Hindu Calendarमास · The 12 Lunar Months

The 12 Hindu Months

The Vedic year is structured around 12 lunar months — each named after the nakshatra in which the full moon (Purnima) falls. Each month carries its own spiritual character, agricultural rhythm, and festival cycle. Click a month for the full reading.

Chaitra

चैत्र

Month 1 / 12

March – April

The first month of the Vikram Samvat. New Year for many regions (Gudi Padwa / Ugadi / Cheti Chand). Spring renewal. Hosts Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti.

8 festivals in our calendar →

Vaishakha

वैशाख

Month 2 / 12

April – May

Sacred to Vishnu. Hosts Akshaya Tritiya (an unending-prosperity day) and Buddha Purnima. Considered an auspicious month for weddings.

14 festivals in our calendar →

Jyeshtha

ज्येष्ठ

Month 3 / 12

May – June

Pre-monsoon heat. Hosts Vat Savitri (married women fast for husbands' longevity) and Ganga Dussehra (descent of Ganga to earth).

10 festivals in our calendar →

Ashadha

आषाढ़

Month 4 / 12

June – July

Monsoon arrives. Hosts Devshayani Ekadashi (Vishnu sleeps for 4 months — Chaturmas begins), Guru Purnima, and the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.

6 festivals in our calendar →

Shravana

श्रावण

Month 5 / 12

July – August

The most sacred month for Lord Shiva. Mondays of Shravan are observed as fasts. Hosts Hariyali Teej, Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmashtami.

8 festivals in our calendar →

Bhadrapada

भाद्रपद

Month 6 / 12

August – September

Hosts Hartalika Teej, Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganesh Utsav), Vishwakarma Puja. Concludes with Pitru Paksha — a 16-day window for ancestor offerings.

8 festivals in our calendar →

Ashwin

आश्विन

Month 7 / 12

September – October

Sharad Navratri (9 nights of the Mother Goddess), Dussehra / Vijayadashami (Ram's victory over Ravana), Sharad Purnima fall in this month.

6 festivals in our calendar →

Kartika

कार्तिक

Month 8 / 12

October – November

The most festival-rich month. Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath, Tulsi Vivah, and Kartik Purnima all fall here.

24 festivals in our calendar →

Margashirsha

मार्गशीर्ष

Month 9 / 12

November – December

Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: "Among months, I am Margashirsha." Hosts Vivah Panchami (Ram-Sita marriage anniversary) and Geeta Jayanti.

4 festivals in our calendar →

Pausha

पौष

Month 10 / 12

December – January

Coldest month. Sun begins its northward journey at Makar Sankranti (transitioning from Pausha to Magha). Tamil Pongal and Punjabi Lohri fall around the same time.

12 festivals in our calendar →

Magha

माघ

Month 11 / 12

January – February

Sacred for ritual bathing in holy rivers (Magha Snan). Hosts Mauni Amavasya, Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja), and the Magh Purnima.

2 festivals in our calendar →

Phalguna

फाल्गुन

Month 12 / 12

February – March

The closing month. Hosts Maha Shivaratri (Shiva's great night), Holika Dahan (the eve before Holi), and Holi (festival of colours, end of the Hindu year).

6 festivals in our calendar →