Hindu Lunar Calendar is one of the oldest calendar. The new year for Maharashtrian hindus begins somewhere in March/ April. I have tried to put together the simplest form to explain it.
The the structure of the month is divided into 2 fortnights. The month begins on the day after Amavasya (no moon or new moon day).
The first day of the month is called Paadwa. The first fortnight or 15 days is called Shukla Paksh or bright fortnight as the moon is in waxing stage and it ends on Full Moon or Pournima. The second fortnight is period after full moon to new moon is called Krishna Paksha or dark fortnight, this period ends in Amavasya and the day after it is first day of new month or Paadwa.
The days are numbered from 1 to 14 and the 15th is a Full Moon or a New Moon The days are named as follows Paadwa -1 , Dwitiya -2 , Tritiya -3, Chaturthi -4, Panchami -5, Sashti -6, Saptami -7, Ashtami -8, Navami -9, Dhashmi -10, Ekaadashi -11, Dwaadashi -12, Trayodashi -13, Chaturdahshi -14, (Full moon or New Moon)
Sometime the days or tithis are overlapped.
The names of the month and some of the festivals celebrated in the month are as follows
Months - Festivals
Chaitra (March/April) - Gudi Paadwa or New Year Day
Vaishaakh
Jyeshtha
Aashaadha - Aashaadhi Ekaadhashi
Shraavan -Shri Krishna Janmashtami, RakshaBandhan
Bhaadrapad - Ganesh Chaturthi
Ashwin - Navaratri
Kaartik - Kaartik Ekaadashi
Margashirsha
Pausha
Maagha - Ganesh Janma/Jayanti
Phaalguna - Holi
There is also “extra month” in the calendar. It is called as Adhik Mahinaa. It falls once in every 2.5 to 3 years. A little about this month, the twelve hindu months are about 356 days . As per solar calendar the there are 365/366 days. So there is a gap of around 9 to 10 days every year. So Adhik Mahina is added to bridge this gap and balance the year.
Posted by Radha Chetan Raj at 6/27/2008 05:26:00 PM Labels: Culture
