| Ashadha | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | आषाढ (Sanskrit) |
| Calendar | Hindu calendar |
| Month number | 4 |
| Number of days | 29 or 30 |
| Season | Grishma (summer) |
| Gregorian equivalent | June–July |
| Significant days |
|
Ashadha is the fourth month of theHindulunar calendar and theIndian national calendar.[1] The name of the month is derived from the position of theMoon near thePurva Ashadhanakshatra (star) on thefull moon day.[2] The month corresponds to the end of the summer (Grishma)season and falls in June–July of theGregorian calendar.[3]
In the Hindusolar calendar, it corresponds to the month ofMithuna and begins with theSun's entry intoGemini.[4] It corresponds toAsharh, the third month in theBengali calendar.[4] In theTamil calendar, it corresponds to the fourth month ofAadi, falling in the Gregorian months of July–August.[4][5] In theVaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the fourth month ofVamana.[6][7]
In the Hindu lunar calendar, each month has 29 or 30 days. The month begins on the next day after theAmavasya (new moon) orPurnima (full moon) as peramanta andpurnimanta systems respectively. A month consists of two cycles of 15 days each,Shukla Paksha (waning moon) andKrishna Paksha (waxing moon). Days in each cycle is labeled as athithi, with each thithi repeating twice in a month.[8][9]
Guru Purnima, a festival dedicated to honoring thegurus (teachers), is celebrated on thePurnima (full moon) day of the month.[10]Rath Yatra is an annual publictemple car procession dedicated toJagannath held inPuri during the month.[11][12]Shayani Ekadashi, dedicated to Hindu godVishnu, is observed on theEkadashi (eleventh lunar day)thithi ofShukla Paksha (waning moon.[13]
The month is dedicated toMariamman amongst theTamils, and Aadi Amavasai, celebrated onAmavasya (new moon) of the month is an important festival.[14][15] InGujarat,Dashama Vrata, dedicated toMomai, is observed on the Amavasya of the month.[16][17] TheKakkada month in Kodava calendar, which corresponds to Ashadha, is considered one of the significant and auspicious months by theTuluvas. Various delicacies such as aati soppu, and kakkada paayasa are prepared to commemorate the same.[18]
The end of summer and impending arrival of themonsoon marks the time for cultivatingpaddy in various regions of theIndian subcontinent. In Nepal, the occasion is marked by the Ropain festivel, welcoming the monsoon season. The festival includes planting the first seedlings, followed by celebrating by throwing mud at each other and people sharing dahi chiura (beaten rice with curds) with each other.[19][20]
