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The Sanskrit Calendar Blog
Clear, practical explainers on the Hindu calendar, the Panchanga, and the ideas behind every date on this site.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Start and End Date
Starts 14 September with Sthapana — but the end date depends on your duration. Full breakdown, day by day.
Why Navratri Isn't Always Exactly 9 Days
Navratri means "nine nights," but some years run 8 days and others 10 — the Tithi mechanics behind why.
Purnima vs Ekadashi: What's Actually Different?
Both significant Tithis, but they mark different points in the lunar month and carry different observances.
Choghadiya Explained: The 8 Muhurats That Structure a Day
How day and night are each split into 8 periods, and why the same 7 names repeat.
What Is Rahu Kaal and Why Do People Avoid It?
Why it's considered inauspicious, how it's calculated, and why its timing changes every day.
What Is Panchak? The 5-Day Period Many Panchangs Flag
The five Nakshatras it covers, why certain activities are traditionally avoided, and how often it occurs.
How to Write Dates in Sanskrit: Day, Month and Year
Day, month, year and weekday in Sanskrit — plus Gregorian-style vs traditional Panchanga dates.
How to Write 2027 in Sanskrit?
The Devanagari digits, the full Sanskrit number word, and how to correctly say "the year 2027."
What Is Panchanga? Understanding the Five Elements of the Hindu Calendar
A plain-language walkthrough of Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana and Vara — the five daily coordinates behind every Hindu calendar date.
What Is Tithi? Understanding the 30 Lunar Dates
How a Tithi is defined, why it isn't the same length as a day, and what the 30 Tithi names actually mean.
Hindu Calendar vs Gregorian Calendar: What's the Difference?
Lunisolar vs solar, moving festivals vs fixed dates — a clear side-by-side comparison of the two systems.
Why Does Diwali's Date Change Every Year?
The real mechanics behind Diwali's shifting Gregorian date, with 2026 and 2027 as worked examples.
What Is Ekadashi? Meaning, Fasting and Importance
What the 11th Tithi means, how the fast is traditionally observed, and why it's considered especially significant.
How Hindu Calendar Dates Are Calculated
The astronomical basis behind every date in the Hindu calendar — Sun, Moon, Tithi, and why location matters.
Why Hindu Festival Dates Change Every Year
Why Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami and Maha Shivaratri land on a different Gregorian date almost every year.
What Is Nakshatra? A Complete Guide to the 27 Nakshatras
The Moon's 27 lunar mansions — what they are, how they're determined, and how they differ from zodiac signs.
Adhik Maas Explained: Why Does an Extra Month Occur?
The leap month that keeps the Hindu lunar calendar in step with the seasons.
Looking for specific dates rather than explanations? See Hindu Calendar 2027, Hindu Festivals 2027, or Ekadashi 2027.