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Ashvin (month)

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"Ashwin" redirects here. For other uses, see Ashwin (disambiguation).
Ashvin
Diwali, the major Hindu festival of lights is celebrated during the month
Native nameअश्विन् (Sanskrit)
CalendarHindu calendar
Month number7
Number of days29 or 30
SeasonSharada (autumn)
Gregorian equivalentSeptember–October
Significant days
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Ashvin (/əˈʃwɪn/; Sanskrit: आश्विन; Malay/Indonesian: Aswin; Thai: Asawin), or Ashwin, also known as Aswayuja is the seventh month of the Hindu lunar calendar and the Indian national calendar.[4] The name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Ashvini nakshatra (star) on the full moon day.[5] The month corresponds to the autumn (Sharada) season and falls in September–October of the Gregorian calendar.[6]

In the Hindu solar calendar, it corresponds to the month of Kanya and begins with the Sun's entry into Virgo.[7] It corresponds to Ashshin, the sixth month in the Bengali calendar.[7] In the Tamil calendar, it corresponds to the seventh month of Aipasi, falling in the Gregorian months of October–November.[7][8] In the Vaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the seventh month of Padmanabha.[9][10]

In the Hindu lunar calendar, each month has 29 or 30 days. The month begins on the next day after Amavasya (new moon) or Purnima (full moon) as per amanta and purnimanta systems respectively. A month consists of two cycles of 15 days each, Shukla Paksha (waning moon) and Krishna Paksha (waxing moon). Days in each cycle is labeled as a thithi, with each thithi repeating twice in a month.[11][12] In the Bengali calendar, it earlier consisted of 30 days before being revised to 31 days in Bangladesh in October 2019.[13][14] Diwali, the festival of lights, and Navaratri are major Hindu festivals celebrated in the month.

Etymology

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The name of the month is derived from Ashvini, which is the first of the 27 nakshatras (star). It is based on the position of the Moon near the star on the full moon day.[5] In Indian astrology, it is the head of the constellation Aries.[15] In Hindu mythology, Ashvins are divine twin horsemen, who are associated with healing and are considered the bringers of dawn.[16][17] In Thai, Aswin means a warrior or knight, and are described as representing the "blending of light and darkness" during twilight.[18]

Festivals

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Diwali

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Diwali is a five‑day Hindu festival of lights marking the victory of light over darkness, or good over evil.[19][20][21] Dhanteras marks the first day of the festival and is celebrated on Trayodashi (thirteenth lunar day) of Krishna Paksha (waxing moon) of the month. It is dedicated to the worship of goddess Lakshmi, lord Kubera and lord Dhanvantari.[22] Naraka Chaturdasi is celebrated on the next day (Chaturdashi) and commemorates the defeat of Narakasura by god Krishna.[23] Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the Amavasya (new moon, and marks the main night of festivities. It is dedicated to welcoming prosperity by worshipping Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. People light lamps (diyas), burst crackers, and do pujas.[24]

The festivities and traditions vary across regions and commemorate other Hindu gods and goddesses.[25] Kali Puja is celebrated in parts of India during the new moon day, and is dedicated to goddess Kali.[24] While primarily a Hindu festival, variations of Diwali are also celebrated by adherents of other faiths. For Jains, own Diwali marks the final liberation of Mahavira.[26][27] Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from Mughal imprisonment.[28] Newar Buddhists also celebrate Diwali.[29][30]

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Durga Puja is a major festival in Bengal region

Navaratri is a nine‑day festival dedicated to various Hindu goddesses.[31] It starts from the Prathama (first lunar day) thithi after Amavasya (new moon), and ends on the Navami thithi on the ninth day.[32] The festival involves fasting, special pujas, and various cultural activities. [33]

Saraswati Puja or Ayutha Puja is celebrated on the ninth day of Navaratri. This day involves the worship of various tools, instruments, and books, and is dedicated to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of wisdom.[34] In households and institutions, materials and implements are cleaned and decorated, with special pujas.[35] Vijayadashami or Dussehra is celebrated on Dashami (tenth day) thithi, and marks the end of Navaratri festivities. It commemorates god Rama's victory over Ravana.[36]

Durga Puja is major festival in Eastern India and Bengal celebrated during the Navaratri period, and commemorates goddess Durga's victory the asura Mahishasura.[31] Pujas are performed in homes and public spaces at temporary structures known as pandals, along with religious recitations, cultural performances, feasting, and processions.[37][38]

Karwa Chauth

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Karwa Chauth is a one‑day fast observed by married Hindu women for the longevity and well‑being of their husbands. Women break the fast at night when the moon is sighted.[39] Rituals includes wearing traditional attires, communal gatherings, and offering prayers to the moon.[40]

Sharad Poornima

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Sharad Poornima is observed on the Purnima (full moon day) of the month of Ashvin. It marks the end of monsoon season. During the festival, various Hindu gods are worshipped along with Chandra, the moon deity, and are offered flowers and sweets.[41][42]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c As per Amanta tradition, which is officially followed by the Indian national calendar. The Hindu calendar follows two various systems:Amanta and Purnimanta. As per the amānta tradition, the lunar month ends on the new moon day and as per the purnimānta tradition, it ends on the full moon day. As a consequence, in the amanta tradition, Shukla paksha (waning moon) precedes Krishna paksha (waxing moon) in every lunar month, whereas the reverse happens in purnimānta tradition. Hence, Shukla paksha will always belong to the same month in both traditions, whereas Krishna paksha will always be associated with different but succeeding months in each tradition.[1][2][3]

References

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  1. ^ V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar (1993). The Gupta Polity. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 24–35. ISBN 978-81-208-1024-2.
  2. ^ "Amānta and Pūrṇimānta – Decoding Hindu Lunar Months". Divine Hindu. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Lunar months – Pūrṇimānta and Amānta system". Ekohumm. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  4. ^ Kenneth W. Morgan, ed. (1987). The Religion Of The Hindus. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 96. ISBN 978-8-120-80387-9.
  5. ^ a b Garima Garg (2022). Heavens and Earth: The Story of Astrology Through Ages and Cultures. Penguin Random House. p. 75. ISBN 978-9-354-92705-8.
  6. ^ Helene Henderson, ed. (2005). Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionary (Third ed.). Detroit: Omnigraphics. p. xxix. ISBN 978-0-780-80982-6.
  7. ^ a b c Robert Sewell; John Faithful Fleet (1989). The Siddhantas and the Indian Calendar. Asian Educational Services. p. 334.
  8. ^ "Tamil Calendar – Months". Time and Date. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Vaisnava Calendar Reminder Services – About Calendar". Vaisnava Calendar. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Something about the Vaisnava Calendar". ISVARA. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Hindu calendar". ISKCON. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Hindu calendar". Arya Samaj. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Ashshin in 31 days in revised Bangla calendar". Dhaka Tribune. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Govt revises Bangla calendar to match national days with West". The Financial Express. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Nakshatra Ashwini – Vedic Astrology". Vedic Feed. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Ashvins – The Hindu Gods of Healing and Medicine". HinduWebsite. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Ashvins: Divine Twin Gods – Hindu Temple Talk". Hindu Temple Talk. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  18. ^ Jah, J.C (1976). The Hindu Festival of Divali in the Caribbean. Mona, Jamaica: Routledge. p. 53.
  19. ^ "Deepavali". Its Life. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  20. ^ Mead, Jean (February 2008). How and why Do Hindus Celebrate Divali?. Evans Brothers. ISBN 978-0-237-53412-7. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  21. ^ Vasudha Narayanan; Deborah Heiligman (2008). Celebrate Diwali. National Geographic Society. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-4263-0291-6. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  22. ^ Hope-Murray, Angela (2013). Ayurveda For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-118-30670-3.
  23. ^ Ray, Dipti (2007). Prataparudradeva, the Last Great Suryavamshi King of Orissa (A.D. 1497 to A.D. 1540). Northern Book Centre. p. 89. ISBN 978-8-172-11195-3. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  24. ^ a b "Happy Diwali: Deepavali, Kali Puja, Naraka Chaturdasi, Ramayana, The Legends Linked To Diwali". NDTV. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  25. ^ Suzanne Barchers (2013). The Big Book of Holidays and Cultural Celebrations. Shell Education. ISBN 978-1-4258-1048-1.
  26. ^ Sharma, S.P.; Gupta, Seema (2006). Fairs and Festivals of India. Pustak Mahal. p. 79. ISBN 978-81-223-0951-5. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  27. ^ Upadhye, A.N. (Jan–Mar 1982). Cohen, Richard J. (ed.). "Mahavira and His Teachings". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 102 (1): 231–232. doi:10.2307/601199. ISSN 0003-0279. JSTOR 601199.
  28. ^ Geoff Teece (2005). Sikhism. Smart Apple Media. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-58340-469-0. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  29. ^ Todd T. Lewis (7 September 2000). Popular Buddhist Texts from Nepal: Narratives and Rituals of Newar Buddhism. State University of New York Press. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-0-791-49243-7. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  30. ^ Prem Saran (2012). Yoga, Bhoga and Ardhanariswara: Individuality, Wellbeing and Gender in Tantra. Routledge. p. 175. ISBN 978-1-136-51648-1. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  31. ^ a b Caleb Simmons, Moumita Sen, Hillary P. Rodrigues, ed. (2018). Nine Nights of the Goddess: The Navarātri Festival in South Asia. State University of New York Press. pp. 1, 15, 30. ISBN 978-1-438-47069-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  32. ^ "Navaratri – A Guide to Religious Observances". Brandeis University – Center for Spiritual Life. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  33. ^ "Navaratri: A Deep Dive into Ancient Wisdom". Ayudhasara. 12 (3): 277‑282. 25 July 2025.
  34. ^ "Ayudha Puja – History, Meaning and Significance". Hinduism Today. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  35. ^ "Ayudha Puja Rituals Explained". Indian Panorama. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  36. ^ Bhalla, Kartar Singh (February 2005). Let's Know Festivals of India. Star Publications. ISBN 978-8-176-50165-1.
  37. ^ Lochtefeld, James G (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. Rosen Publishing Group. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-823-93179-8.
  38. ^ Arundhuti Dasgupta (12 February 2019). "Whose goddess is it, anyway?". Business Standard. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  39. ^ "Karwa Chauth – Married Women's Fast for Spouse's Longevity". Reuters. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  40. ^ "Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha". Navbharat Times. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  41. ^ "Sharad Purnima – Celebration, Vrat and Divine Story". Samarthguru Dhara. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  42. ^ "Sharad Purnima Ki Katha: The Divine Moonlight Story". Hindu Mirror. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
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