What is Vikram Samvat?
Vikram Samvat is a traditional calendar era used in many Indian almanacs, especially in North and Western India. It is usually 56 or 57 years ahead of the Gregorian year because the new year does not begin on 1 January. In 2026, the year around Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is commonly represented as Vikram Samvat 2083, while the earlier part of the Gregorian year still belongs to the previous Samvat cycle in many traditions.
Tithi and Paksha
A tithi is a lunar day based on the angular distance between the Sun and Moon. A month has two pakshas: Shukla Paksha, the waxing half that moves toward full moon, and Krishna Paksha, the waning half that moves toward new moon. Major festivals are often tied to a particular tithi, not a fixed Gregorian date.
Hindu month names
Common month names include Chaitra, Vaishakha, Jyeshtha, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwin, Kartika, Margashirsha, Pausha, Magha and Phalguna. These months do not map cleanly to January through December, so a page that says “August equals Shravana” is only simplifying the truth.
Amanta and Purnimanta systems
Different regions count months differently. In the amanta system a month ends with amavasya, while in the purnimanta system it ends with purnima. This is one reason festival context can look different across almanacs even when the observed public holiday appears on the same civil date.
How IndiaTime uses this information
IndiaTime uses Hindu calendar terms to explain the structure and meaning of dates, but does not pretend every browser-side calculation is a full Panchang. For exact muhurat, tithi end time, city-specific sunrise or ceremony planning, compare a trusted Panchang, local tradition and the relevant official holiday notification.
Start with the Indian calendar, then use Rahu Kaal today and Today Muhurat for practical daily timing context.