The
mysterious, complicated, wondrous world of Indian calendars
was forced on my consciousness when I became hopelessly confused trying
to figure out when the Indian New Year was. I made
the interesting discovery that (at least as far as I could make it out)
the new year usually was around April 13/14, but was said to be on the
first day of the month of Chaitra in some parts of India (e.g., Tamil
Nadu), but in the month of Vaishakh in other parts (e.g.,
Bengal). I tore my hair for a while, but did not pursue it
anymore -- until my chase after Pongal and its equivalents revived the
frustration and confusion, and some revelations.
As it turns out, it is true that the middle of April represents Chaitra
in one calendar and Vaishakha in another. So what, you say:
after all, Chaitra is April in one calendar and Vaishakha in
another....
....sounds reasonable, but April is not April in one calendar and May
in another: compare the "Hindi" and Bengali calendars below with the
Gregorian calendar and, just for fun, the Indian National (civic)
Calendar (months named after the zodiac, but that's another story).
Indian
National
|
Hindi
|
Bengali
|
Gregorian
|
Maysha
|
Chaitra |
Boishakh
|
April-May
|
Vrushabha
|
Vaishakha
|
Jyeshto
|
May-June
|
Mithuna
|
Jyaishtha
|
Asharh
|
June-July
|
Karka
|
Asadha
|
Shrabon
|
July-Aug
|
Simha
|
Sravana
|
Bhadro
|
Aug-Sep
|
Kanya
|
Bhadrapada
|
Aswin
|
Sep-Oct
|
Tula
|
Aswina
|
Kartik
|
Oct-Nov
|
Vruschika
|
Karttika
|
Ogaryohon
|
Nov-Dec
|
Dhanu
|
Margasirsa
|
Poush
|
Dec-Jan
|
Makar
|
Pausha
|
Magh
|
Jan-Feb
|
Kumbha
|
Magha
|
Phalgun
|
Feb-Mar
|
Meena
|
Phalguna
|
Choitro
|
Mar-Apr
|
Apparently Akbar
was responsible for this. Once one knows about the offset
nature of
these month names, of course, all is well --- but until then, one tears
ones' hair....or does not bother about it.
Which
is what I did while
living in India ... it is in my displaced state in the US
that these discrepancies become visible.
Of course, there are many many complications that I cannot pretend to
understand or explain, but here are some glimpses:
- An
interesting, apparently comprehensive, summary of
the issues might be found here
(the file cannot be downloaded, so you have to read the cached
copy).
- Indian
calendars may be solar calendars, lunar calendars, or
lunisolar calendars.
- It
is almost impossible** to
find a place where the months of various
Indian calendars are placed in the context of the Gregorian calendar,
let alone the official Indian calendar.