Ritu · ऋतु · Autumn
Sharad — शरद्
The season of clear skies and full moons — Sharad Purnima, the brightest full moon of the year, takes its name directly from this season.
Sharad spans the Sanskrit months of Ashwina and Kartika — roughly Mid-September to mid-November 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 Sharad fits alongside the other five seasons.
Solstice half: Visarga Kala (Dakshinayana), continuing — traditionally a season of moderate bodily strength as the body adjusts from the monsoon's depletion.
Ritucharya — the traditional Ayurvedic regimen for Sharad
Seasonal diet and lifestyle guidance from classical Ayurvedic texts, chiefly the Charaka Samhita.
Doshas in this season
Pitta, which accumulated quietly through the hot and rainy months, becomes aggravated as the skies clear and the sun's heat returns to a body still adjusting — classical texts link this season to a rise in Pitta-related conditions.
Traditional diet (Ahara)
Sweet, bitter and astringent tastes are favoured, along with cooling foods, to counter aggravated Pitta. Traditional guidance advises against sour, salty and pungent foods, and against exposure to strong sun.
Traditional lifestyle (Vihara)
Moderate exercise and cooling routines are traditionally recommended — a season for settling the body after Varsha's stress, without swinging to Grishma's need for rest.
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.
Sharad 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 Sharad its third canto. The third canto of the Ritusamhara, celebrating white flowers, ripened rice fields, and the clear night skies its full moons are famous for.
Festivals in Sharad
| Festival | Approximate timing |
| Navratri & Dussehra | late September to early October |
| Sharad Purnima | mid-October |
| Diwali | late October |
| Bhai Dooj | early November |
| Chhath Puja | early November |
Sharad is arguably the single biggest festival season of the Sanskrit calendar — Navratri, Dussehra, Sharad Purnima, Diwali, Bhai Dooj and Chhath Puja all fall within its two months. See Hindu Festivals 2027 for this year's exact verified dates.
Frequently asked questions
What Gregorian months does Sharad usually fall in?
Approximately Mid-September to mid-November, 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 Sharad?
Ashwina – Kartika — each Ritu spans exactly two of the twelve Sanskrit months.