Question 1

Why is Chaitra treated as the start of the year?

Accepted Answer

Two reasons are given in the classical texts. Astronomically, Chaitra Shukla Pratipada falls near the vernal equinox, the natural turning point of the solar year. Ritually, the Brahma Purana holds that creation itself began on this day, which is why the Vikram Samvat and the Shaka era both count from it. Not every region agrees, though — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Bengal, Assam and Odisha begin their year in Vaisakha instead, with the solar new year.

Question 2

How is Chaitra Navratri different from Sharad Navratri?

Accepted Answer

Both run for nine nights of a bright fortnight and both honour the nine forms of Durga, but they sit at opposite turns of the year — Chaitra Navratri in spring, Sharad Navratri in Ashwin in autumn. Chaitra Navratri closes on Rama Navami and is observed most widely in North and West India; Sharad Navratri closes on Vijayadashami and carries the larger public celebration, including Durga Puja in Bengal and Garba in Gujarat.

Question 3

Is Chaitra a good month for weddings?

Accepted Answer

Generally not. Most regional almanacs list few or no Vivah Muhurats in Chaitra, partly because the month is given over to Navratri fasting and partly because Chaitra is often the month in which an Adhika Maas is inserted. Vaisakha, which follows immediately, is by contrast one of the busiest wedding months of the year.

Question 4

How long does the month of Chaitra last?

Accepted Answer

A lunar month runs about 29.5 days — the time the Moon takes to return to the same phase relative to the Sun. Because that figure is not a whole number of days and the Moon's speed varies, Chaitra does not begin at the same clock time each year, and its length can differ by several hours from one year to the next. The begin and end timestamps listed above are computed for your own location rather than quoted from a fixed table.

Question 5

Why do the Amanta and Purnimanta dates for Chaitra differ?

Accepted Answer

They are two different conventions for where a month starts. An Amanta month runs New Moon to New Moon and is the standard across South and West India — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat. A Purnimanta month runs Full Moon to Full Moon and is standard across North India. The Purnimanta Chaitra therefore begins about a fortnight earlier and its dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) comes first, while in the Amanta reckoning the bright fortnight comes first. The two systems agree on which Tithi a given day is; they disagree only on which month to file it under. Use the toggle above to switch between them.

Question 6

Can Chaitra occur twice in one year?

Accepted Answer

Yes, though rarely. Twelve lunar months fall about eleven days short of a solar year, so roughly every 32 or 33 months an extra month — Adhika Maas, also called Mala Maas or Purushottama Maas — is inserted to keep the lunar calendar aligned with the seasons. The extra month takes the name of the month that follows it, so an Adhika Chaitra is followed by a Nija (true) Chaitra. Rites of passage such as weddings, sacred-thread ceremonies and house-warmings are traditionally deferred out of the Adhika month, while recitation, charity and pilgrimage are held to be especially meritorious in it.

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About the month of Chaitra

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