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 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.
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).
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'.
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 |
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
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1934 |
||
|
|
|
|
||
Makar Sankranti |
13th Jan |
Sunday |
Pausha, 23 |
||
14th Jan |
Monday |
Pausha, 24 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1934 |
|
|
|
|
Sri Panchmi |
14th Feb |
Saturday |
Magha, 25 |
15th Feb |
Sunday |
Magha, 26 |
|
Shivaji Jayanti |
19th Feb |
Tuesday |
Magha, 30 |
Guru Ravidas Birthday / Guru Ravidas Jayanti |
25th Feb |
Monday |
Phalguna, 06 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1934-35 |
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
7th Mar |
Thursday |
Phalguna, 16 |
|||||
Maha Shivaratri |
10th Mar |
Sunday |
Phalguna, 19 |
||||
Holika Dahan (Dol yatra) |
26th Mar |
Tuesday |
Chaitra, 05 |
||||
27th Mar |
Wednesday |
Chaitra, 06 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1935 |
||
|
|
|
|
||
Chaitra Sukladi/Gudi Padava/Ugadi/Cheti Chand |
11th Apr |
Thursday |
Chaitra, 21 |
||
13th Apr |
Saturday |
Chaitra, 23 |
|||
Mesadi |
14th Apr |
Sunday |
Chaitra, 24 |
||
Vaisakhadi (Bengal) / Bahag Bihu (Assam) |
15th Apr |
Monday |
Chaitra, 25 |
||
19th Apr |
Friday |
Chaitra, 29 |
|||
Mahavir Jayanti |
24th Apr |
Wednesday |
Vaisakha, 04 |
||
Hanuman Jayanti |
25th Apr |
Thursday |
Vaisakha, 05 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1935 |
|
|
|
|
Akshaya Tritiya |
13th May |
Monday |
Vaisakha, 27 |
25th May |
Saturday |
Jyaishtha, 04 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1935 |
|
|
|
|
Savitri Brata |
8th Jun |
Saturday |
Jyaishtha, 18 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1935 |
|
|
|
|
10th Jul |
Wednesday |
Ashadha, 19 |
|
Guru Purnima |
22nd Jul |
Monday |
Ashadha, 31 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1935 |
|
|
|
|
Naag Panchami |
11th Aug |
Sunday |
Sravana, 20 |
20th Aug |
Tuesday |
Sravana, 29 |
|
28th Aug |
Wednesday |
Bhadra, 06 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1935 |
|
|
|
|
9th Sep |
Monday |
Bhadra, 18 |
|
16th Sep |
Monday |
Bhadra, 25 |
|
Pitr Paksha begins |
20th Sep |
Friday |
Bhadra, 29 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1935 |
|
|
|
|
Pitr Paksha ends |
4th Oct |
Friday |
Asvina, 12 |
Navaratri begins |
5th Oct |
Saturday |
Asvina, 13 |
11th Oct |
Friday |
Asvina, 19 |
|
11th Oct |
Friday |
Asvina, 19 |
|
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 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1935 |
|
|
|
|
Dhanteras |
1st Nov |
Friday |
Karika, 10 |
Naraka Chaturdasi |
2nd Nov |
Saturday |
Karika, 11 |
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 |
Name |
Date |
Day |
Saka Era 1935 |
|
|
|
|
Gita Jayanti |
13th Dec |
Friday |
14, Agrahayana |