Types of calendars followed in India

In India, four types of calendars are followed:

1. Vikram Samvat (Hindu lunar calendar)
2. Saka Samvat (Hindu Solar calendar)
3. Hijri Calendar (Islamic lunar calendar)
4. Gregorian Calendar (Scientific solar calendar)- followed universally

Vikram Samvat: 

• Dates back to 57 B.C.
• Introduced by King Vikramaditya to mark his victory over the Saka rulers.
• 57 B.C. is the zero year.
• It is a lunar calendar as it is based on the movement of the moon.
• Every year is divided into 12 months and each month is divided into two phases.
• The bright half is called the Shuklapaksha (15 days). It starts with the new moon and ends with a full moon.
• The dark half is called the Krishnapaksha (15 days). It starts with the full moon and ends with a new moon.
• The month begins with the dark half.
• There are 354 days in a year.
• Hence every third and fifth year in a cycle of five years has 13 months (the 13th month is called Adhik Mass).

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Saka Samvat: 

• The zero year of Saka Samvat is 78 A.D.
• It was started by Saka rulers to mark their victory over Kushanas.
• It is a solar calendar.
• It was adopted by the Government of India as the official calendar in the year 1957.
• Every year has 365 days.

The names of the months in Saka Calendar are:

1. Chhaitra (March 21 – April 20)
2. Vaishakha (April 21-May 21)
3. Jyeshtha (May 22-June 21)
4. Ashadha (June 22- July 22)
5. Shravana (July 23-August 22)
6. Bhaadra (August 22-September 22)
7. Ashwin (September 23-October 22)
8. Kartika (October 23-November 21)
9. Agrahayana (November 22-December 21)
10. Pausha (December 22-January 20)
11. Magha (January 21- February 19) and
12. Phalguna (February 20-March 20/21)

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Hijri calendar: 

• It is a lunar calendar.
• The zero year is 622 A.D.
• It was initially started and followed in Saudi Arabia.
• Every year has 12 months and 354 days.
• The first month is called Muharram.
• Ninth month is called Ramzaan. During this month, Muslims observe a fast for the purification of souls. The morning breakfast is called Shehri and evening food is called Iftar.
• The 12 months of the calendar are:

1. Muharram
2. Safar
3. Rabi’ al-awwal (Rabi’ I)
4. Rabi’ al-thani (Rabi’ II)
5. Jumada al-awwal (Jumada I)
6. Jumada al-thani (Jumada II)
7. Rajab
8. Sha’ban
9. Ramadan
10. Shawwal
11. Dhu al-Qi’dah
12. Dhu al-Hijjah

Gregorian calendar: 

• Scientific calendar.
• Every year has 364.25 days.
• It is a solar calendar and followed universally.

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