Ritu · ऋतु · Winter
Shishira — शिशिर
The coldest season, closing the six-Ritu cycle before Vasanta begins it again — its name is directly related to śīta, “cold.”
Shishira spans the Sanskrit months of Magha and Phalguna — roughly Mid-January to mid-March 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 Shishira fits alongside the other five seasons.
Solstice half: Adana Kala (Uttarayana) begins — the Sun's dehydrating, northward-moving half of the year opens with the year's coldest weather.
Ritucharya — the traditional Ayurvedic regimen for Shishira
Seasonal diet and lifestyle guidance from classical Ayurvedic texts, chiefly the Charaka Samhita.
Doshas in this season
The intense cold and dryness are said to aggravate Vata; classical texts specifically prescribe warm, unctuous, and sweet food to counter it, in contrast to the light, dry food favoured in Vasanta right after.
Traditional diet (Ahara)
Warm, oily, and heavier foods are recommended — similar in spirit to Hemanta's guidance, since Agni remains relatively strong in the cold. Hot drinks, sesame and other warming oils, and freshly-cooked meals are favoured over cold, raw or light food.
Traditional lifestyle (Vihara)
Oil massage, warm clothing, and staying out of cold wind are the consistent themes across classical sources — protecting the accumulated strength of the Hemanta-Shishira period before it's given up in Vasanta.
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.
Shishira 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 Shishira its fifth canto. The fifth canto of the Ritusamhara, describing frost on the grass, the comfort of fire and warm rooms, and fields ripe with sugarcane and rice.
Festivals in Shishira
| Festival | Approximate timing |
| Makar Sankranti | mid-January, right at the Shishira threshold |
| Vasant Panchami | early-to-mid February |
| Maha Shivaratri | late February to early March |
Vasant Panchami, despite its name, falls within Shishira rather than Vasanta itself — it marks spring's approach rather than its arrival, celebrated a few weeks before the season actually turns. See Hindu Festivals 2027 for this year's exact verified dates.
Frequently asked questions
What Gregorian months does Shishira usually fall in?
Approximately Mid-January to mid-March, 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 Shishira?
Magha – Phalguna — each Ritu spans exactly two of the twelve Sanskrit months.