Ritu · ऋतु · Pre-winter
Hemanta — हेमन्त
The gentle onset of cold — named from hima, “frost” or “snow,” though the season itself is milder than the deep winter of Shishira that follows it.
Hemanta spans the Sanskrit months of Margashirsha and Pausha — roughly Mid-November to mid-January on the Gregorian calendar, though the exact overlap shifts slightly year to year the way all lunisolar months do. See the full six-Ritu cycle for how Hemanta fits alongside the other five seasons.
Solstice half: Visarga Kala (Dakshinayana), ending — alongside Shishira, this is the season of maximum bodily strength in the traditional yearly cycle.
Ritucharya — the traditional Ayurvedic regimen for Hemanta
Seasonal diet and lifestyle guidance from classical Ayurvedic texts, chiefly the Charaka Samhita.
Doshas in this season
Kapha begins to accumulate again in the cold, but the cool, settled weather is traditionally considered to strengthen Agni (digestive fire), making this a season the body handles well.
Traditional diet (Ahara)
Because digestion is at its strongest, heavier, more nourishing foods — including sweet, sour and salty tastes, ghee, and warming preparations — are traditionally well tolerated and even recommended in this season.
Traditional lifestyle (Vihara)
Classical guidance treats Hemanta as favourable for building strength — oil massage, warm baths, and more substantial food than the rest of the year, before the depth of Shishira's cold sets in.
This is a summary of traditional Ayurvedic seasonal guidance (Ritucharya), not medical advice — consult a qualified practitioner before making significant dietary or lifestyle changes, especially if you have an existing health condition.
Hemanta in classical poetry
Kalidasa's Ritusamhara ("Gathering of the Seasons"), one of the earliest surviving Sanskrit works built entirely around the six-Ritu cycle, gives Hemanta its fourth canto. The fourth canto of the Ritusamhara, describing frost-covered fields at dawn, fires lit for warmth, and the comfort found in a lover's embrace against the cold.
Festivals in Hemanta
| Festival | Approximate timing |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | mid-November |
| Vivah Panchami and regional winter festivals | December |
Krishna's favourite month according to the Bhagavad Gita, Margashirsha, falls within Hemanta — giving this comparatively quiet season a distinct devotional association. See Hindu Festivals 2027 for this year's exact verified dates.
Frequently asked questions
What Gregorian months does Hemanta usually fall in?
Approximately Mid-November to mid-January, though the exact start and end dates shift by up to a few weeks year to year, since the Sanskrit calendar's months are lunisolar rather than fixed to the Gregorian calendar.
Is Ritucharya scientifically proven?
Ritucharya is a traditional Ayurvedic framework developed over centuries of observation, not a body of modern clinical evidence. Some elements have been studied in modern research with mixed results; it's best understood as a traditional wellness system rather than an evidence-based medical protocol.
Which Sanskrit months make up Hemanta?
Margashirsha – Pausha — each Ritu spans exactly two of the twelve Sanskrit months.