Names of Months (Maahs) of Hindu Calendar and their Importance Hindu Months (Maah) Name importance: The Hindu calendar has been used in India since ancient times to measure time. There is a Hindu calendar in India made by Panchal. Over time, India was divided into many parts, due to which many changes were made in the calendar as well. Today there are many regional calendars like Punjabi Calendar, Bengali Calendar, Odia, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Tulu, which are followed in Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh. Vikram Samvat is also a calendar. One little thing in every calendar makes it different from the other, but all calendars have 12 months, and their names are also the same. The calendar is composed of both solar and lunar calendars and also focuses on astronomy and religion.
The first Hindu calendar was created by astronomical philosophy developed in BC. The calendar is made on the basis of the lunar month. Important religious festivals and worship lessons have also been mentioned in the calendar. In 1957, according to the Hindu calendar, the Saka calendar was made, according to the English calendar, leap year was also added, which is called Adhik Maas. There are many variations of the Hindu calendar, but the Saka calendar, a standard version, has the status of the national calendar of India.
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Names of Months of Hindu Calendar and their Importance
The Hindu calendar also has 12 months like the English calendar, in which there are about 29.5 days every month. There are two fortnights of 15-15 days in a month, the new moon comes after the waning moon and the full moon comes after the bright moon. The first day of the month is different according to different calendars. Mostly in North India, the day on which the full moon emerges is considered as the first day of the month, while in South India, the new moon day is considered as the first day of the month. Months are named according to the zodiac signs. Every month has its own importance, and each month has its own festivals and festivals, read on to know about the major fasting festivals and festivals of India. According to the Hindu calendar, there are 6 seasons in a year
| 1. | spring season |
| 2. | summer season |
| 3. | rainy season |
| 4. | autumn |
| 5. | Autumn Season |
| 6. | winter/winter |
Chaitra (Aries Rashi) –
This is the first month of the Hindu calendar. The arrival of summer season starts from this month. This month comes in the month of March-April according to the English calendar. According to the Bengali and Nepali calendar, Chaitra is the last month of the year. Holi festival is celebrated in Falgun 15 days before the month of Chaitra. The festival of Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra month in Maharashtra, Chaitri Vishu in Tamil Nadu and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Chaitra Navratri starts from the first day of Chaitra in northern India, Central India, on its ninth day the birthday of Lord Rama is celebrated as ‘Ramnavami’. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the last full moon day of Chaitra month.
Baisakh (Taurus) –
This is the second month according to the Hindu calendar, but it is the first month of the Nepali, Punjabi and Bengali calendars. This month falls in the month of April-May according to the English calendar. The name of this month is Baisakh because at this time the position of the Sun is near the star Visakha. Bengali New Year is celebrated on the arrival of Baisakh. Along with this, people start new work in Bangladesh and West Bengal at this time.
In Punjab, farmers celebrate the festival of harvesting ‘Baisakhi’ in this month, as well as it is also their new year. The full moon of Baisakh is celebrated as ‘Buddha Purnima’, on this day the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha is celebrated. It is mostly celebrated on the full moon day falling in May.
Jayeshta (Gemini) –
The month of Jayeshta is extremely hot. It comes around May-June. It is called Aani month in Tamil. Festivals coming in the month of Jayeshta –
- Shani Jayanti is celebrated on the new moon day of Jayeshta month.
- Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Jayeshta month, it is said that on this day Ganga ji had descended into the earth.
- Nirjala Ekadashi is celebrated on Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Jayeshta month. It has great importance from all the 24 Ekadashis that fall in the year. It is said that this one Ekadashi contains the virtues of 24 Ekadashi.
- On the day of Jayeshta Purnima, Vat Purnima or Vat Savitri fast is observed in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh.
- In Jagannath Puri, the Snan Yatra festival is celebrated on the day of Jayeshta Purnima. On this day, Balabhadra, Subhadra, Jagannath are taken out of the temple and bathed in the bathing bedi from the Jagannath temple.
Ashadha (Cancer Rashi) –
In Tamil this month is called Aadi. This month falls in the month of June-July according to the English calendar. Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Ashadh. Dev Shayani Ekadashi also comes in this month. Adi Amavasya has special significance in Tamil Nadu.
Shravan (Lion) –
The month of Sawan is considered the most sacred according to the Hindu calendar. Many festivals start from this month. This month comes in the month of July-August according to the English calendar. This whole month is dedicated to Shiva. In Tamil it is called Avani. The month of Shravan begins when the Sun enters the sign of Leo. Many Hindus keep fast for the entire month of Sawan, while many keep fast on every Sawan Monday. Fasting in the month of Shravan
- On the day of Sawan Purnima, the festival of Rakshabandhan is celebrated. Narali Purnima is celebrated on this day in Maharashtra.
- Eight days after the full moon, the festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with great pomp all over the country.
- The festival of Nagpanchami is celebrated five days after the new moon of the month of Sawan.
- In South India, the festival of Avani Avittam or Upakarma is celebrated on the day of Sawan Purnima.
- The festival of Pola is celebrated by the farming community in many parts of the country on Amavasya, the last day of the month of Sawan.
- In many parts of the country, special religious rituals are performed during the month of Sawan, Kavan Yatra is taken out.
- Hariyali Teej, Hariyali Amavasya are also celebrated in this month.
Bhadrapada (Virgo Rashi) –
Bhadon/Bhadrapada comes in the month of August-September. It is also called archaic. Haritalika Teej, Ganesh Chaturthi, Rishi Panchami come in the beginning of this month. On the day of Ashtami, Radha Ashtami celebrates Anant Chaturdashi on the fourteenth day. After this, there is Pitru Paksha for 15 days, during which tarpan is given to the ancestors.
Ashwin (Libra Rashi) –
This month is also called Kuar. This day starts after the new moon of Bhadra Paksha. This month comes in the month of September-October according to the English calendar. Navratri, Durga Puja, Kojagiri Purnima, Vijayadashami/Dussehra, Diwali, Dhanteras, Kali Puja come in this month. This month has maximum number of holidays.
Kartik (Scorpio) –
In Gujarat, the new year starts from Diwali, where Kartik is the first month. This month comes in the month of October-November according to the English calendar. Gobardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Kartik Purnima are celebrated this month. Dev Diwali is celebrated on Kartik Purnima. Dev Uthani Ekadashi is celebrated on Ekadashi this month. Which is also called Tulsi Vivah. Auspicious works start from this day onwards. Guru Nanak Jayanti also comes this month.
Aghan (Sagittarius) –
This month Vaikuntha Ekadashi, also known as Moksha Ekadashi, is celebrated with great pomp. This month comes in the month of November-December according to the English calendar.
Paush (Capricorn) –
The month of Paush comes during December-January. This is the winter time, in which it gets very cold. Many festivals like Lohri, Pongal and Makar Sankranti are celebrated in this month.
Magh (Aquarius) –
In this month the Sun enters the Kumbh Rashi, in Tamil this month is called Masi. This month falls in the month of January-February according to the English calendar. This month, Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning and black, is worshiped on the day of Basant Panchami. Along with this, Maha Shivratri, Ratha Saptami festivals are also celebrated. Magh Mela is a big festival in northern India.
Falgun (Pisces) –
This is the 11th month in Bengal. Pohela Falgun is celebrated in Bangladesh on the first day of the month of Falgun. In Nepal, the festival of colors is celebrated with great pomp on the first day of Falgun, which is called Fagu there. In India too, Holi is celebrated on Falgun Purnima. This month falls in the month of February- March according to the English calendar.
Indian Festival 2024
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 15 January 2024 | Monday | Makar Sankranti or Pongal |
| 26 January 2024 | Friday | Thaipusam |
| 14 February 2024 | Wednesday | Vasant Panchami |
| 8 March 2024 | Friday | Maha Shivaratri |
| 20 March 2024 | Wednesday | Hindi New Year |
| 24 March 2024 | Sunday | Holika Dahan |
| 25 March 2024 | Monday | Holi |
| 9 April 2024 | Tuesday | Ugadi or Gudi Padwa or Telugu New Year |
| 13 April 2024 | Saturday | Vaisakhi or Baisakhi or Vishu |
| 14 April 2024 | Sunday | Tamil New Year |
| 15 April 2024 | Monday | Bengali New Year or Bihu |
| 17 April 2024 | Wednesday | Ramanavami |
| 23 April 2024 | Tuesday | Hanuman Jayanti |
| 10 April 2024 | Friday | Akshaya Tritiya |
| 6 April 2024 | Thursday | Savitri Pooja |
| 7 July 2024 | Sunday | Puri Rath Yatra |
| 21 July 2024 | Sunday | Guru Purnima |
| 9 August 2024 | Friday | Nag Panchami |
| 16 August 2024 | Friday | Varalakshmi Vratam |
| 19 August 2024 | Monday | Raksha Bandhan |
| 26 August 2024 | Monday | Krishna Janmashtami |
| 7 September 2024 | Saturday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 16 September 2024 | Monday | Vishwakarma Puja |
| 2 October 2024 | Wednesday | Mahalaya Amavasya |
| 3 October 2024 | Thursday | Navaratri begins |
| 11 October 2024 | Friday | Navaratri ends or Maha Navami |
| 12 October 2024 | Saturday | Dusshera |
| 16 October 2024 | Wednesday | Sharad Purnima |
| 20 October 2024 | Sunday | Karwa Chauthi |
| 29 October 2024 | Tuesday | Dhan Teras |
| 1 November 2024 | Friday | Diwali |
| 3 November 2024 | Sunday | Bhai Dooj |
| 7 November 2024 | Thursday | Chhath Puja |
| 15 November 2024 | Friday | Kartik Poornima |
| 11 December 2024 | Wednesday | Geeta Jayanti |
| 15 December 2024 | Sunday | Dhanu Sankranti |
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Purshottam month (Adhik month) –
This is an additional month of the Hindu month, which comes after 32 months, 16 days. Adhik month has great importance among Hindus. Read more to know the importance of month and nightingale fast, method, and story.