Hindu Calendar 2011

Hinduism is the World's Third Largest Religion. It is the Predominant and Indigenous religious tradition of South Asia. Hinduism is a diverse system of thought with beliefs spanning Monotheism, Polytheism, Panentheism, Pantheism, Monism, and Atheism, and its concept of God is complex and depends upon each particular tradition and philosophy. It is sometimes referred to as Henotheistic i.e., involving devotion to a single God while accepting the existence of others. Like a separate Religion it has it's own Calendar. The Hindu Calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian Calendars, as well as an Indian National Calendar. The Indian Calendar Reform Committee, appointed in 1952 (shortly after Indian independence), identified more than Thirty well-developed Calendars, all variants of the Surya Siddhanta Calendar in systematic use across different parts of India. 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. Hinduism has the highest number of Gods and it is apparent that it has a longer list of festivals than any other religion and there are considerable regional and denominational variations. Hindu Festivals are generally associated with the birth of gods, death of asuras, victory of the gods, marriage of the gods, the new year, new months, full moons, new moons, harvests, birthdays, initiations, marriages, deaths, anniversaries etc. but none the less it does give one a reason for music, dance and processions. With so many god and such regional diversity the Hindu Calendar is very eventful.

Two Most Popular Hindu Calendars

Vikrama Calendar - It is a Lunar Calendar based on ancient Hindu tradition. It is also known as Bikram Samwat, Bikram Sambat, Vikram Samwat or Vikram Samvat. This Calendar was established by Indian emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain and is also named after him. It is mostly followed in Western and Northern India. It is also the official calendar of Bangladesh and Nepal. The Vikram Samvat Calendar is 56.7 years ahead (in count) of the solar Gregorian calendar. For example, the year 2056 BS began in CE 1999 and ended in CE 2000. In Northern India the Calendar starts with the first day after the new moon in the month Chaitra, which usually falls in March/April in the Gregorian calendar. In the Vikrama calendar, the Zero Year corresponds to 58 BCE. The Vikrama Calendar begins with the month of Baishakh (April), or Kartak (October/November) in Gujarat. Each month in the Vikrama Calendar begins with the 'Dark Half and is followed by 'Bright Half'.

Shalivahana Calendar - It is also a Lunisolar Calendar. It is is followed in South India, Maharashtra and Goa. In the Shalivahana Calendar the zero year corresponds to 78 CE. The Shalivahana Calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March) and the Ugadi/Gudi Padwa festivals mark the New Year. Each month of the Shalivahana Calendar ends with the No-Moon Day and the new month begins on the Day after that. Also each month in the Shalivahana Calendar begins with the 'Bright Half' and is followed by 'Dark Half'. Indian Official Calendar follows the Shalivahan Shak Calendar in beginning from the month of Chaitra and counting years with 78 CE being year zero. It features a constant number of days in every month (with leap years).

Similarities between both the Calendars:

Both the Vikrama and the Shalivahana eras are lunisolar calendars, and feature annual cycles of twelve lunar months, each month divided into two phases: the 'bright half' (shukla) and the 'dark half' (bahula); these correspond respectively to the periods of the 'waxing' and the 'waning' of the moon. Thus, the period beginning from the first day after the new moon and ending on the full moon day constitutes the 'Shukla Paksha' or 'Bright Half' of the month; the period beginning from the day after the full moon until and including the next new moon day constitutes the 'Bahula Paksha' or 'Dark Half' of the month. Each month in the Shalivahana Calendar begins with the 'Bright Half' and is followed by the 'Dark Half'.

Hindu Calendar Months according to Vikram Samvat Calendar

Hindu Calendar Months according to Shalivahana Calendar

* Leap Years

Hindu Festivals Calendar 2011

January 2011

February 2011

March 2011

April 2011

May 2011

June 2011

July 2011

August 2011

September 2011

October 2011

November 2011

December 2011