Ashadha
| Ashadha | |
|---|---|
 Rath Yatra in Puri | |
| Native name | आषाढ (Sanskrit) |
| Calendar | Hindu calendar |
| Month number | 4 |
| Number of days | 29 or 30 |
| Season | Grishma (summer) |
| Gregorian equivalent | June–July |
| Significant days | |
| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
|---|
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Ashadha is the fourth month of the Hindu lunar calendar and the Indian national calendar.[1] The name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Purva Ashadha nakshatra (star) on the full moon day.[2] The month corresponds to the end of the summer (Grishma) season and falls in June–July of the Gregorian calendar.[3]
In the Hindu solar calendar, it corresponds to the month of Mithuna and begins with the Sun's entry into Gemini.[4] It corresponds to Asharh, the third month in the Bengali calendar.[4] In the Tamil calendar, it corresponds to the fourth month of Aadi, falling in the Gregorian months of July–August.[4][5] In the Vaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the fourth month of Vamana.[6][7]
In the Hindu lunar calendar, each month has 29 or 30 days. The month begins on the next day after the Amavasya (new moon) or Purnima (full moon) as per amanta and purnimanta systems respectively. A month consists of two cycles of 15 days each, Shukla Paksha (waning moon) and Krishna Paksha (waxing moon). Days in each cycle is labeled as a thithi, with each thithi repeating twice in a month.[8][9]
Festivals
[edit]Guru Purnima, a festival dedicated to honoring the gurus (teachers), is celebrated on the Purnima (full moon) day of the month.[10] Rath Yatra is an annual public temple car procession dedicated to Jagannath held in Puri during the month.[11][12] Shayani Ekadashi, dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu, is observed on the Ekadashi (eleventh lunar day) thithi of Shukla Paksha (waning moon.[13]
The month is dedicated to Mariamman amongst the Tamils, and Aadi Amavasai, celebrated on Amavasya (new moon) of the month is an important festival.[14][15] In Gujarat, Dashama Vrata, dedicated to Momai, is observed on the Amavasya of the month.[16][17] The Kakkada month in Kodava calendar, which corresponds to Ashadha, is considered one of the significant and auspicious months by the Tuluvas. Various delicacies such as aati soppu, and kakkada paayasa are prepared to commemorate the same.[18]
The end of summer and impending arrival of the monsoon marks the time for cultivating paddy in various regions of the Indian subcontinent. In Nepal, the occasion is marked by the Ropain festivel, welcoming the monsoon season. The festival includes planting the first seedlings, followed by celebrating by throwing mud at each other and people sharing dahi chiura (beaten rice with curds) with each other.[19][20]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Kenneth W. Morgan, ed. (1987). The Religion Of The Hindus. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 96. ISBN 978-8-120-80387-9.
- ^ Garima Garg (2022). Heavens and Earth: The Story of Astrology Through Ages and Cultures. Penguin Random House. p. 75. ISBN 978-9-354-92705-8.
- ^ Helene Henderson, ed. (2005). Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionary (Third ed.). Detroit: Omnigraphics. p. xxix. ISBN 978-0-780-80982-6.
- ^ a b c Robert Sewell; John Faithful Fleet (1989). The Siddhantas and the Indian Calendar. Asian Educational Services. p. 334.
- ^ "Tamil Calendar – Months". Time and Date. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Vaisnava Calendar Reminder Services – About Calendar". Vaisnava Calendar. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Something about the Vaisnava Calendar". ISVARA. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Hindu calendar". ISKCON. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Hindu calendar". Arya Samaj. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Guru Purnima 2025: Date, Timings, History and Significance". The Indian Express. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Rath Yatra 2025: Lord Jagannath's Annual Chariot Festival in Puri". The Indian Express. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025: Date, Time, Puja, Rituals and Significance". The Times of India. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Devshayani Ekadashi 2025: When is Devshayani Ekadashi? Know Date and Time". The Times of India. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Aadi Amavasai 2025: Date, Time, Puja Rituals and Significance". The Times of India. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Aadi Amavasai 2024: Importance and Rituals in Tamil Nadu". Tamil Nadu Tourism. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Dashama Vrata". Bharat Temples. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Dashama Vrat 2025: Date, Puja Vidhi and Significance". The Times of India. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Kakkada Padinett – Kodava Month of Kakkada". Kodava Clan Heritage Portal. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "National Paddy Day 2024: Nepal Celebrates Ropain Festival". My Republica. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Ropain Festival (Rice Planting Day) in Nepal". Nepal Tourism Board. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
External links
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