Hindu Calendar 2012

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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 2012
  2. February 2012
  3. March 2012
  4. April 2012
  5. May 2012
  6. June 2012
  7. July 2012
  8. August 2012
  9. September 2012
  10. October 2012
  11. November 2012
  12. December 2012

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 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 2012


January 2012

Name

Date

Day

Saka Era 1933

Lohri

13th Jan

Friday

 

Makar Sankranti

14th Jan

Saturday

Pausha 24

Pongal

15th Jan

Sunday

Pausha 25

Vasant Panchmi / Sri Panchmi

28th Jan

Saturday

Magha 08


February 2012

Name

Date

Day

Saka Era 1934

Guru Ravidas Birthday / Guru Ravidas Jayanti

7th Feb

Tuesday

Magha 18

Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti

16th Feb

Sunday

Magha 27

Shivaji Jayanti

19th  Feb

Sunday

Magha 30

Maha Shivaratri

20th  Feb

Wednesday

Phalguna 01


March 2012

Name

Date

Day

Saka Era 1934

Holika Dahan (Dol yatra)

7th Mar

Wednesday

Phalguna 17

Holi

8th Mar

Thursday

Phalguna 18

Chaitra Sukladi/Gudi Padava/Ugadi/Cheti Chand

23rd Mar

Friday

Chaitra 03


April 2012

Name

Date

Day

Saka Era 1934

Ram Navami

1st Apr

Sunday

Chaitra 12

Mahavir Jayanti

5th Apr

Thursday

Chaitra 16

Hanuman Jayanti 

6th Apr

Friday

Chaitra 17

Vaisakhi / Vishu

13th Apr

Friday

Chaitra 24

Mesadi  

14th Apr

Saturday

Chaitra 25

Vaisakhadi (Bengal) / Bahag Bihu  (Assam)  

14th Apr

Saturday

Chaitra 25

May 2012

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1934 

Buddha Purnima / Buddha Jayanti 

6th May

Sunday

Vaisakha 16

Savitri Brata

21st May

Monday

 


June 2012

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1934 

Rath Yatra

21st Jun

Thursday

Jyaishtha 31


July 2012

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1934 

Guru Purnima

3rd Jul

Tuesday

 

Naag Panchami

24th Jul

Tuesday

 


August 2012

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1934 

Rakhi / Raksha Bandhan

2nd Aug

Thursday

Sravana 11

Janamashtami

10th Aug

Friday

Sravana 19

Vinayaka Chaturthi

21st Aug

Tuesday

Sravana 30

Onam

29th Aug

Wednesday

Bhadra 07


September 2012

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1934 

Ganesh Chaturthi

19th Sep

Wednesday

Bhadra 28

Pitr Paksha begins

30th Sep

Sunday

 


October 2012

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1934 

Pitr-paksha ends

15th Oct

Monday

 

Navaratri begins

16th Oct

Tuesday

 

Durga Puja

21st Oct

Sunday

Asvina 29

Maha Saptami

21st Oct

Sunday

Asvina 29

Maha Ashtami

22nd Oct

Monday

Asvina 30

Maha Navami

23rd Oct

Tuesday

Kartika 01

Navaratri ends

23rd Oct

Tuesday

Kartika 01

Dussehra (Vijay Dashmi)

24th Oct

Wednesday

Kartika 02

Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti  

29th Oct

Monday

Kartika 07


November 2012

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1934 

Karaka Chaturthi

2nd Nov

Friday

Kartika 11

Karva Chauth 

2nd Nov

Friday

Kartika 11

Dhanteras

12th Nov

Monday

Kartika 21

Naraka Chaturdasi

12th Nov

Monday

Kartika 21

Diwali / Deepavali

13th Nov

Tuesday

Kartika 22

Govardhan Puja

14th Nov

Wednesday

Kartika 23

Bhai Duj  

15th Nov

Thursday

Kartika 24

Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi (Chhat Puja)

19th Nov

Monday

Kartika 29

Kartik Purnima

28th Nov

Wednesday

Agrahayana 07


December 2012

Name 

Date 

Day 

Saka Era 1934 

Gita Jayanti

26th Dec

Wednesday

Pausha 04