Vikram Samvat 2083 - 12 Hindu months, Purnima & Amavasya dates, and key festivals for 2026.
| # | Month (Hindi) | Sanskrit | Gregorian Approx. | Season | Key Festivals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaitra | चैत्र | Mar–Apr | Spring | Ugadi / Gudi Padwa / Chaitra Navratri / Ram Navami |
| 2 | Vaishakha | वैशाख | Apr–May | Spring | Baisakhi / Akshaya Tritiya / Buddha Purnima |
| 3 | Jyeshtha | ज्येष्ठ | May–Jun | Summer | Nirjala Ekadashi / Vat Savitri Vrat |
| 4 | Ashadha | आषाढ़ | Jun–Jul | Summer | Guru Purnima (Ashadha Purnima) / Rath Yatra |
| 5 | Shravana | श्रावण | Jul–Aug | Monsoon | Raksha Bandhan / Nag Panchami / Shravana Somvar |
| 6 | Bhadrapada | भाद्रपद | Aug–Sep | Monsoon | Janmashtami / Ganesh Chaturthi / Hartalika Teej |
| 7 | Ashvin | अश्विन | Sep–Oct | Autumn | Navratri / Dussehra / Vijayadashami |
| 8 | Kartika | कार्तिक | Oct–Nov | Autumn | Karwa Chauth / Diwali / Tulsi Vivah |
| 9 | Margashirsha | मार्गशीर्ष | Nov–Dec | Winter | Vivah Panchami / Karthigai Deepam |
| 10 | Pausha | पौष | Dec–Jan | Winter | Lohri / Makar Sankranti prep / Pausha Putrada Ekadashi |
| 11 | Magha | माघ | Jan–Feb | Late Winter | Makar Sankranti / Basant Panchami / Maha Shivratri prep |
| 12 | Phalguna | फाल्गुन | Feb–Mar | Spring | Maha Shivratri / Holi / Holika Dahan |
The Hindu calendar is a lunisolar system that tracks time using both the moon's phases and the sun's position. The most widely used civil version in North India is the Vikram Samvat, currently in its 2081st year (2024-25 CE). South Indian traditions use Shalivahana Shaka, which forms the basis of the Government of India's official National Calendar adopted in 1957. A Panchang (literally "five limbs") records five daily elements: Tithi (lunar day), Vara (weekday), Nakshatra (lunar mansion), Yoga, and Karana - together used to determine auspicious timings (muhurtas) for marriages, business launches, travel, and religious ceremonies.
The Hindu year consists of 12 lunar months - Chaitra, Vaishakha, Jyeshtha, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwin, Kartika, Margashirsha, Pausha, Magha, and Phalguna - each starting on the new moon day (Amavasya) or full moon day (Purnima) depending on the regional tradition (Amanta or Purnimanta). An intercalary month (Adhika Masa or Purushottama Masa) is added approximately every 32.5 months to keep the lunar calendar aligned with the solar year, ensuring festivals fall in the same season each year.
Hindu festival dates shift each year in the Gregorian calendar because they are determined by tithis and nakshatras, not fixed solar dates. This calendar lists Purnima dates, Amavasya dates, and key festival dates for 2025 so you can plan rituals, vrats (fasts), and family events well in advance.