India's diverse calendar traditions – Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, and Mithila – each with unique month names, new year dates, and regional festivals
The Bengali calendar (Bangabda) was reformed by Mughal emperor Akbar for tax collection purposes. It's a solar calendar tracking the Sun's sidereal transit. The Bengali year starts with Boishakh.
Bengali New Year. Mangal Shobhajatra procession, Halkhata (opening new ledgers), and cultural programs.
The grandest Bengali festival – five days of Durga worship from Shashthi to Dashami with elaborate pandals.
Worship of Goddess Kali on the night of Diwali. Special to Bengal.
Winter harvest festival. Pithe-puli (rice cakes) festival celebrating the harvest of new rice.
The Tamil calendar is a sidereal solar calendar based on the Sun's transit through the 12 Rashi signs. Each month begins when the Sun enters a new sign. It's one of the oldest calendar systems in continuous use.
Harvest festival celebrating the Sun's journey north (Uttarayan). Four-day celebration with Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal.
Tamil New Year and Meenakshi Thirukalyanam at Madurai temple.
Water festival celebrating the rise of river waters and agricultural fertility.
Festival of lights at Tiruvannamalai – the Mahadeepam on the hill.
The Telugu calendar follows the Shalivahana Shaka era (starts 78 CE). It is lunisolar – months are based on the lunar cycle (Amanta system, ending on Amavasya) while years track the solar cycle.
Telugu New Year. Ugadi Pachadi with six tastes symbolizing life's varied experiences.
Telangana's floral festival honoring Goddess Gauri. Nine-day celebration.
Offering festival to Goddess Mahakali in Hyderabad/Secunderabad.
Three-day harvest festival: Bhogi, Makara Sankranti, Kanuma.
The Kannada calendar also uses Shalivahana Shaka with the lunisolar Amanta system. Very similar to the Telugu system but with distinct regional festival traditions.
Kannada New Year. Bevu-Bella (neem-jaggery) symbolizes life's bitter and sweet.
Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on the Friday before Purnima in Shravana.
Grand Mysore Dasara – 10-day festival culminating in a majestic procession with the golden howdah.
Ellu-Bella exchange (sesame-jaggery) with the greeting "Ellu Bella thindu, olle maathu aadu."
The Gujarati calendar uniquely starts its year after Diwali (Kartik Shukla Pratipada), unlike most Indian calendars starting in Chaitra. It follows Vikram Samvat with the Amanta lunar system.
Gujarat's iconic nine-night Garba and Dandiya Raas celebration – the world's longest dance festival.
International Kite Festival on Makar Sankranti. Skies filled with colorful kites across Gujarat.
Krishna Janmashtami with Dahi Handi and temple celebrations across Gujarat.
Gujarati New Year – day after Diwali. Account books opened, temples decorated.
The Marathi calendar follows the Shalivahana Shaka era and the Amanta (Amant) system where the month ends with Amavasya (new moon). Gudi Padwa marks the new year – a decorated gudi (flag) is hoisted to celebrate.
Marathi New Year. A gudi (decorated pole with silk cloth, neem, mango, and garland topped with an inverted kalash) is hoisted outside homes.
Maharashtra's grandest festival – 10-day celebration of Lord Ganesha with elaborate pandals, immersion processions, and community worship.
Kite flying and til-gul distribution with the greeting "Tilgul ghya god god bola" (eat sesame-jaggery and speak sweetly).
Massive Wari pilgrimage to Pandharpur. Lakhs of Warkaris walk carrying palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram.
The Malayalam calendar (Kolla Varsham) is a solar calendar starting from Chingam (Leo). It begins from 825 CE (Kollam Era). The year starts with the Chingam month but Vishu (Medam 1) is celebrated as the astronomical new year.
Malayalam astronomical new year. Vishukkani (auspicious arrangement of fruits, gold, and rice) is viewed first thing in the morning.
Kerala's grandest festival – 10-day celebration honoring King Mahabali. Pookalam (flower carpets), Onasadya (feast with 26+ dishes), Vallam Kali (boat races).
Festival of Lord Shiva. Women perform the Thiruvathira Kali dance and fast for marital bliss.
Greatest temple festival of Kerala at Vadakkunnathan Temple. Spectacular elephant processions, Kudamattam (umbrella ceremony), and fireworks.
The Odia calendar starts with Baisakha (Mesha Sankranti). It's primarily solar but with lunisolar elements for festivals. Closely linked with the Jagannath Temple tradition at Puri.
The world-famous chariot festival of Lord Jagannath at Puri. Three massive chariots carry Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra through the streets.
Unique three-day festival celebrating femininity and the Earth's menstruation cycle. Women swing on ropes and rest from fieldwork.
Festival of youth and beauty on Ashwin Purnima. Young women worship the moon and play traditional games.
The Maithili calendar follows the Vikram Samvat era and the Purnimanta lunisolar system (months end on Purnima / Full Moon). Centred on the Mithila region — Darbhanga, Madhubani, Janakpur. Major festivals are tied to the agricultural cycle of north Bihar and the Terai.
Four-day sun-worship festival in Kartik. Devotees stand in rivers offering arghya to Surya at sunrise and sunset. The most important festival of Mithila + greater Bihar.
Sister-brother festival celebrated in Kartik. Sisters fashion clay birds (sama and chakeva) and pray for their brothers' long life.
Margashirsha Shukla Panchami marks the wedding day of Sita and Rama in Janakpur, Mithila. Re-enactments and yatras draw lakhs of devotees.
Maithili cultural new year on Vaishakh 2 (the day after Mesha Sankranti). Elders sprinkle cool water on younger members' heads as blessing.
| Tradition | Type | Era | Year Starts | First Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengali (Bangla) | Solar | Bangabda | Boishakh 1 (~Apr 14) | Boishakh (বৈশাখ) |
| Tamil (Thiruvalluvar) | Solar | Thiruvalluvar | Chithirai 1 (~Apr 14) | Chithirai (சித்திரை) |
| Telugu (Shalivahana Shaka) | Lunisolar | Shalivahana Shaka | Chaitra Shukla Pratipada | Chaitra (చైత్రము) |
| Kannada (Shalivahana Shaka) | Lunisolar | Shalivahana Shaka | Chaitra Shukla Pratipada | Chaitra (ಚೈತ್ರ) |
| Gujarati (Vikram Samvat) | Lunisolar | Vikram Samvat | Day after Diwali Amavasya | Kartik (કારતક) |
| Marathi (Shalivahana Shaka) | Lunisolar | Shalivahana Shaka | Chaitra Shukla Pratipada | Chaitra (चैत्र) |
| Malayalam (Kollam Era) | Solar | Kollam Era | Chingam 1 (~Aug 17) | Chingam (ചിങ്ങം) |
| Odia (Odia Era) | Solar | Amli / Odia Era | Pana Sankranti (~Apr 14) | Baisakha (ବୈଶାଖ) |
| Mithila (Maithili Panchang) | Lunisolar (Purnimant) | Vikram Samvat | Chaitra Shukla Pratipada | Chaitra (चैत) |