations of these names, using other names of the celestial bodies of the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. The word vaasara means “weekday”.

Nakshatra

The ecliptic (circle on the sky in which the sun, moon and planets seem to move) is divided into 27 nakshatra-s, which are variously called lunar houses or asterisms. The starting point for this division is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star Spica called Chitraa in Sanskrit. (Other slightly-different definitions exist.) It is called Meshaadi or the “start of Aries”. The ecliptic is divided into the nakshatra-s eastwards starting from this point.

The names of the nakshatra-s are given below. As always, there are many versions with minor differences. The names in parentheses give roughly the correspondence of the nakshatra-s to modern names of stars. Note that nakshatra-s are (in this context) not just single stars but are segments on the ecliptic characterised by one or more stars. Hence you will find many stars mentioned for one nakshatra.

Nakshatra to star correspondence

Nakshatra

Star(s)

Ashvinii

β and γ Arietis

Bharanii

35, 39, and 41 Arietis

Krittikaa

Pleiades

Rohinii

Aldebaran

Mrighashiirsha

λ, φ Orionis

Aardraa

Betelgeuse

Punarvasu

Castor and Pollux

Pushya

γ, δ and θ Cancri

Aashleshaa

δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae

Maghaa

Regulus

Puurva Phalgunii

δ and θ Leonis

Uttara Phalgunii

Denebola

Hasta

α to ε Corvi

Chitraa

Spica

Svaatii

Arcturus

Vishaakhaa

α, β, γ and ι Librae

Anuuraadha

β, δ and π Scorpionis

Jyeshtha

α, σ, and τ Scorpionis

Muula

ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis

Puurva Ashaadhaa

δ and ε Sagittarii

Uttara Ashaadhaa

ζ and σ Sagittarii

Shravana

α, β and γ Aquilae

Shravishthaa

α to δ Delphinis

Shatabhishaj

γ Aquarii

Puurva Bhaadrapada

α and β Pegasi

Uttara Bhaadrapada

γ Pegasi and α Andromedae

Revatii

ζ Piscium

The nakshatra in which the moon lies at the time of sunrise of a day is the nakshatra for the day.

Yoga

First, the angular distance along the ecliptic of any object on the sky, measured from Meshaadi (as defined above) is called the longitude of that object. Now when the longitude of the sun and the longitude of the moon are added, they produce a value ranging from 0° to 360°. (Values greater than or equal to 360° must be reduced to less than 360° by subtracting 360°.) Now this is divided into 27 parts. Each part will now equal 800′ (where ‘ is the symbol of the arcminute which means 1/60 of a degree.) Now these parts are called the yoga-s. They are labeled:

Vishkambha

Priiti

Aayushmaan

Saubhaagya

Shobhana

Atiganda

Sukarman

Dhriti

Shuula

Ganda

Vriddhi

Dhruva

Vyaaghaata

Harshana

Vajra

Siddhi

Vyatiipaata

Variiyas

Parigha

Shiva

Siddha

Saadhya

Shubha

Shukla

Braahma

Aindra

Vaidhriti

Again, minor variations many exist. The yoga that is active during sunrise of a day is the yoga for the day.

Karana

A karana is half of a tithi. Since the tithi-s are 30 in number, one would expect there to be 60 karana-s. But there are only eleven. There are four “fixed” karana-s and seven “repeating” karana-s. The four “fixed” karana-s are:

Kimstughna

Shakuni

Naaga

Chatushpaad

The seven “repeating” karana-s are:

Bava

Baalava

Kaulava

Taitila

Gara

Vanija

Vishti

Now the first half of the first tithi (of the bright fortnight) is always Kimstughna karana. Hence this karana is “fixed”.

Next, the seven repeating karana-s repeat eight times to cover the next 56 half-tithi-s. Thus these are the “repeating”karana-s.

The three remaining half-tithi-s take the remaining “fixed” karana-s in order. Thus these are also “fixed”.

The karana active during sunrise of a day is the karana for the day.

The Month and Year of the Solar Calendar

Now that the days are defined, we shall speak of how the solar calendar reckons its months and year.

As has been previously noted, the sun is observed to travel along the ecliptic. The ecliptic is now divided into twelve parts called raashi-s, starting from the point of Meshaadi defined above and moving eastwards. They are:

Mesha

Vrishabha

Mithuna

Kataka

Simha

Kanyaa

Tulaa

Vrishchika

Dhanus

Makara

Kumbha

Miina

These are the Sanskrit equivalents of the zodiac – Aries etc.

The day on which the sun transits into each raashi before sunset is taken to be the first day of the month. In case the sun transits into a raashi after a sunset but before the next sunrise, then the next day is the first day of the month. (Minor variations on this definition exist.)

The days are then labeled 1, 2, 3…. till the first day of the next month.

Thus we get twelve months with varying lengths of 29 to 32 days. This variation in length is because the path of the earth around the sun is an ellipse. The months are named by the raashi in which the sun travels in that month.

The new year day is the first day of the month of Mesha. Currently, it occurs around April 15th on the Gregorian calendar.

This is the structure of the Hindu Solar Calendar.

The Months of the Lunisolar Calendar

When a new moon occurs before sunrise on a day, that day is said to be the first day of the lunar month. The days are not labeled separately from 1 as in the solar calendar, but the tithi is their only label. When two successive days have the sametithi, the latter is called an adhika tithi where adhika means “extra”. Sometimes, one tithi may never touch a sunrise, and hence no day will be labeled by that tithi. It is then said to be a tithi kshaya where kshaya means “loss”.

The lunar month names are:

Chaitra

Vaishaakha

Jyaishtha

Aashaadha

Shraavana

Bhaadrapada

Aashvayuja

Kaartika

Maargashiirsha

Pausha

Maagha

Phaalguna

Naming Lunar Months

The naming of the lunar months is somewhat complex. It is based on the raashi into which the sun transits within a lunar month, i.e. before the new moon ending the month.

Extra Months

There are twelve raashi names, there are twelve lunar month names. When the sun transits into Mesha raashi in a lunar month, then the name of the lunar month is Chaitra. When the sun transits into Vrishabha, then the lunar month isVaishaakha. So on.

When the sun does not at all transit into any raashi but simply keeps moving within a raashi in a lunar month (i.e. before a new moon), then that lunar month will be named according to the first upcoming transit. It will also take the epithet of adhikaor “extra”. For example, if a lunar month elapsed without a solar transit and the next transit is into Mesha, then this month without transit is labeled adhika Chaitra. The next month will be labeled according to its transit as usual and will get the epithet shuddha or “clean”. [Note that an adhika month is the first of two whereas an adhika tithi is the second of two.]

An adhika maasa (month) occurs once every two or three years.

Lost Months

Now if the sun transits into two raashi-s within a lunar month, then the lunar month will be labeled by the first transit and will take the epithet kshaya or “loss”. Actually, the month “lost” is the month which would have been labeled by the second transit. For example, if the sun transits into Mesha and Vrishabha in a lunar month, then it will be called Chaitra kshaya. There will be no month labeled Vaishaakha. Sometimes a kshaya is named by both months, so: Chaitra-Vaishaakha Kshayain which case the implication would be that the two months have merged (for religious purposes, see below).

A kshaya maasa occurs very rarely. Known gaps between occurrence of kshaya maasa-s are 19 and 141 years. The last was in 1983 CE. Jan-15 through Feb-12 were Pausha(-Maagha) kshaya. Feb-13 onwards was (adhika) Phaalguna and notMaagha. Maagha was “lost” that year.

Special Case: If there is no solar transit in a lunar month but there are two transits in the next lunar month,

the first month will be labeled by the first transit of the second month (as usual) and take the epithet adhika and

the next month will be labeled by its first transit (as usual) and take the epithet kshaya.

By one calculation, the last such occurrence was in 1963 CE. Oct-18 to Nov-16 midday were adhika Kaartika. From then on to Dec-15 were Kaartika(-Maargashiirsha) kshaya. Dec-16 onwards was Pausha, not Maargashiirsha.

Handling of religious observances in case of extra and lost months

Among normal months, adhika months, and kshaya months, the earlier are considered “better” for religious purposes. That means, if a festival should fall on the 10th tithi of the Aashvayuja month (this is called Vijayadashamii) and there are twoAashvayuja months, the first adhika month will not see the festival, and the festival will be observed only in the second nijamonth. However, if the second month is Aashvayuja kshaya then the festival will be observed in the first adhika month itself.

A festival which is to be observed on a month that was lost will be observed on the corresponding “previous” i.e. kshayamonth. For example, the festival of Mahaashivaraatri which is to be observed on the fourteenth tithi of the dark fortnight ofMaagha was, in 1983 CE, observed on the corresponding tithi of Pausha kshaya, since in that year, Maagha was lost, as we mentioned above.

The Year of the Lunisolar Calendar

The new year day is the first day of the month of Chaitra. In case of adhika Chaitra or Chaitra kshaya the rules outlined above will apply.

Correspondence of the Lunisolar Calendar to the Solar Calendar

A lunisolar calendar is always a calendar based on the moon’s celestial motion, which in a way keeps itself close to a solar calendar based on the sun’s (apparent) celestial motion. That is, the lunisolar calendar’s new year is to kept always close (within certain limits) to a solar calendar’s new year.

Since the Hindu lunar month names are based on solar transits, and the month of Chaitra will, as defined above, always be close to the solar month of Mesha, the Hindu lunisolar calendar will always keep in track with the Hindu solar calendar.

Year numbering and names

The epoch (starting point or first day of the first year) of the current era of Hindu calendar (both solar and lunisolar) is BCE3102 January 23 on the proleptic Gregorian calendar (i.e. the Gregorian calendar extended back in time before its promulgation from 1582 October 15). Both the solar and lunisolar calendars started on this date. After that, each year is labeled by the number of years elapsed since the epoch.

This is a unique feature of the Hindu calendar. All other systems use the current ordinal number of the year as the year label. But just as a person’s true age is measured by the number of years that have elapsed starting from the date of the person’s birth, the Hindu calendar measures the number of years elapsed. Today (as of writing this on 2005-05-18) the elapsed years in the Hindu calendar are 5106 and this is the 5107th Hindu calendar year. Note that the lunisolar calendar year will usually start earlier than the solar calendar year.

Apart from this numbering system, there is also a cycle of 60 calendar year names, which started at the first year (at elapsed years zero) and runs continuously:

Prabhava

Vibhava

Shukla

Pramoda

Prajotpatti

Aangirasa

Shriimukha

Bhaava

Yuvan

Dhaatu

Iishvara

Bahudhaanya

Pramaathin

Vikrama

Vrisha

Chitrabhaanu

Svabhaanu

Taarana

Paarthiva

Vyaya

Sarvajit

Sarvadhaarin

Virodhin

Vikrita

Khara

Nandana

Vijaya

Jaya

Manmatha

Durmukha

Hemalambi

Vilambi

Vikaarin

Shaarvari

Plava

Shubhakrit

Shobhana

Krodhin

Vishvaavasu

Paraabhava

Plavanga

Kiilaka

Saumya

Saadhaarana

Virodhikrit

Paritaapin

Pramaadin

Aananda

Raakshasa

Nala

Pingala

Kaalayukti

Siddhaarthin

Raudra

Durmati

Dundubhi

Rudhirodgaarin

Raktaaksha

Krodhana

Akshaya

Eras

Hindu mythology speaks of four eras or ages, of which we are currently in the last. The four are:

Krita Yuga

Tretaa Yuga

Dvaapara Yuga

Kali Yuga

They are often translated into English as the golden, silver, bronze and iron ages. (Yuga means era.) It is believed that the ages see a gradual decline of dharma, wisdom, knowledge, intellectual capability, life span and emotional and physical strength. The epoch provided above is the start of the Kali Yuga. The Kali Yuga is 432,000 years long. The Dvaapara, Tretaaand Krita Yuga-s are said to be twice, thrice and four time the length of the Kali Yuga respectively. Thus they together constitute 4,320,000 years. This is called a Caturyuga.

A thousand and a thousand (i.e. two thousand) caturyuga-s are said to be one day and night of the creator Brahmaa. He (the creator) lives for 100 years of 360 such days and at the end, he is said to dissolve, along with his entire Creation, into the Eternal Soul or Paramaatman or Brahma (different from Brahmaa).

Hindu Months Name & Corresponding Gregorian Months

There are 12 months in Hindu Calendar. Hindus Follows Lunar & Solar calendars.

In some calendar Chaitra is the First Month, In Some Calendars Baisakhi is the first month. Example in Bengali calendar Vaisak is the first month, in Gujarati Calendar Kartik is the first month of the year.

But all festivals falls on the same day as per Gregorian calendar.

Apart from these 12 months, Adhik Masa is there which falls once in 3 years.

1. Chaitra (March/April)

Chaitra is also known as Chet, Choitro, Chaitramu, Chaitram, Chaiti. In different regions, it is called with a different name.

Chaitra Masam or Chait Mahina is the first month in Lunar Hindu calendar. It is the last month in Bengali calendar & Nepali calendar.

As per Gregorian calendar, Chaitra Masa falls in March/April.

2. Vaishak (April/May)

Second Hindu month Vaishak Masam is also called as Vaisakha or Vishaka Mahina. In Orissa, Bengali and Punjabi calendar it is known as Baisakha. In Tamilnadu, it is called as Vaikasi.

The name of the month is Vaishaka came from the position of the moon near the star Vaishakha.

Bengalis celebrate new year day on Vaishakha Sankranthi.

As per Gregorian calendar, Vaishaka Masa falls in April/May.

3. Jyeshta (May/June)

Jyeshta is the third month in Hindu calendar.

In Bengal, it is known as Joishtho.

As per Gregorian calendar, Jyeshta Mahina falls in May/June.

4. Ashadha Month (June/July)

Ashadha is the third month in Hindu calendar.

Corresponding Gregorian calendar month for Bengali calendar is Asarh, the third month for Bengalis.

5. Shravan or Sawan or Sravana Masam (July/August)

Sawan or Sravana Mahina is the fifth month in Hindu calendar.

This month coincides with July and August.

Hindu women, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamilnadu, and Karnataka observes fasting by performing puja to Goddess Lakshmi, Gayathri, Saraswati, Parvathi, etc.

6. Bhadrapada Masam (August/September)

Bhadrapada is also known as Bhadra or Bhaado or Bhadraba.

As per Gregorian calendar Bhadrapada falls in August/September.

7. Ashwin or Aswayujamwin (September/October)

Ashwin month is also known as Asvin or Aswayuja. As per Gregorian, it falls in the month of September/October.

In Tamil calendar, this month is known as Aipasi.

8. Karthika Masam (October/November)

Kartika month is known as Karthikai or Kartika or Kartik.

In Gujarati, Calendar Kartika is the first month.

As per Gregorian this month falls in October/November.

9. Margashiram or Mrigashiva or Margashirsha (November/December)

Margasirsa month is known as Margashira or Mrigashiram or Agrahayana.

Agrahayana is derived from Agra = First, Ayana = Travel of the Sun (Equinox).

As per Gregorian this month falls in November/December.

10. Paush or Pushya Masam (December/January)

Paush month is the tenth Month of the year.

As per Gregorian this month falls in December/January.

It is also spelled as Pausha or Poush.

11. Magh or Magha Masam (January/February)

Magha is the 11^th month in Hindu Calendar.

As per Gregorian this month falls in January/February.

During this month, Magh Mela is the important festival celebrated in north India.

12. Phalguna Masam (February/March)

Phalguna month is also known as Phalgun. This is the last month in Hindu calendar.

According to Bengali calendar, this is the 11^th month & Chaitra is the last month.

In Gujarati calendar, this is the fifth month, as Gujarati New Year starts in Kartik month.

Hindu Calendar!? 12 Months-Copied by everyone as it is!!

Hindu Calendar is called “Panchang”(पंचांग) in Hindi. It generally follows the lunar cycle instead of Solar Cycle like in typical “Gregorian Calendar.” Hindu Calendar is in use in India since ages immemorial. The official Calendar of India is also based on Lunar Cycle Calendar which is “Saka Samvat”. Samvat is a Hindi translation of Calendar, Indian Government also uses Gregorian Calendar along with Hindu Calendar.

This Calendar is used by the native faiths of India like Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, etc. All these faiths follow Hindu Panchang for their day to day business.

Composition of Hindu Calendar

Hindu Calendar or Samvat or Panchang all are same, consists of 12 Months. It is very strange and fascinating thing that Hindu Calendar is the one which has been followed by every other Calendar in the world exists today, the only difference is that the names are changed but the basic structure is still exactly similar to the Hindu Calendar.

1. A month includes

a. Paksha (cycle of moon)

(I). Krishna Paksha: It is the phase of moon cycle in which moon is under ‘waning phase’. It goes from full moon size to no moon with each day diminishing it’s luster. This phase consists of around 15 days.

(II). Shukla Paksha: It is the very next phase of moon cycle starts just after the ‘waning phase’ finishes. It is also called ‘Waxing phase’ in which moon goes from no moon to full moon. This phase is also consists of around 15 days similar to the Krishna Paksha.

b. Tithi (the dates)

Tithi is the term that is used in Hindu Calendar referred to as dates in Gregorian Calendar. The Catch here is that date starts from 1 and goes up until 15. But again after 15 the date would start from 1 even if it is the same month.

It goes along with each Paksha (cycle of moon). When Krishna Paksha starts, the dates start from 1 and goes up until 15. Again when Shukla Paksha starts, the date becomes 1 and goes up to 15.

Pronunciation of Dates or Tithis in Hindu Calendar.

1. Padva (1st) 8. Ashtami (8th)

2. Dwitiya or Dauj or Dooj (2nd) 9. Navmi (9th)

3. Tritiya or Teej (3rd) 10. Dashami (10th)

4. Chaturth or Chauth (4th) 11. Ekadashi (11th)

5. Pancham or Panchami (5th) 12. Dvadashi (12th)

6. Shashthi (6th) 13. Trayodashi or Tyoras (13th)

7. Saptami (7th) 14. Chaudash (14th)

15. Amavas (when it is no moon or last day of Krishna Paksha) 15th

16. Poornima (when it is full moon or last day of Shukla Paksha) 15th

Circulation of Hindu Calendar

In Hindu Calendar there is no concept of adjusting the due dates of the year into the month of February after every 4 years or so. In Hindu Calendar each moth according to the cycle of the moon adjust dates each month. That’s why it is very common in Hindu Calendar that sometimes we miss tithis or skip them. And sometimes two days consists of same Tithi.

For example if today is Dauj (2^nd) it might happen that tomorrow would also be Dauj or tomorrow would be Chauth or Chaturth (4^th). It all depends on moon cycle, the most fascinating thing about Hindu Calendar is that it has been calculated for thousands of years in future as to at which date which moon phase would be there and Tithis are assigned already, some few thousands of years back by Hindu Mathematicians and Astrologers. Even today same calculated Calendar is being followed and there is not even a zilch of mistake in that calculation.

Hindu Festivals and Hindu Calendar

Hindus all over the world follows this Calendar and all their festivals are in sync with it. Irrespective of the last year celebration day of Diwali, it is not sure that next year would also be the same Gregorian date. It would differ, but Tithi would remain same for the next year as it was last year for any Hindu festival.

1. Ram Navmi (Birth of Bhagwan Ram) – It is celebrated on the Navmi (9th) of Shukla Paksha in the Month of Chaitra (The very first month of Hindu Calendar)

2. Hanuman Jayanti (Birth of Hanuman, the servant of Bhagwan Ram) – It is celebrated on the Poornima (15th) of Shukla Paksha in the Month of Chaitra.

3. Diwali – It is celebrated on the Amavas (15th) day of Krishna Paksha in the Month of Kartika or the 8th Month of Hindu Calendar.

Hindus are the Oldest and the Only living civilization in this entire world. They are the most ancient by their culture, no one is older than them. Their heritage and their knowledge is very rooted inside the science and logic. But because of the long centuries of subjugation by Muslim and British Invaders, their development was hampered. Now they are rising again and doing the same good things that they have been doing since ages along with following their roots and culture.

Name of 12 months in Marathi and English – Hindu Months in Marathi

Hindu months name in Marathi language

There are 12 months in Hindu lunar Calendar.Marathi months do not exactly match with English months.

January – जानेवारी

February – फेब्रुवारी

March – मार्च

April – एप्रिल

May – मे

June – जून

July – जुलै

August – ऑगस्ट

September – सप्टेंबर

October – ऑक्टोबर

November – नोव्हेंबर

December – डिसेंबर

चैत्र – Chaitra

वैशाख – Vaishakh

ज्येष्ठ – Jeshta

आषाढ – Ashad

श्रावण – Shravan

भाद्रपद – Bhadrapad

आश्विन – Ashwin

कार्तिक – Kartik

मार्गशीर्ष – Margashirshya

पौष – Paush

माघ – Maagh

फाल्गुन – Falgun

चैत्र – Chaitra – April to May

Chaitra begins with the new moon in April. The first day of this month is called Gudi Padwa, which marks the day of Hindu new year.

वैशाख – Vaishakh – May to June

Akshay trutiya is celebrated in Vaishakh.It is season of crop harvesting and the second month of hindu calendar.

ज्येष्ठ – Jeshta – June to July

Maharashtrians celebrate vat purnima in this month. This is third month of hindu calendar.

आषाढ – Ashad – July to August

In this fourth month, Maharashtrians celebrate Gurupurnima and ashadi ekadashi celebrate.

श्रावण – Shravan – August to September

This fifth month brings also the festivals of Naagpanchimi and Narali purnima.

भाद्रपद – Bhadrapad – September to October

This is month marks the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.

आश्विन – Ashwin – October to November

Navratri celebrated in the seventh month of Ashwin.

कार्तिक – Kartik – November to December

Diwali is celebrated in the month of Kartik.

मार्गशीर्ष – Margashirshya – December to January

Dattajayanti is celebrated in Margashirshya

पौष – Paush – January to February

Sankranti is celebrated in this month.

माघ – Maagh – February to March

Mahashivratri is celebrated in this month. On this day, people worship lord Mahadev.

फाल्गुन – Falgun – March to April

This is last month in the Hindu calendar. Holi is celebrated in this month.

जर तुम्हाला Months flashcard पाहिजे असतील तर आम्हाला ई-मेल करा.

Hindu Month Name Importance in Detail:

1. Chaitra

The period between March to April is recognized as Chaitra. Chaitra is the first month of the year, according to the Hindu calendar. Various Hindu festivals fall between March to April. The starting day of Chaitra is celebrated as ‘Gudi Parwa’ popularly known as New Year’s Day in Maharashtra. Chaitra Vishu in Tamil Nadu and Ugadi in Karnataka is also celebrated by several people.

Also, Ram Navami, which is remembered as the birthday of Lord Ram and Hanuman Jayanti, is celebrated by Hindus in this auspicious month of Chaitra. The famous Bengali festival ‘Charak puja’ falls in this month only. The Meaning of the Word ‘Chaitra’ is spring.

Festival:

Gudi Parwa
Chaitra Vishu
Ram Navami
Hanuman Jayanti
Charak puja
Somvati Amavasya

2. Vaisakha

The month of April /May in the Gregorian calendar is named ‘Vaisakha’ in the Hindu calendar. Vaisakha starts on 15th April and ends on 15th May. The first day of Vaisakha is celebrated with Bengali New Year. This particular day marks the starting of a business in West Bengal. Generally, people celebrate this day by giving sweets to customers. According to the Punjabi calendar, this auspicious month of Vaisakha is known for its Harvest festival and it marks the Punjabi New year.

Vaisakha Purnima marks the birthday of Lord Gautama Buddha and people from South East Asia celebrate this day joyously. In Tamil Nadu, Vaisakha Purnima holds great importance as it marks the birthday of Lord Murugan. Narasimha Jayanthi Festival is also celebrated in the most famous Lakshmi Narasimha Swamivari Temple.

Festival:

Bengali New Year
Vaisakha Purnima
Narasimha Jayanthi

3. Jyeshtha

According to the Hindu calendar, Jyeshtha is the third month of the year. Also named Joishtho in Bengali. The period between May to June is known as Jyeshtha. Various Hindu festivals are celebrated this month. On the New moon day or Amavasya, Shani Dev Jayanti is celebrated. On the 10th day of Jyeshtha, Ganga Dussehra is celebrated to get rid of our sins. In Maharashtra, Vat Purnima is celebrated on 15th June. This festival holds utter importance as wives pray for their husband’s long lives by tying thread around the banyan tree to honour Savitri.

The important festival of Jagannath Cult is Snana Yatra where the idols of Jagannath Temple are given a religious bath and decorated beautifully. Sitalsasthi Carnival is also an auspicious festival celebrated in Odisha in the month of Jyeshtha.

Festival:

Shani Dev Jayanti
Ganga Dussehra
Vat Purnima
Jagannath Cult

4. Ashadha

In the Hindu calendar, the fourth month of the year is referred to as Ashadha or Aadi. Ashadha lies between 22nd June to 22nd July and it starts on the new moon. The first festival celebrated in Ashadha is Rath Yatra. Rath Yatra is a festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath and is mainly celebrated in Puri. Guru Purnima is a festival dedicated to our teachers, and it is celebrated in Purnima.

Other festivals like Shayani Ekadashi and Aadi Amavasya are other festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu. The beginning of the Monsoon season is celebrated by farmers by throwing muds at each other and singing plantation songs. They also eat rice and curd in this season.

Festival:

Rath Yatra
Guru Purnima
Shayani Ekadashi
Aadi Amavasya

5. Shraavana

Shraavana starts in the last days of July and ends in the third week of August. It is the second month of monsoon and heavy rainfall is experienced in the whole month. Shraavana is auspicious for Hindus because usually, people keep fast in this month. People worship Lord Shiva on Monday and Goddess Parvati on Tuesday. Festivals celebrated this month are Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmashtami, Narya Poornima, Nag Panchami, Basava Panchami, Avani Avittam Shri Baladeva birthday, Gamha Purnima, Kajari Purnima, Pavitropana Pavitra Ekadashi, Jandhyam Poornima, Salono, pola, and Shravani Mela.

Festival:

Raksha Bandhan
Krishna Janmashtami
Narya Poornima
Nag Panchami
Basava Panchami
Avani Avittam Shri Baladeva birthday
Gamha Purnima
Kajari Purnima
Pavitropana Pavitra Ekadashi
Jandhyam Poornima
Salono
pola
Shravani Mela

6. Bhadrapada

Bhadrapada is the sixth month of the Hindu calendar. It starts on 23^rd August and ends on 22^nd September. List of famous festivals celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada are Krishna Janmashtami, Radha Janmashtami, Haritalika Tritiya, Ganesh Chaturthi, Karam, Rishi Panchami, Shukla Chaturdashi, Anant Chaturdashi, and Madhu Purnima. In some parts of Tamil Nadu, people visit Vaishnava temples during this month.

Festival:

Krishna Janmashtami
Radha Janmashtami
Haritalika Tritiya
Ganesh Chaturthi
Karam
Rishi Panchami
Shukla Chaturdashi
Anant Chaturdashi
Madhu Purnima

7. Ashvin

Ashvin is the seventh month of the year, according to the Hindu calendar. It is also known as Aswayuja. Ashvin lies between September and October in the autumn season. Festivals celebrated in this auspicious month are Navaratri, Durga Puja, Kojagiri Purnima, Vijayadashami or Dussehra, Diwali festival including Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdasi, Lakshmi Puja, and Kali Puja.

Festival:

Navaratri
Durga Puja
Kojagiri Purnima
Vijayadashami
Dussehra
Diwali
Dhanteras
Naraka Chaturdasi
Lakshmi Puja
Kali Puja
Sakat Chauth

8. Kartika

Kartika is the eighth month of the year, according to the Hindu calendar. Kartika lies between October and November. Kartik Poornima, which is also known as Dev Deepavali, is celebrated this month. Lord Mahavira Nirvana and Sikh Guru Nanak’s birthday also falls in this month. Bharatrudwitiya is a festival celebrated by brothers and sisters all over the country and it falls on the second day of Kartika.

Some other festivals celebrated this month are Balipratipada, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Kartik Poornima, Sohrai, Kartik Ekadashi, Diwali, and Nag Nathaiya.

Festival:

Kartik Poornima also known as Dev Deepavali
Mahavira Nirvana
Guru Nanak’s birthday
Bharatrudwitiya
Balipratipada
Govardhan Puja
Bhai Dooj
Kartik Poornima
Sohrai
Kartik Ekadashi
Diwali
Nag Nathaiya

9. Agrahayana

Agrahayana is the ninth month of the year, according to the Hindu calendar. It lies between December and January. According to some religious beliefs, Agrahayana starts with the entry of the sun into Sagittarius. Festivals like Bhairava Ashtami, Mokṣadā Ekādaśī, and Manabasa Gurubara are celebrated this month.

Festival:

Bhairava Ashtami
Mokṣadā Ekādaśī
Manabasa Gurubara

10. Pausha

Pausha is the tenth month of the year, according to the Hindu calendar. It lies between December and January. The starting and ending date of this month varies every year. Some important festivals like Makar Sankranti and Pongal fall in this month. In Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamyvari Temple, people celebrate Pausa Bahula Amavasya’s day.

Festival:

Makar Sankranti
Pongal
Pausa Bahula Amavasya

11. Magha

Magha is the eleventh month of the year, according to the Hindu calendar. Magha is the name of a famous Sanskrit poet. Some festivals like Vasant Panchami and Saraswati are celebrated this month.

Festival:

Vasant Panchami

12. Phalguna

Phalguna is the last month of the year, according to the Hindu calendar. It lies between February and March. For people living in Gujarat, Phalguna is the fifth month of the year. Festivals like Holi, Shivratri, Gaura-Purnima, Shigmo are celebrated this month.

Festival:

Holi
Shivratri
Gaura-Purnima
Shigmo

Hindu Month: FAQ

Which month is good for marriage in hindu

January (15, 20, 23, 27, 28, 29)
February (05, 11, 18, 21, 22)
March (04)
April (17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 28)
May (02, 03, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, 31)
June (06, 08, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22)
July (03, 05, 06, 08)
November (04, 21, 24, 25, 27)
December (02, 07, 08, 09, 14)

What is the first month of hindu calendar

The period between March to April is recognized as Chaitra. Chaitra is the first month of the year, according to the Hindu calendar.

Which hindu month is diwali observed on

Kartika
Kartika is the eighth month of the year, according to the Hindu calendar. Kartika lies between October and November.

May month in hindu calendar

Jyeshtha is the third month of the year. Also named Joishtho in Bengali. The period between May to June is known as Jyeshtha. Various Hindu festivals Shani Dev Jayanti
Ganga Dussehra, Vat Purnima, Jagannath Cult celebrated in the month of Jyeshtha.

Hindu calendar

The Hindu calendar is of two types:

the solar calendar or the saura māna

the lunisolar calendar or the chāndra māna

Both are described in this article.

Basic structure

The structure of the Hindu calendar is of course composed of days making months making years. The system of describing days is the same in both the solar and lunisolar calendars. The system of describing months and hence years is what distinguishes the solar and lunisolar calendars from each other. We shall first describe the day, then the months and year of the solar calendar, and then the months and year of the lunisolar calendar. Then we shall speak about year numbering and the 60 names of the years.

Day

The Hindu calendrical day starts with local sunrise. It is allotted five “properties”, called anga-s. They are:

the tithi active at sunrise

the weekday

the nakshatra in which the moon resides at sunrise

the yoga active at sunrise

the karana active at sunrise.

Together these are called the panchānga-s where pancha means “five” in Sanskrit. An explanation of the terms follows.

Tithi

The month has two paksha-s or fortnights. The first 15 tithi-s constitute the bright fortnight or shukla paksha and the next 15 tithi-s constitute the dark fortnight or krishna paksha. tithi-s are indicated by their paksha and ordinal number within the paksha. The 15th tithi of the bright fortnight (full moon) is called pūrnimā and the 15th tithi of the dark fortnight (new moon) is called amāvāsyā.

The tithi in which the moon is at the time of sunrise of a day is taken to be the tithi for the day.

Weekday

The weekdays are as usual seven. They are (starting from Sunday):

Ravi vāsara

Soma vāsara

Mangala vāsara

Budha vāsara

Guru vāsara

Shukra vāsara

Shani vāsara

There are many other variations of these names, using other names of the celestial bodies of the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. The word vāsara means “weekday”.

Nakshatra

The ecliptic (circle on the sky in which the sun, moon and planets seem to move) is divided into 27 nakshatra-s, which are variously called lunar houses or asterisms. The starting point for this division is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star Spica called Chitrā in Sanskrit. (Other slightly-different definitions exist.) It is called Meshādi or the “start of Aries”. The ecliptic is divided into the nakshatra-s eastwards starting from this point.

Ashvinī β and γ Arietis

Bharanī 35, 39, and 41 Arietis

Krittikā Pleiades

Rohinī Aldebaran

Mrighashīrsha λ, φ Orionis

Ārdrā Betelgeuse

Punarvasu Castor and Pollux

Pushya γ, δ and θ Cancri

Āshleshā δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae

Maghā Regulus

Pūrva Phalgunī δ and θ Leonis

Uttara Phalgunī Denebola

Hasta α to ε Corvi

Chitrā Spica

Svātī Arcturus

Vishākhā α, β, γ and ι Librae

Anūrādha β, δ and π Scorpionis

Jyeshtha α, σ, and τ Scorpionis

Mūla ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis

Pūrva Ashādhā δ and ε Sagittarī

Uttara Ashādhā ζ and σ Sagittarī

Shravana α, β and γ Aquilae

Shravishthā α to δ Delphinis

Shatabhishaj γ Aquarī

Pūrva Bhādrapada α and β Pegasi

Uttara Bhādrapada γ Pegasi and α Andromedae

Revatī ζ Piscium

The nakshatra in which the moon lies at the time of sunrise of a day is the nakshatra for the day.

Yoga

First, the angular distance along the ecliptic of any object on the sky, measured from Meshādi (as defined above) is called the longitude of that object. Now when the longitude of the sun and the longitude of the moon are added, they produce a value ranging from 0° to 360°. (Values greater than or equal to 360° must be reduced to less than 360° by subtracting 360°.) Now this is divided into 27 parts. Each part will now equal 800′ (where ‘ is the symbol of the arcminute which means 1/60 of a degree.) Now these parts are called the yoga-s. They are labeled:

Vishkambha

Prīti

Āyushmān

Saubhāgya

Shobhana

Atiganda

Sukarman

Dhriti

Shūla

Ganda

Vriddhi

Dhruva

Vyāghāta

Harshana

Vajra

Siddhi

Vyatīpāta

Varīyas

Parigha

Shiva

Siddha

Sādhya

Shubha

Shukla

Brāhma

Aindra

Vaidhriti

Again, minor variations many exist. The yoga that is active during sunrise of a day is the yoga for the day.

Karana

Kimstughna

Shakuni

Nāga

Chatushpād

The seven “repeating” karana-s are:

Bava

Bālava

Kaulava

Taitila

Gara

Vanija

Vishti

Now the first half of the first tithi (of the bright fortnight) is always Kimstughna karana. Hence this karana is “fixed”.

Next, the seven repeating karana-s repeat eight times to cover the next 56 half-tithi-s. Thus these are the “repeating” karana-s.

The three remaining half-tithi-s take the remaining “fixed” karana-s in order. Thus these are also “fixed”.

The karana active during sunrise of a day is the karana for the day.

Month and year of the solar calendar

Now that the days are defined, we shall speak of how the solar calendar reckons its months and year.

As has been previously noted, the sun is observed to travel along the ecliptic. The ecliptic is now divided into twelve parts called rāshi-s, starting from the point of Meshādi defined above and moving eastwards. They are:

Mesha

Vrishabha

Mithuna

Kataka

Simha

Kanyā

Tulā

Vrishchika

Dhanus

Makara

Kumbha

Mīna

These are the Sanskrit equivalents of the zodiac – Aries etc.

The day on which the sun transits into each rāshi before sunset is taken to be the first day of the month. In case the sun transits into a rāshi after a sunset but before the next sunrise, then the next day is the first day of the month. (Minor variations on this definition exist.)

The days are then labeled 1, 2, 3…. till the first day of the next month.

Thus we get twelve months with varying lengths of 29 to 32 days. This variation in length is because the path of the earth around the sun is an ellipse. The months are named by the rāshi in which the sun travels in that month.

The new year day is the first day of the month of Mesha. Currently, it occurs around April 15th on the Gregorian calendar.

This is the structure of the Hindu solar calendar.

Months of the lunisolar calendar

When a new moon occurs before sunrise on a day, that day is said to be the first day of the lunar month. The days are not labeled separately from 1 as in the solar calendar, but the tithi is their only label. When two successive days have the same tithi, the latter is called an adhika tithi where adhika means “extra”. Sometimes, one tithi may never touch a sunrise, and hence no day will be labeled by that tithi. It is then said to be a tithi kshaya where kshaya means “loss”.

The lunar month names are:

Chaitra

Vaishākha

Jyaishtha

Āshādha

Shrāvana

Bhādrapada

Āshvayuja

Kārtika

Mārgashīrsha

Pausha

Māgha

Phālguna

Naming lunar months

The naming of the lunar months is somewhat complex. It is based on the rāshi into which the sun transits within a lunar month, i.e. before the new moon ending the month.

There are twelve rāshi names, there are twelve lunar month names. When the sun transits into Mesha rāshi in a lunar month, then the name of the lunar month is Chaitra. When the sun transits into Vrishabha, then the lunar month is Vaishākha. So on.

Extra Months

When the sun does not at all transit into any rāshi but simply keeps moving within a rāshi in a lunar month (i.e. before a new moon), then that lunar month will be named according to the first upcoming transit. It will also take the epithet of adhika or “extra”. For example, if a lunar month elapsed without a solar transit and the next transit is into Mesha, then this month without transit is labeled adhika Chaitra. The next month will be labeled according to its transit as usual and will get the epithet nija or “original”. [Note that an adhika month is the first of two whereas an adhika tithi is the second of two.]

An adhika māsa (month) occurs once every two or three years.

Lost Months

Now if the sun transits into two rāshi-s within a lunar month, then the lunar month will be labeled by the first transit and will take the epithet kshaya or “loss”. Actually, the month “lost” is the month which would have been labeled by the second transit. For example, if the sun transits into Mesha and Vrishabha in a lunar month, then it will be called Chaitra kshaya. There will be no month labeled Vaishākha.

A kshaya māsa occurs very rarely. Known gaps between occurrence of kshaya māsa-s are 19 and 141 years. The last was in 1983. Jan-15 through Feb-12 were Pausha kshaya. Feb-13 onwards was (adhika) Phālguna and not Māgha. Māgha was “lost” that year.

Special Case: If there is no solar transit in a lunar month but there are two transits in the next lunar month,

the first month will be labeled by the first transit of the second month (as usual) and take the epithet adhika and

the next month will be labeled by its first transit (as usual) and take the epithet kshaya.

This is a very very rare occurrence. The last was in 1315. Oct-08 to Nov-05 were adhika Kārtika. Nov-06 to Dec-05 were Kārtika kshaya. Dec-06 onwards was Pausha, not Mārgashīrsha.

Handling of religious observances in case of extra and lost months

Among normal months, adhika months, and kshaya months, the earlier are considered “better” for religious purposes. That means, if a festival should fall on the 10th tithi of the āshvayuja month (this is called Vijayadashamī) and there are two āshvayuja months, the first adhika month will not see the festival, and the festival will be observed only in the second nija month. However, if the second month is āshvayuja kshaya then the festival will be observed in the first adhika month itself.

A festival which is to be observed on a month that was lost will be observed on the corresponding “previous” i.e. kshaya month. For example, the festival of Mahāshivarātri which is to be observed on the fourteenth tithi of the dark fortnight of Māgha was, in 1983 CE, observed on the corresponding tithi of Pausha kshaya, since in that year, Māgha was lost, as we mentioned above.

Year of the lunisolar calendar

The new year day is the first day of the month of Chaitra. In case of adhika Chaitra or Chaitra kshaya the rules outlined above will apply.

Correspondence of the lunisolar calendar to the solar calendar

Year numbering and names

The epoch (starting point or first day of the first year) of the current era of Hindu calendar (both solar and lunisolar) is BCE 3102 January 23 on the proleptic Gregorian calendar (i.e. the Gregorian calendar extended back in time before its promulgation from 1582 October 15). Both the solar and lunisolar calendars started on this date. After that, each year is labeled by the number of years elapsed since the epoch.

Apart from this numbering system, there is also a cycle of 60 calendar year names, which started at the first year (at elapsed years zero) and runs continuously:

Prabhava

Vibhava

Shukla

Pramoda

Prajāpati

Āngirasa

Shrīmukha

Bhāva

Yuvan

Dhātri

īshvara

Bahudhānya

Pramāthin

Vikrama

Vrisha

Chitrabhānu

Svabhānu

Tārana

Pārthiva

Vyaya

Sarvajit

Sarvadhārin

Virodhin

Vikrita

Khara

Nandana

Vijaya

Jaya

Manmatha

Durmukha

Hemalambi

Vilambi

Vikārin

Shārvari

Plava

Shubhakrit

Shobhana

Krodhin

Vishvāvasu

Parābhava

Plavanga

Kīlaka

Saumya

Sādhārana

Virodhikrit

Paritāpin

Pramādin

Ānanda

Rākshasa

Pingala

Kālayukti

Siddhārthin

Raudra

Durmati

Dundubhi

Rudhirodgārin

Raktāksha

Krodhana

Kshaya

Eras

Hindu mythology speaks of four eras or ages, of which we are currently in the last. The four are:

Krita Yuga or Satya Yuga

Tretā Yuga

Dvāpara Yuga

Kali Yuga

They are often translated into English as the golden, silver, bronze and iron ages. (Yuga means era or age.) It is believed that the ages see a gradual decline of dharma, wisdom, knowledge, intellectual capability, life span and emotional and physical strength. The epoch provided above is the start of the Kali Yuga. The Kali Yuga is 432,000 years long. The Dvāpara, Tretā and Krita Yuga-s are said to be twice, thrice and four time the length of the Kali Yuga respectively. Thus they together constitute 4,320,000 years. This is called a Chaturyuga.

A thousand and a thousand (i.e. two thousand) chaturyuga-s are said to be one day and night of the creator Brahmā. He (the creator) lives for 100 years of 360 such days and at the end, he is said to dissolve, along with his entire Creation, into the Eternal Soul or Paramātman.

History

The Hindu Calendar obviously descends from the Vedic times. There are many references to calendrics in the Vedas. The Vedānga (adjunct to Veda) called Jyautisha (literally, “celestial body study”) prescribed all the aspects of the Hindu calendars. After the Vedic period, there were many scholars such as Āryabhata (5th century), Varāhamihira (6th century) and Bhāskara (12th century) who were experts in Jyautisha and contributed to the development of the Hindu Calendar.

The most widely used authoritative text for the Hindu Calendars in the Sūuuūrya Siddhānta, a text of uncertain age, though some place it at 10th century.

The Hindu Calendar

The Year

The Hindu calendar is based on lunar months corresponding to the phases of the moon. In one year there are twelve months of 29.5 days, accounting for a total of 354 days.The shortfall means that the date of each festival moves back 11 days each year. To rectify this, an extra leap month is added about once every three years. The Hindu calendar is therefore luni-solar, with a precise month and an approximate year.

The year – starting with Makara Sankranti, the sun’s entrance into Capricorn – is divided into two halves and six seasons. There are various ways of reckoning the New Year; most common is the day after the new moon in the month of Chaitra or, in Gujarat, the day after the Diwali new moon. Various eras are used for numbering the years; the most common are the Vikrami Era, beginning with the coronation of King Vikram-aditya in 57 BCE and the Shaka Era, counting from 78 CE. In rituals the priest often announces the dates according to KaliYuga, (see Kala: Time). For these three systems, the year 2000 corresponds to 2057, 1922, and 5102 respectively, though the last figure is subject to some debate.

The diagram shows the Hindu year, with months and the corresponding festivals. It is somewhat approximate, as the exact dates change yearly relative to the Gregorian calendar – with a month between the earliest and latest possible dates. A few festivals are determined by the sun alone, and their Gregorian dates are the same (or within one day) each year.

The Month

Within each month, there are two “fortnights,” each consisting of 15 “lunar days.” Although the solar and lunar days technically begin at different times, each solar day is ascribed one particular lunar day numbered from one to fifteen, either of the bright fortnight (waxing moon) or the dark fortnight (waning moon). Months average out to 29.5 days, so occasionally a day will be dropped. For example, in one month, the fourth day of the waxing moon may be followed by the sixth.

There are two main calendars. In North India, the month generally begins with the full moon, in South India with the new moon. Festival days will still fall on the same day, or very closely, but the name of the month may be different. For example, Krishna’s Birthday falls on the eighth day of the dark moon; in the North this is in the month of Bhadra; in the South in Shravana.

The Week

The week is divided into seven days, each corresponding to one of seven planets, exactly as in the West. No day is particularly special but each is related to a specific deity. For example, Monday is often associated with Shiva and Tuesday with Hanuman. Hindus may perform fasts and recite prayers to supplicate a particular deity on the corresponding day of the week.

The Day

The day usually begins at dawn, or just before, according to which astronomical and astrological systems are used. The day is divided into 15 muhurtas, each of about 48 minutes, and the night is similarly divided. Traditionally brahmanas chant the Gayatri mantra at sunrise, noon and sunset because these are considered particularly important times of the day. The first two muhurtas (about one hour) of the morning before dawn are considered most auspicious, especially for spiritual practices.

The Scientific Reasons behind the Formation of Hindu Calendar Months

The Hindu calendar is a complex and intricate system that has been in use for thousands of years. It is based on the movement of the sun, the moon, and the stars and has its roots in ancient Hindu texts and scriptures. While the Hindu calendar is steeped in tradition and mythology, it is also based on scientific principles that have been observed and studied for centuries. In this article, we will explore the scientific reasons behind the formation of Hindu calendar months.

The Hindu calendar is a lunar calendar, which means that it is based on the cycles of the moon. The lunar month is approximately 29.5 days long, which is shorter than the solar month of 30.44 days. In order to keep the lunar calendar in sync with the solar calendar, an additional month, known as Adhik Maas or Purushottam Maas, is added every few years. This helps to ensure that the Hindu calendar months remain in step with the seasons.

The Hindu calendar has twelve months, and each month is named after a particular constellation or Nakshatra. The twelve months are as follows:

Chaitra (March – April)

Vaisakha (April – May)

Jyaistha (May – June)

Ashadha (June – July)

Shravana (July – August)

Bhadrapada (August – September)

Ashvina (September – October)

Kartika (October – November)

Margashirsha (November – December)

Pausha (December – January)

Magha (January – February)

Phalguna (February – March)

Each month is divided into two lunar fortnights, or Pakshas, of 15 days each. The first fortnight is known as the Shukla Paksha, or waxing phase of the moon, while the second fortnight is known as the Krishna Paksha, or waning phase of the moon.

The Hindu calendar is based on the movement of the sun and the moon in relation to the earth. The sun’s movement is used to determine the length of the solar year, while the moon’s movement is used to determine the length of the lunar month. The lunar month is divided into 27 Nakshatras, which are small groups of stars that are used to mark the passage of time.

The Nakshatras are believed to have a profound influence on human life and are used to determine auspicious dates and times for various Hindu rituals and ceremonies.

Each Nakshatra is associated with a particular deity, and each deity is believed to have specific qualities and attributes. For example, the Nakshatra Rohini is associated with Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, and is believed to be a particularly auspicious time for new beginnings.

The formation of the Hindu calendar months is based on a combination of the movement of the sun and the moon, as well as the position of the Nakshatras. The lunar month begins on the day of the new moon, or Amavasya, and ends on the day of the full moon, or Poornima. The position of the moon in relation to the Nakshatras is used to determine the start and end dates of each month.

The Hindu calendar months are also closely tied to the seasons, which are determined by the movement of the sun. The Hindu calendar is divided into two seasons, known as the Uttarayana and the Dakshinayana. The Uttarayana is the period of the year when the sun moves northward, and it begins on the winter solstice. The Dakshinayana is the period of the year when the sun moves southward, and it begins on the summer solstice.This division of the year into two seasons is believed to have been recognized by ancient Indian astronomers and is also referenced in Hindu texts such as the Mahabharata.

The movement of the sun also plays a role in determining the length of each month in the Hindu calendar. The lunar month is approximately 29.5 days long, which means that there are roughly 12.37 lunar months in a solar year. To reconcile the lunar and solar calendars, the Hindu calendar inserts an extra month (known as an adhika masam) every few years. This helps to keep the lunar calendar aligned with the solar calendar and the seasons.

In addition to these scientific reasons for the formation of the Hindu calendar, there are also spiritual and cultural reasons. Each month is associated with a particular deity and has specific rituals and ceremonies dedicated to that deity. For example, the month of Kartik (October/November) is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the festival of Diwali is celebrated during this month.

The Uttarayana and Dakshinayana are divided into six-month periods each, and they correspond to different zodiac signs. The Uttarayana period, when the sun is moving northward, is considered to be more auspicious than the Dakshinayana period. During the Uttarayana period, the days are longer, and the weather is generally more pleasant. This period is also associated with the festival of Makar Sankranti, which marks the beginning of the harvest season.

On the other hand, the Dakshinayana period is associated with a more challenging environment. The days are shorter, and the weather is hotter and more humid. This period is also associated with the festival of Guru Purnima, which is celebrated in honor of the guru or teacher. It is believed that during this period, the mind and body are more prone to illnesses and negative energies.

In addition to the seasons and zodiac signs, the Hindu calendar months are also determined by the position of the moon. The lunar month in the Hindu calendar begins on the day after the full moon and ends on the day of the next full moon. This is known as a Purnimanta calendar system, as opposed to the Amanta calendar system used in other cultures, which begins the lunar month on the day after the new moon.

The lunar month is further divided into two fortnights, known as the Shukla Paksha and the Krishna Paksha. The Shukla Paksha is the waxing phase of the moon, and it is considered to be more auspicious for new beginnings and growth. The Krishna Paksha is the waning phase of the moon, and it is associated with introspection and letting go of things.

Each lunar month in the Hindu calendar is associated with a specific Nakshatra or constellation, which is believed to have an impact on human behavior and emotions. The Nakshatras are also used to determine auspicious dates and times for various Hindu rituals and ceremonies.

Furthermore, the Hindu calendar is also used to determine auspicious dates and times for various ceremonies and events, such as weddings and housewarming ceremonies. Astrology and horoscopes are also an integral part of Hindu culture and are used to determine the most favorable dates and times for these events.

In conclusion, the Hindu calendar is a complex and multifaceted system that is based on both scientific and cultural reasons. It reflects the ancient wisdom of Indian astronomers and the rich spiritual and cultural traditions of Hinduism. Understanding the formation and significance of the Hindu calendar can provide a deeper appreciation for the customs and traditions of Hindu culture.