Magha (Sanskrit: माघ, romanizedMāgha) is the eleventh month of the Hindu calendar, corresponding to January/February of the Gregorian calendar.[1] In India's national civil calendar, Magha is also the eleventh month of the year, beginning on 20 January and ending on 18 February.

Magha
A night lit up with kites and lights on Makar Sankranti Uttarayana festival
Native nameमाघ (Sanskrit)
CalendarHindu calendar
Month number11
SeasonWinter
Gregorian equivalentJanuary-February
Significant days
← Pausha

In the Hindu lunisolar calendar, Magha may begin on either the new moon or the full moon around the same time of year. It is named thus because in this month, the full moon is usually found nearby or within the star cluster called Magha. Since the traditional Hindu calendar follows the lunar cycle, Magha's start and end dates vary from year to year, unlike the months of the Hindu solar calendars. Magha is a winter (Shishira Ritu) month.[2][3]

The lunar month of Magha overlaps with the solar month of Makara, which begins with the Sun's entry into Capricorn.[4][5]

Shukla Paksha Krishna Paksha
1. Prathama 1. Prathama
2. Dwitiya 2. Dwitiya
3. Tritiya 3. Tritiya
4. Chaturthi 4. Chaturthi
5. Panchami 5. Panchami
6. Shashti 6. Shashti
7. Saptami 7. Saptami
8. Ashtami 8. Ashtami
9. Navami 9. Navami
10.Dashami 10.Dashami
11.Ekadashi 11.Ekadashi
12.Dwadashi 12.Dwadashi
13.Thrayodashi 13.Thrayodashi
14.Chaturdashi 14.Chaturdashi
15.Purnima 15. Amavasya

Festivals

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Henderson, Helene. (Ed.) (2005) Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionary Third edition. Electronic edition. Detroit: Omnigraphics, p. xxix. ISBN 0-7808-0982-3
  2. ^ James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M, N-Z (Vol 1 & 2). The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 508. ISBN 978-0-8239-3179-8.
  3. ^ Robert Sewell; Śaṅkara Bālakr̥shṇa Dīkshita (1896). The Indian Calendar. S. Sonnenschein & Company. pp. 5–11, 23–29.
  4. ^ Christopher John Fuller (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton University Press. pp. 291–293. ISBN 978-0-69112-04-85.
  5. ^ Robert Sewell; Śaṅkara Bālakr̥shṇa Dīkshita (1896). The Indian Calendar. S. Sonnenschein & Company. pp. 10–11.