Introduction: Marathi Months

Marathi months are an integral part of the cultural heritage of Maharashtra and are based on the Hindu lunar calendar. Each month is associated with unique festivals, observances, and traditions that are celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people of Maharashtra. In this article, we will explore the Marathi months, map them with the English calendar, and delve into the significance of each month and the festivals celebrated in them.

Marathi Months and their Mapping with the English Calendar:

1. Chaitra – (March-April) The first month of the Marathi calendar is Chaitra, which falls in March-April of the English calendar. This month is considered auspicious and marks the beginning of the new year. The festival of Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra and marks the beginning of the harvesting season. The month also sees the celebration of Navratri and Ram Navami.
2. Vaishakh – (April-May) Vaishakh is the second month of the Marathi calendar and falls in April-May of the English calendar. It is a month of prosperity and fertility and is marked by the festival of Akshaya Tritiya, which is considered an auspicious day for beginning new ventures. The month also sees the celebration of Buddha Purnima and the harvesting of mangoes.
3. Jyeshtha – (May-June) Jyeshtha is the third month of the Marathi calendar and falls in May-June of the English calendar. It is a month of intense heat and is marked by the celebration of the festival of Shani Jayanti, which is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shani. The month also sees the observance of Vat Savitri Vrat, which is a fasting ritual observed by married women for the long life of their husbands.
4. Ashad – (June-July) Ashad is the fourth month of the Marathi calendar and falls in June-July of the English calendar. It is a month of monsoon rains and marks the beginning of the planting season. The month is marked by the celebration of the festival of Ashadhi Ekadashi, which is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is also the month of the famous Pandharpur Yatra, which is a pilgrimage to the temple of Lord Vitthal in Pandharpur.
5. Shravan – (July-August) Shravan is the fifth month of the Marathi calendar and falls in July-August of the English calendar. It is a month of fasting and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The month sees the celebration of the festival of Nag Panchami, which is dedicated to the worship of snakes. The month also sees the celebration of Raksha Bandhan, which is a festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
6. Bhadrapad – (August-September) Bhadrapad is the sixth month of the Marathi calendar and falls in August-September of the English calendar. It is a month of festivals and is marked by the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, which is dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesha. The month also sees the celebration of the festival of Onam, which is a harvest festival celebrated in Kerala.
7. Ashwin – (September-October) Ashwin is the seventh month of the Marathi calendar and falls in September-October of the English calendar. It is a month of transitions and is marked by the celebration of Navratri, which is dedicated to the worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. The month also sees the celebration of Dussehra, which marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.
8. Kartik – (October-November) Kartik is the eighth month of the Marathi calendar and falls in October-November of the English calendar. It is a month of religious significance and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu. The month sees the celebration of the festival of Kartik Ekadashi, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is also the month of Diwali, the festival of lights, which celebrates the victory of good over evil.
9. Margashirsha – (November-December) Margashirsha is the ninth month of the Marathi calendar and falls in November-December of the English calendar. It is a month of spiritual significance and is marked by the celebration of the festival of Karthik Purnima. It is also the month of the winter solstice, which is celebrated as the festival of Makar Sankranti, marking the beginning of the harvest season.
10. Paush – (December-January) Paush is the tenth month of the Marathi calendar and falls in December-January of the English calendar. It is a month of cold and is marked by the observance of the holy month of Maagha. It is also the month of Paush Purnima, which is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva.
11. Magh – (January-February) Magh is the eleventh month of the Marathi calendar and falls in January-February of the English calendar. It is a month of spiritual significance and is marked by the observance of the festival of Vasant Panchami, which is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Saraswati. The month also sees the celebration of the festival of Maha Shivaratri, which celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
12. Phalguna – (February-March) Phalguna is the twelfth and final month of the Marathi calendar and falls in February-March of the English calendar. It is a month of celebrations and is marked by the festival of Holi, which celebrates the victory of good over evil. The month also sees the observance of the festival of Gudi Padwa, which marks the beginning of the new year.

Months in Marathi:

1. Chaitra (चैत्र) – March-April
2. Vaishakh (वैशाख) – April-May
3. Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठ) – May-June
4. Ashadh (आषाढ) – June-July
5. Shravan (श्रावण) – July-August
6. Bhadrapad (भाद्रपद) – August-September
7. Ashwin (आश्विन) – September-October
8. Kartik (कार्तिक) – October-November
9. Margashirsha (मार्गशीर्ष) – November-December
10. Paush (पौष) – December-January
11. Magh (माघ) – January-February
12. Phalguna (फाल्गुन) – February-March

OR

Marathi Names in English:

1. चैत्र (Chaitra) – मार्च-एप्रिल (March-April)
2. वैशाख (Vaishakh) – एप्रिल-मे (April-May)
3. ज्येष्ठ (Jyeshtha) – मे-जून (May-June)
4. आषाढ (Ashadh) – जून-जुलै (June-July)
5. श्रावण (Shravan) – जुलै-ऑगस्ट (July-August)
6. भाद्रपद (Bhadrapad) – ऑगस्ट-सप्टेंबर (August-September)
7. आश्विन (Ashwin) – सप्टेंबर-ऑक्टोबर (September-October)
8. कार्तिक (Kartik) – ऑक्टोबर-नोव्हेंबर (October-November)
9. मार्गशीर्ष (Margashirsha) – नोव्हेंबर-डिसेंबर (November-December)
10. पौष (Paush) – डिसेंबर-जानेवारी (December-January)
11. माघ (Magh) – जानेवारी-फेब्रुवारी (January-February)
12. फाल्गुन (Phalguna) – फेब्रुवारी-मार्च (February-March)

Sure, here is the table:

Marathi Month	English Month
Chaitra	March-April
Vaishakh	April-May
Jyeshtha	May-June
Ashadh	June-July
Shravan	July-August
Bhadrapad	August-September
Ashwin	September-October
Kartik	October-November
Margashirsha	November-December
Paush	December-January
Magh	January-February
Phalguna	February-March

Complete List of Festivals in Marathi Calendar

1. Gudi Padwa/Ugadi – Celebrated on the first day of Chaitra month (March/April) to mark the beginning of the new year.
2. Ram Navami – Celebrated in Chaitra month (March/April) to commemorate the birth of Lord Rama.
3. Mahavir Jayanti – Celebrated in Chaitra month (March/April) to honor the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir.
4. Hanuman Jayanti – Celebrated in Chaitra month (March/April) to celebrate the birth of Lord Hanuman.
5. Akshaya Tritiya – Celebrated in Vaishakh month (April/May) to mark the beginning of the new agricultural season and is considered an auspicious day for starting new ventures.
6. Buddha Purnima – Celebrated in Vaishakh month (April/May) to honor the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha.
7. Narasimha Jayanti – Celebrated in Vaishakh month (April/May) to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Narasimha.
8. Vat Pournima – Celebrated in Jyeshtha month (May/June) to honor the banyan tree, which is considered sacred in Hinduism.
9. Ashadhi Ekadashi – Celebrated on the eleventh day of Ashadh month (June/July) to honor Lord Vishnu and is celebrated with great devotion in Maharashtra.
10. Guru Purnima – Celebrated in Ashadh month (June/July) to pay respect to spiritual gurus and teachers.
11. Nag Panchami – Celebrated in Shravan month (July/August) to honor the snake god, Nag.
12. Raksha Bandhan – Celebrated in Shravan month (July/August) to strengthen the bond between brothers and sisters.
13. Krishna Janmashtami – Celebrated in Bhadrapad month (August/September) to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.
14. Ganesh Chaturthi – Celebrated in Bhadrapad month (August/September) to honor the birth of Lord Ganesha and is one of the most popular festivals in Maharashtra.
15. Navratri – Celebrated in Ashwin month (September/October) to honor the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
16. Dussehra – Celebrated in Ashwin month (September/October) to celebrate the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.
17. Diwali – Celebrated in Kartik month (October/November) to celebrate the victory of light over darkness and is one of the most important festivals in India.
18. Tulsi Vivah – Celebrated in Kartik month (October/November) to celebrate the marriage of the sacred tulsi plant with Lord Vishnu.
19. Kartik Ekadashi – Celebrated on the eleventh day of Kartik month (October/November) to honor Lord Vishnu.
20. Gita Jayanti – Celebrated in Margashirsha month (November/December) to honor the birth of the sacred text, Bhagavad Gita.
21. Datta Jayanti – Celebrated in Margashirsha month (November/December) to celebrate the birth of Lord Dattatreya.
22. Makar Sankranti – Celebrated in Paush month (December/January) to mark the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn.
23. Vasant Panchami – Celebrated in Magh month (January)

Conclusion:

The Marathi calendar is an integral part of the cultural heritage of Maharashtra and has significant religious and cultural importance. The calendar follows the Hindu lunar calendar, and each month is named after a Hindu god or goddess. The festivals celebrated in the Marathi months have cultural and religious significance and celebrate the victory of good over evil, the bond between brothers and sisters, the worship of gods and goddesses, and the harvesting season.

The mapping of Marathi months with the English calendar helps in understanding and keeping track of the important dates and festivals celebrated in Maharashtra. The festivals and events celebrated in the Marathi months bring people together, create a sense of unity, and promote the cultural identity of Maharashtra.

In conclusion, the Marathi months are an essential part of the cultural heritage of Maharashtra, and the festivals celebrated in these months hold immense religious and cultural significance. The mapping of these months with the English calendar helps in keeping track of the important dates and festivals celebrated in Maharashtra and promotes the cultural identity of the state.

FAQ