paksha

Paksha is a term from Sanskrit that appears in several Indian languages, where it commonly denotes a side, faction, or half. In the Hindu lunar calendar, it specifically refers to one of the two halves of a lunar month: Shukla Paksha, the bright or waxing fortnight, and Krishna Paksha, the dark or waning fortnight. Each paksha comprises about 14 to 15 days, with Shukla Paksha typically beginning on Amavasya (new moon) and ending on Purnima (full moon), and Krishna Paksha running from Purnima to the next Amavasya. These divisions are used to determine dates for religious observances and festivals and are often cited alongside tithis (lunar days).

In contemporary language, the word paksha is also used to mean a political party or faction within a country sharing a common ideological stance, especially in Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, and related languages. It is commonly paired with terms like ruling or opposition to describe the side currently in power or in opposition.

Beyond calendar and politics, the term appears in everyday speech to indicate a side in a debate or competition, or in compound terms that name groups, teams, or schools of thought. The versatility of paksha reflects its broad semantic range across cultural and linguistic contexts.