Hindu Calendar 2013

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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.

  1. January 2013
  2. February 2013
  3. March 2013
  4. April 2013
  5. May 2013
  6. June 2013
  7. July 2013
  8. August 2013
  9. September 2013
  10. October 2013
  11. November 2013
  12. December 2013


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 its 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 gods 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

Name

Days

 Month

Vaishakh

30/31

April 21 - May 20

Jyeshtha

31/32

May 21 - June 22

Aashadh

31/32

June 22 - July 22

Shraawan

32

July 23 - August 22

Bhadrapad

31/32

August 23 - September 22

Ashvin

30/31

September and October

Kartik

29/30

August / September

Aghrahaayan

29/30 

November 22 - December 21

Paush

29/30

December 22 - January 20

Margsheersh

29/30

January and February

Phalgun

29/30

February 20 - March 21

Chaitra

30/31

March / April

 

Hindu Calendar Months according to Shalivahana (Saka) Calendar

Name

Days

 Month

Chaitra

30/31*

March 22 / 21*

Vaisakha

31

April 21

Jyaistha

31

May 22

Asadha

31

June 22

Shravana

31

July 23

Bhadra

31

August 23

Asvina

30

September 23

Kartika

30 

October 23

Agrahayana

30

November 22

Pausa

30

December 22

Magha

30

January 21

Phalguna

30

February 20

* Leap Years

 

Hindu Festivals Calendar 2013


January 2013

Name

Date

Day

Saka Era 1934

 

 

 

 

Makar Sankranti

13th Jan

Sunday

Pausha, 23

Pongal

14th Jan

Monday

Pausha, 24


February 2013

Name

Date

Day

Saka Era 1934

 

 

 

 

Sri Panchmi

14th Feb

Saturday

Magha, 25

Vasant Panchmi

15th  Feb

Sunday

Magha, 26

Shivaji Jayanti

19th  Feb

Tuesday

Magha, 30

Guru Ravidas Birthday / Guru Ravidas Jayanti

25th  Feb

Monday

Phalguna, 06


March 2013

Name

Date

Day

Saka Era 1934-35

 

 

 

 

Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti

7th Mar

Thursday

Phalguna, 16

Maha Shivaratri       

10th Mar

Sunday

Phalguna, 19

Holika Dahan (Dol yatra)

26th Mar

Tuesday

Chaitra, 05

Holi

27th Mar

Wednesday

Chaitra, 06


April 2013

Name

Date

Day

Saka Era 1935

 

 

 

 

Chaitra Sukladi/Gudi Padava/Ugadi/Cheti Chand

11th Apr

Thursday

Chaitra, 21

Vaisakhi / Vishu

13th Apr

Saturday

Chaitra, 23

Mesadi  

14th Apr

Sunday

Chaitra, 24

Vaisakhadi (Bengal) / Bahag Bihu  (Assam)

15th Apr

Monday

Chaitra, 25

Ram Navami                      

19th Apr

Friday

Chaitra, 29

Mahavir Jayanti

24th Apr

Wednesday

Vaisakha, 04

Hanuman Jayanti 

25th Apr

Thursday

Vaisakha, 05


May 2013

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1935 

 

 

 

 

Akshaya Tritiya

13th May

Monday

Vaisakha, 27

Buddha Purnima / Buddha Jayanti 

25th May

Saturday

Jyaishtha, 04


June 2013

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1935 

 

 

 

 

Savitri Brata

8th Jun

Saturday

Jyaishtha, 18


July 2013

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1935 

 

 

 

 

Rath Yatra

10th Jul

Wednesday

Ashadha, 19

Guru Purnima

22nd Jul

Monday

Ashadha, 31


August 2013

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1935 

 

 

 

 

Naag Panchami 

11th Aug

Sunday

Sravana, 20

Rakhi / Raksha Bandhan

20th Aug

Tuesday

Sravana, 29

Janamashtami

28th Aug

Wednesday

Bhadra, 06


September 2013

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1935 

 

 

 

 

Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi

9th Sep

Monday

Bhadra, 18

Onam

16th Sep

Monday

Bhadra, 25

Pitr Paksha begins

20th Sep

Friday

Bhadra, 29


October 2013

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1935 

 

 

 

 

Pitr Paksha ends 

4th Oct

Friday

Asvina, 12

Navaratri begins

5th Oct

Saturday

Asvina, 13

Durga Pooja

11th Oct

Friday

Asvina, 19

Maha Saptami

11th Oct

Friday

Asvina, 19

Maha Ashtami

12th Oct

Saturday

Asvina, 20

Navaratri ends 

13th Oct

Sunday

Asvina, 21

Dussehra (Vijay Dashmi)

13th Oct

Sunday

Asvina, 21

Maha Navami

13th Oct

Sunday

Asvina, 21

Lakshmi Pooja

18th Oct

Friday

Asvina, 26

Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti

18th Oct

Friday

Asvina, 26

Karaka Chaturthi  (Karva Chauth)

22nd Oct

Tuesday

Asvina, 30


November 2013

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1935 

 

 

 

 

Dhanteras

1st Nov

Friday

Karika, 10

Naraka Chaturdasi

2nd Nov

Saturday

Karika, 11

Diwali / Deepavali

3rd Nov

Sunday

Kartika, 12

Govardhan Puja

4th Nov

Monday

Kartika, 13

Bhai Duj

5th Nov

Tuesday

Karika, 14

Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi (Chhat Puja)

8th Nov

Friday

Kartika, 17

Kartik Purnima

17th Nov

Sunday

Kartika, 18


December 2013

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1935 

 

 

 

 

Gita Jayanti

13th Dec

Friday

14, Agrahayana