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Hindu calendar - 12 masas and the lunar year

Hindu Calendar - the 12 months

The luni-solar Hindu calendar. Months are lunar (each ~29.5 days), but adhika-masa intercalations keep alignment with the solar year. Each month is named for the nakshatra in which Purnima typically falls. The Amanta (South) and Purnimanta (North) conventions differ in where the month boundaries sit - same lunar fortnight, different names. Below: full month-by-month reference + 6 ritus + key calendar notes.

№ 1

Chaitra · चैत्र

Mar - Apr
Named after: Chitra (Spica)
Ritu: Vasanta (Spring)

Major festivals

  • Ugadi / Gudi Padwa (Shukla Pratipada - New Year for Karnataka, Telangana, AP, Maharashtra)
  • Sri Rama Navami (Shukla Navami - Lord Rama's birthday)
  • Hanuman Jayanti (Purnima - Hanuman's birthday in North India)
  • Chaitra Navaratri (Shukla 1-9 - Vasanta Navaratri)

Auspiciousness - Highly auspicious. Vasanta-ritu - the beginning of the new year. Marriages, house-warmings, business openings frequent.

Agriculture - Spring harvest (Rabi). Mango blossoms. Asoka tree flowering.

Character - Renewal. Krishna says (BG 10.35): "Among the seasons I am the spring of flowers".

№ 2

Vaishakha · वैशाख

Apr - May
Named after: Vishakha
Ritu: Vasanta (late Spring) → Grishma (Summer)

Major festivals

  • Akshaya Tritiya (Shukla Tritiya - most auspicious of year - gold buying, new ventures)
  • Adi Shankara Jayanti (Shukla Panchami)
  • Narasimha Jayanti (Shukla Chaturdashi)
  • Vaishakha Purnima (Buddha Purnima - Buddha's birth, enlightenment, mahasamadhi all on this day)
  • Hanuman Jayanti (Krishna Dashami - South Indian Vaishakha tradition)

Auspiciousness - Extremely auspicious - second only to Margashirsha. Akshaya Tritiya is the single most marriage-favoured day.

Agriculture - Onset of heat. Tank-bunds being prepared for monsoon.

Character - Heat begins. The month of generosity - dana-shaastra prescribes max danas in Vaishakha.

№ 3

Jyeshtha · ज्येष्ठ

May - Jun
Named after: Jyeshtha (Antares)
Ritu: Grishma (Summer - peak)

Major festivals

  • Vat Savitri Vrata (Krishna Amavasya - married women tie threads on banyan)
  • Jyeshtha Purnima (Erawat Purnima)
  • Ganga Dussehra (Shukla Dashami - Ganga descent from heaven)
  • Nirjala Ekadashi (Shukla Ekadashi - the strictest Ekadashi, no water)

Auspiciousness - Mid-tier. Peak heat makes outdoor ceremonies difficult.

Agriculture - Pre-monsoon. Last preparations of land.

Character - Tapas-month. Many vratas involve heat-bearing (sitting under the sun, etc).

№ 4

Ashadha · आषाढ

Jun - Jul
Named after: Purva + Uttara Ashadha
Ritu: Grishma (late) → Varsha (Monsoon onset)

Major festivals

  • Devshayani Ekadashi (Shukla Ekadashi - Vishnu enters yoga-nidra; no marriages from this day until Prabodhini Ekadashi in Kartika)
  • Guru Purnima (Purnima - worship of guru and Vyasa)
  • Ratha Yatra (Shukla Dvitiya - Jagannath ratha-yatra at Puri)
  • Ashadha Gupta Navaratri (Shukla 1-9 - secret Navaratri for upasakas)

Auspiciousness - Low - Vishnu enters yoga-nidra. NO marriages or major ventures. Chaturmasya begins (4 months of restricted activity for sannyasis).

Agriculture - Monsoon onset. Sowing begins.

Character - Vyasa-month. Guru-puja is the central observance.

№ 5

Shravana · श्रावण

Jul - Aug
Named after: Shravana
Ritu: Varsha (Monsoon - peak)

Major festivals

  • Mondays (Sawan Somavar) - special Shiva worship throughout the month
  • Naga Panchami (Shukla Panchami - snake worship)
  • Raksha Bandhan / Shravana Purnima (Purnima - sister ties rakhi)
  • Avani Avittam / Upakarma (Purnima - annual renewal of janoi / sacred thread)
  • Krishna Janmashtami (Krishna Ashtami - Krishna's birthday)
  • Varalakshmi Vratam (Shukla Friday before Purnima - Tamil + Karnataka women)

Auspiciousness - Inauspicious for marriages (still in Chaturmasya) but VERY auspicious for Shiva worship + spiritual sadhana.

Agriculture - Heavy monsoon. Rice + millet sowing complete; fields filled.

Character - Shiva-month. The supreme month for Shiva bhaktas. Pious abstain from meat, onion, garlic throughout.

№ 6

Bhadrapada · भाद्रपद

Aug - Sep
Named after: Purva + Uttara Bhadrapada
Ritu: Varsha (late) → Sharad (early autumn)

Major festivals

  • Hartalika Teej (Shukla Tritiya - women worship Parvati for husband's long life)
  • Ganesha Chaturthi (Shukla Chaturthi - 10-day Ganesha festival)
  • Onam (Thiruvonam day - Kerala harvest festival, King Mahabali's annual visit)
  • Anant Chaturdashi (Shukla Chaturdashi - closes Ganesha festival + worship of Vishnu Ananta)
  • Pitri Paksha starts (Krishna Pratipada - 15 days of ancestor worship)

Auspiciousness - First half (Shukla) very auspicious for Ganesha + Onam. Second half (Krishna - Pitri Paksha) inauspicious for new ventures, only ancestor rites allowed.

Agriculture - Monsoon receding. Mid-season weeding. First Onam-harvest in Kerala.

Character - Ganesha + Mahalakshmi (Onam) + Pitris - all three honoured in successive halves.

№ 7

Ashwina · आश्विन (आश्विज)

Sep - Oct
Named after: Ashwini
Ritu: Sharad (Autumn - clear sky)

Major festivals

  • Mahalaya Amavasya (Krishna Amavasya - peak day of Pitri Paksha)
  • Sharad Navaratri (Shukla 1-9 - the great 9-day Devi festival)
  • Saraswati Pooja / Ayudha Pooja (Shukla 9 / Maha-navami)
  • Vijayadashami / Dussehra (Shukla Dashami - Rama defeats Ravana, Durga slays Mahisha)
  • Sharad Purnima / Kojagari Purnima (Purnima - Lakshmi puja eve, Krishna's Maha-Rasa)

Auspiciousness - Devi-month. The supreme auspiciousness for Shakti upasakas. Vijayadashami = the most auspicious day for vidya-arambham + ayudha-puja.

Agriculture - Harvest begins. The autumn paddy harvest.

Character - Devi-month. The cosmic feminine in her full glory. Every village does Navaratri.

№ 8

Kartika · कार्तिक

Oct - Nov
Named after: Krittika
Ritu: Sharad (late) → Hemanta (cool autumn)

Major festivals

  • Karwa Chauth (Krishna Chaturthi - Hindu wives fast for husband's long life)
  • Dhanteras / Dhanvantari Jayanti (Krishna Trayodashi - Ayurveda Lord, gold buying)
  • Naraka Chaturdashi (Krishna Chaturdashi - Krishna kills Narakasura)
  • Diwali / Lakshmi Pooja (Krishna Amavasya - supreme festival of lights)
  • Govardhana Pooja / Annakuta (Shukla Pratipada - Krishna lifts Govardhana)
  • Bhai Dooj (Shukla Dvitiya - sister-brother bonding)
  • Tulasi Vivaha (Shukla Dvadashi - Tulasi married to Vishnu - first marriage of season)
  • Karthik Purnima / Dev Diwali (Purnima - Tripurari purnima, Shiva killed Tripurasura)
  • Prabodhini Ekadashi (Shukla Ekadashi - Vishnu wakes from yoga-nidra - Chaturmasya ends, marriages resume)

Auspiciousness - Mid-month onwards - VERY auspicious. Marriage season resumes from Prabodhini Ekadashi. Dhanteras through Bhai Dooj = the great Diwali sequence.

Agriculture - Rabi sowing begins. Cool, clear weather.

Character - Diwali month. Lakshmi + Vishnu + Krishna + Shiva all honoured in one month.

№ 9

Margashirsha · मार्गशीर्ष (मगसर)

Nov - Dec
Named after: Mrigashira
Ritu: Hemanta (Cool, dry)

Major festivals

  • Vivah Panchami (Shukla Panchami - Rama-Sita wedding day)
  • Gita Jayanti (Shukla Ekadashi - Bhagavad Gita revealed)
  • Dattatreya Jayanti (Purnima - Dattatreya's birthday)
  • Krishna says (BG 10.35): "Of months I am Margashirsha" - Krishna's favourite month.

Auspiciousness - Supreme. Krishna identified himself with this month in the Gita. Wedding season peak.

Agriculture - Rabi growth phase. Cool clear days, cold nights.

Character - Margashirsha = "the most excellent month". Krishna's personal month. Auspicious for any major undertaking.

№ 10

Pausha · पौष

Dec - Jan
Named after: Pushya
Ritu: Shishira (Winter)

Major festivals

  • Pausha-mela (popular fairs at Shantiniketan + other locations)
  • Vaikuntha Ekadashi / Mukkoti Ekadashi (Shukla Ekadashi - supreme Ekadashi at Vaishnava temples - Vaikuntha doors open at Srirangam)
  • Makara Sankranti / Pongal / Lohri (Jan 14 - Surya enters Makara rashi, marks Uttarayana)

Auspiciousness - Generally inauspicious for marriages (cold, harvest still active). However Vaikuntha Ekadashi is supreme for Vaishnava worship.

Agriculture - Mid-Rabi. Winter cold peaks.

Character - Tapas-month for sadhakas (cold helps sit still for long sadhana). The "Dhanurmasa" (mid-Dec to mid-Jan, Tamil "Margazhi") is held supremely sacred for Tiruppavai recitation in Sri Vaishnava tradition.

№ 11

Magha · माघ

Jan - Feb
Named after: Magha
Ritu: Shishira (late) → Vasanta (early Spring)

Major festivals

  • Mauni Amavasya (Krishna Amavasya - silent observance day; bath in Sangam at Prayag = supreme)
  • Vasanta Panchami / Saraswati Pooja (Shukla Panchami - Saraswati's special day, ideal for child's aksharabhyasa)
  • Bhishma Ashtami (Shukla Ashtami - Bhishma's death day)
  • Ratha Saptami (Shukla Saptami - Surya's ratha turns northward in full)
  • Maha Shivaratri (Krishna Chaturdashi - supreme Shaiva festival; alternative date in Phalguna for some regions)
  • Magha Purnima (Magha-mela at Prayag closes - entire month is Magh-mela)

Auspiciousness - Magha-snanam (bathing at sacred rivers throughout month) is the supreme tapas. Marriages auspicious.

Agriculture - Late winter. Rabi maturing.

Character - Snana-month. Prayagraj Magh Mela. Every river-bath in this month grants special merit.

№ 12

Phalguna · फाल्गुन

Feb - Mar
Named after: Purva + Uttara Phalguni
Ritu: Vasanta (Spring)

Major festivals

  • Holika Dahan / Choti Holi (Purnima eve - bonfire, Prahlada's rescue from Holika)
  • Holi / Phalguna Purnima (Purnima - supreme spring festival, Krishna playing with gopis)
  • Maha Shivaratri (Krishna Chaturdashi - supreme Shiva night; some traditions place it here)
  • Phalguna Sankashti Chaturthi

Auspiciousness - Spring auspicious. Marriages auspicious.

Agriculture - Final Rabi harvest. Wheat ready.

Character - Holi month. The cosmic play of colours - Krishna at Vrindavan. Year closes with bonfire + colour play.

The 6 Ritus (seasons)

Vasanta (Spring)

Chaitra-Vaishakha

Renewal. Krishna says: "Among ritus I am the flowering Vasanta."

Grishma (Summer)

Jyeshtha-Ashadha

Heat. The month of tapas. Hard ground.

Varsha (Monsoon)

Shravana-Bhadrapada

Rains. The greatest festival season for Shiva + Devi.

Sharad (Autumn)

Ashwina-Kartika

Clear skies. Harvest. Devi worship + Diwali.

Hemanta (Pre-winter)

Margashirsha-Pausha

Cool dry. Wedding season + tapas.

Shishira (Winter)

Magha-Phalguna

Cold. Magh-snana + Holi.

Calendar notes

Amanta vs Purnimanta - South India uses Amanta convention (months end at Amavasya / new moon). North India (except Bengal + Assam) uses Purnimanta convention (months end at Purnima / full moon). The same lunar fortnight ends up named for different months depending on convention - be careful when matching dates.

Adhika-masa - Adhika-masa (intercalary month) inserted every ~32.5 months to keep lunar months aligned with solar year. The adhika-masa carries the same name as the next month but prefixed with "Adhika".

Uttarayana vs Dakshinayana - 2 ayanas (half-years) - Uttarayana (Sun moving north, ~Dec 21 - Jun 21, Devas' day) + Dakshinayana (Sun moving south, Jun 21 - Dec 21, Devas' night). Makara Sankranti marks the start of Uttarayana; Karka Sankranti marks Dakshinayana.

Live panchang - See /wisdom/panchangfor today's tithi + nakshatra + yoga + karana + vara (the five limbs of the day). The Hindu calendar is computed daily from these five. See also Vrata calendar for the full vrata rules, Ekadashi 2026 for all 24 ekadashi dates, and Jyotisha for the astrological framework.
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