| Hindu Calendar: Months, Days, Phases | |
| What
are the Hindu months and days called? |
The various Hindu calendars are based on eras and epochs. Generally, the Hindu calendar follows the lunar year that consists of 12 lunar months. A lunar month has two fortnights. The tables below explain these concepts of the Hindu calendar system, tell you their Sanskrit names and their correlation with the Gregorian calendar.
The Hindu Eras & Epochs
| Hindu | Western |
| Kali Yug | 3012 BC |
| Vikram Samvant | 57 AD |
| Saka | 78 AD |
Months of the Indian Civil Calendar and Correlation with Gregorian Calendar
| Month |
Days |
Begins |
| 1. Chaitra | 30 / 31* | March 22 / 21* |
| 2. Vaisakha | 31 | April 21 |
| 3. Jyaistha | 31 | May 22 |
| 4. Asadha | 31 | June 22 |
| 5. Shravana | 31 | July 23 |
| 6. Bhadra | 31 | August 23 |
| 7. Asvina | 30 | September 23 |
| 8. Kartika | 30 | October 23 |
| 9. Agrahayana | 30 | November 22 |
| 10. Pausa | 30 | December 22 |
| 11. Magha | 30 | January 21 |
| 12. Phalguna | 30 | February 20 |
* Leap years
Days in the Hindu Calendar
| Hindu | Western |
| Raviãra | Sunday (day of Sun) |
| Somavãra | Monday (day of Moon) |
| Mañgalvã | Tuesday (day of Mars) |
| Budhavãra | Wednesday (day of Mercury) |
| Guruvãra | Thursday (day of Jupiter) |
| Sukravãra | Friday (day of Venus) |
| Sanivãra | Saturday (day of Saturn) |
Names
of Fifteen Moon Days in the Hindu Calendar
| Hindu | Western |
| Prathamã | First |
| Dvitïyã | Second |
| Trtïyã | Third |
| Chaturthï | Fourth |
| Pañchamï | Fifth |
| Sasthï | Sixth |
| Saptamï | Seventh |
| Astamï | Eighth |
| Navamï | Ninth |
| Dasamï | Tenth |
| Ekãdasï | Eleventh |
| Dvadasï | Twelfth |
| Trayodasï | Thirteenth |
| Chaturdasï | Fourteenth |
| Panchadasï | Fifteenth |
| Purnimã (Suklapaksha) | Full Moon |
| Amãvãsyã (Krsnapaksa) | New Moon |
