A calendar gives us information about the days and months of the year. We all use a calendar, whether in digital form or printed format. According to an estimate, over forty calendars are actively used around the world. Today we typically use the Gregorian calendar. Before this, the most commonly used calendar in the world was the Julian calendar. However, Pope Gregory XIII ordered to swap it with his created almanac in the sixteenth century.
Indian Calendars, Festivals, Holidays, Events
Why India Uses Four Calendars?
India is one of the largest countries and has several ethnic groups. Its broader nature makes India a multi-cultural region. However, the two largest religions in Hindustan are:
- Hinduism
- Islam
That is why except Gregorian calendar, the other three belong to these beliefs. That is why India commonly uses a total of four calendars.
India also uses the same schedule of days, months, and years. However, it also has several national calendars. Among these, the four most widely used ones are:
- Vikram Samvat
- Saka Samvat
- Gregorian calendar
- Hijri Calendar
The above two are traditional Hindu almanacs, while Hijri is an Islamic calendar.
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Vikram Samvat:
This is considered the biggest and most widely used Hindu calendar. Its usance can also be found in Nepal. Other names for the same calendar are:
- Vikrami
- Malava
- Krita
Malava and Krita are older names, while Vikrami is still in use. It is named after the Vikrama era started by Vikramaditya. According to historians, this calendar was first begun in fifty-six BCE. This calendar has two phases and twelve months as follows:
- Fifteen days of Shukla paksha start with the new moon and end with the full moon.
- Fifteen days of Krishna paksha begin with the full moon and end at the new moon.
Vikram Samvat Gregorian Baishakh April to May Jestha May to June Ashadh June to July Shrawan July to August Bhadra August to September Ashwin September to October Kartik October to November Mangsir November to December Poush December to January Magh January to February Falgun February to March Chaitra March to April -
Saka Samvat
It is another Hindu calendar broadly used in India. Both have almost the same months, but there is a difference between days and Gregorian months. It is said that Saka samvat started after the crowning of King Shalivahan. It began in 78 AD. Therefore, the estimated gap between the two calendars is about 135 years.
This is a solar calendar; its months run according to the sun’s movement. Like other calendars, it also has the same number of the month, i.e., twelve. Months in Saka Samvat in comparison to that of Gregorian months are mentioned below:
Saka Samvat Gregorian Chhaitra 21 March to 20 April Vaishakha 21 April to 21 May Jyeshtha 22 May to 21 June Ashadha 22 June to 22 July Shravana 23 July to 22 August Bhaadra 23 August to 22 September Ashwin 23 September to 22 October Kartika 23 October to 21 November Agrahayana 22 November to 21 December Pausha 22 December to 20 January Magha 21 January to 19 February Phalguna 20 February to 20/21 March -
Gregorian Calendar:
India, nationally and internationally, follows the Gregorian calendar. It was developed by Pope Gregory VIII to change the Julian calendar that had long been in use in Europe. It is a solar almanac and follows the same month systems from January to December.
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Hijri Calendar:
The Hijri calendar belongs to the second largest religion of India, i.e., Islam. It is a lunar almanac and follows the Moon. Muslims all across the world and especially in India, follow this calendar. It has:
- Twelve Lunar Months
- 354 to 355 days
Hijra marks various Islamic holidays and traditional rituals. Four of the most widely celebrated events in the calendar are:
- Ramadan
- Eid ul Fitr
- Eid ul Adha
- Eid Milad un Nabi
It has the following characteristics:
- The calendar began in 622 AD when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated from Mecca to Medina. The year was calculated as the zero years of the Hijri calendar.
- At first, the calendar was called Amalfi. However, after the departure of the Prophet (PBUH), it was renamed as Hijra or Hijri.
- Muslim rulers brought this calendar to India.
As Hijra follows Lunar movements, it does not accurately follows the Gregorian months. Hijri months keep rolling between the Gregorian months and are as follows:
Muharram Safar Rabīʿ al-Awwal Rabīʿ al-Thānī Jumādā al-Awwal Jumādā al-Thānī Rajab Shaban Ramdan (Fasting Month) Shawwal Dhū al-Qaʿdah Dhū al-Ḥijjah