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Vaishakha

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Vaishakha
Native nameवैशाख (Sanskrit)
CalendarHindu calendar
Month number2
Number of days29 or 30
SeasonVasanta (spring)
Gregorian equivalentApril–May
Significant daysAkshaya Tritiya
Buddha Purnima
Narasimha Jayanti
Pohela Boishakh
Vaikasi Visakam
Vaisakhi
← Chaitra
Jyeshtha →

Vaisakha (Sanskrit: वैशाख, IAST: Vaiśākha) is the second 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 Vishākhā nakshatra (star) on the full moon day.[2] It corresponds to April–May in the Gregorian calendar.[3] The month corresponds to the end of the spring (Vasanta) season and falls in April–May of the Gregorian calendar.[4]

In the Hindu solar calendar, it corresponds to the month of Mesha and begins with the Sun's entry into Aries.[5][6] It corresponds to Boishakh, the first month in the Bengali calendar.[5][7] In the Tamil calendar, it corresponds to the third month of Vaikasi, falling in the Gregorian months of May–June.[5][8] In the Vaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the third month of Madhusudanah.[9][10]

In the Hindu lunar calendar, each month has 29 or 30 days. The month begins on the next day after 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 are labeled as a thithi, with each thithi repeating twice in a month.[11][12]

The month marks the start of summer, and the afternoon storms in the month are called kalboishakhi.[13] The storms usually start with strong gusts from the north-western direction at the end of a hot day.[14][15]

Festivals

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The first day of the month is celebrated as the Pohela Boishakh or New Year's Day in Bengal region.[16] In Mithila region, it is celebrated as the Jur Sital (Mithila New Year's Day).[17] The day is observed with cultural programs, festivals and carnivals, and often marks the start of business activities for a new fiscal account.[18][19] The harvest festival of Vaisakhi is celebrated on in this month which also marks the Punjabi new year according to the Punjabi calendar.[20]

Akshaya Tritiya is an annual spring festival that falls on the third tithi (lunar day) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the month.[21][22][23][24] Buddha Purnima or Vesākha commemorates the birth anniversary of Siddhartha Gautama.[25][26]

Vaikasi Visakam commemorates the birth of Hindu war god Kartikeya.[27][28] Narasimha Jayanti is celebrated on Chaturdashi thithi in Narasimha temples such as Simhachalam.[29] Sukla Panchami is celebrated as the birthday of Hindu philosopher Adi Shankara.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kenneth W. Morgan, ed. (1987). The Religion Of The Hindus. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 96. ISBN 978-8-120-80387-9.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Helene Henderson, ed. (2005). Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionary (Third ed.). Detroit: Omnigraphics. p. xxix. ISBN 978-0-780-80982-6.
  4. ^ Helene Henderson, ed. (2005). Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionary (Third ed.). Detroit: Omnigraphics. p. xxix. ISBN 978-0-780-80982-6.
  5. ^ a b c Robert Sewell; John Faithful Fleet (1989). The Siddhantas and the Indian Calendar. Asian Educational Services. p. 334.
  6. ^ "Another New Year,Another Resolution". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  7. ^ Boniface Mundu (2013). The Silent Short Stories: A Word of Truth. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-49217-331-1.
  8. ^ "Tamil Calendar – Months". Time and Date. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Vaisnava Calendar Reminder Services – About Calendar". Vaisnava Calendar. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Something about the Vaisnava Calendar". ISVARA. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Hindu calendar". ISKCON. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Hindu calendar". Arya Samaj. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  13. ^ Rajib Shaw; Fuad Mallick & Aminul Islam (2013). Disaster Risk Reduction Approaches in Bangladesh. Springer. p. 98. ISBN 978-4-431-54252-0.
  14. ^ "Kalboishakhis - Bangladesh's deadly storms". Al Jazeera. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  15. ^ S.M. Imamul Huq & Jalal Uddin Md. Shoaib (2013). The Soils of Bangladesh. Springer Publishing. pp. 15–16. ISBN 978-9-40071-128-0.
  16. ^ "Pohela Boishakh 2025: Date, history, significance and how Bengali New Year is celebrated". India Today. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Joorshital/Siruwa: A unique tradition of celebrating the New Year among Tharus in southern Nepal". Online Khabar. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  18. ^ M H Haider (8 April 2014). "Hal Khata". The Daily Star. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  19. ^ "Halkatha – An explanation". amaderkotha.com.bd. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  20. ^ "Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) 2025: Is it April 13 or 14? All you need to know". India Today. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Akshaya Tritiya 2017: Here is Why it is of significance in Hinduism and the reason behind people buying Gold on this day!". News Gram. 28 April 2017.
  22. ^ "Akshaya Tritiya 2023: Why is Akshaya Tritiya celebrated, what does the Bhavishya Purana say?". Yugantar Pravah. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  23. ^ "What are the auspicious events that happened on Akshaya Tritiya?". Bru Times News.
  24. ^ Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing. 2011. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-59884-206-7.
  25. ^ "Buddha Purnima 2025: When is Buddha Purnima in 2025?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  26. ^ "Buddha Purnima 2025: Date, Significance And Rituals". Outlook India. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  27. ^ Subodh Kant (2002). Indian Encyclopedia. Cosmo Publications. p. 7821. ISBN 978-8-177-55257-7.
  28. ^ "Vaikasi Visakam: Date, Time, Significance". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  29. ^ Nrusimha Jayanthi. "Festivals". Simhachalam Devasthanam. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  30. ^ "Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti 2025: Date, Time, History and Significance". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
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