HinduKalender

The Hindu calendar, also known as the Panchangam, is a lunisolar calendar system used in India and Nepal. It is a complex system that tracks both the lunar cycle and the solar year, incorporating elements of both to determine auspicious days, festivals, and religious observances. The calendar is divided into months, which are typically based on the lunar cycle, with each month consisting of two fortnights: Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) and Krishna Paksha (waning moon). The duration of these lunar months can vary, sometimes leading to intercalary months (Adhik Maas) being added to keep the calendar aligned with the solar year.

Days are divided into Tithi, a specific time period representing the phase of the moon, and Nakshatra, which refers to the lunar mansion the moon is in. The Hindu calendar also incorporates astrological calculations for Varas (days of the week), Yog (a combination of Sun and Moon's longitude), and Karan (half of a Tithi). The accuracy and application of the Panchangam are crucial for determining the timing of Hindu religious ceremonies, weddings, and other significant events, ensuring they are performed on astrologically favorable occasions. Different regional traditions and sectarian observances may have slight variations in their calendrical calculations and the naming of months and festivals.