The Punjabi calendar (Punjabi: ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਜੰਤਰੀ, پنجابی کیلنڈر) is a luni-solar calendar used by the Punjabi people in Punjab and around the world, but varies by religions. Historically, the Punjabi Sikhs and Punjabi Hindus have used the Nanakshahi calendar and ancient Bikrami (Vikrami) calendar respectively. Punjabi Muslims use the Arabic Hijri calendar.[1] Some festivals in Punjab, Pakistan are determined by the Punjabi calendar,[2] such as Muharram which is celebrated twice, once according to the Muslim year and again on the 10th of harh/18th of jeth.[3] The Bikrami calendar is the one the rural (agrarian) population follows in Punjab, Pakistan.[4][note 1]

In Punjab though the solar calendar is generally followed, the lunar calendar used is purṇimānta, or calculated from the ending moment of the full moon: the beginning of the dark fortnight.[6][7] Chait is considered to be the first month of the lunar and solar years.[8] The lunar year begins on Chet Sudi: the first day after the new moon in Chet.[9] This means that the first half of the purṇimānta month of Chaitra goes to the previous year, while the second half belongs to the new Lunar year.[7]

The Punjabi solar new year starts on Basant in month of Chait.[10] The day is considered from sunrise to next sunrise and for the first day of the solar months, the Orissa rule is observed: day 1 of the month occurs on the day of the transition of monthly constellations, or sangrānd in Punjabi.[11][12]

Months (solar)

No. Name Punjabi Gurmukhi Punjabi Shahmukhi Western months
1 Chet ਚੇਤ چیت Mid March – Mid April
2 Vaisakh ਵਿਸਾਖ وساکھ Mid April – Mid May
3 Jeth ਜੇਠ جیٹھ Mid May – Mid June
4 Harh ਹਾੜ੍ਹ ہاڑھ Mid June – Mid July
5 Sawan ਸਾਓਣ ساؤݨ Mid July – Mid August
6 Bhadon ਭਾਦੋਂ بھادوں Mid August – Mid September
7 Assu ਅੱਸੂ اسو Mid September – Mid October
8 Kattak ਕੱਤਕ کتک Mid October – Mid November
9 Magghar ਮੱਘਰ مگھر Mid November – Mid December
10 Poh ਪੋਹ پوہ Mid December – Mid January
11 Magh ਮਾਘ ماگھ Mid January – Mid February
12 Phaggan ਫੱਗਣ پھگݨ Mid February – Mid March

See also


Notes

  1. ^ The Punjabi periodicals published in Pakistan print Punjabi calendar figures.[5]

References

  1. ^ Tej Bhatia (2013). Punjabi. Routledge. p. 210. ISBN 978-1-136-89460-2.
  2. ^ Pakistan Pictorial, Volume 10 (1986) Pakistan Publications [1]
  3. ^ Jacobsen, Knut A. (ed) (2008) South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora. Routledge  [2]
  4. ^ Mirzā, Shafqat Tanvīr (1992) Resistance Themes in Punjabi Literature. Sang-e-Meel Publications  s[3]
  5. ^ Organiser, Volume 46 (1994) Bharat Prakashan [4]
  6. ^ Krishnamurthi Ramasubramanian, M. S. Sriram (2011) Tantrasaṅgraha of Nīlakaṇṭha Somayājī. Springer Science & Business Media [5]
  7. ^ a b S. Balachandra Rao (2000) Indian Astronomy: An Introduction. Universities Press [6]
  8. ^ Salvadori, Cynthia (1989) Through open doors: a view of Asian cultures in Kenya. Kenway Publications [7]
  9. ^ Singh, Gursharan (1996) Page 262 Punjab history conference. Punjabi University [8]
  10. ^ World Encyclopaedia of Interfaith Studies: World religions (2009) Jnanada Prakashan [9]
  11. ^ Dilagīra, Harajindara Siṅgha (1997) The Sikh Reference Book. Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark [10]
  12. ^ Journal of Religious Studies, Volume 34 (2003) Punjabi University [11]
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