Ritu (Indian season) – Wikipedia

Traditional seasons of the Indian calendar

Ritu (Sanskrit: ऋतु) or Kaalanilai (Tamil: காலநிலை) means “season” in different ancient Indian calendars used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There are six ritus (also transliterated ritu) or seasons. The word is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Ṛtú, a fixed or appointed time, especially the proper time for sacrifice (yajna) or ritual in Vedic religion; this in turn comes from the word Ṛta (ऋत), as used in Vedic Sanskrit literally means the “order or course of things”. This word is used in nearly all Indian languages.

North, West, Central Indian and Andhra Pradesh calendars[edit]

Nepal and India observes six ecological seasons.^[1][2]

No.	Ritu	Season	Hindu lunar months	Gregorian month	Characteristics	Seasonal festivals
1	Vasanta वसन्त వసంతము	Spring	Chaitra and Vaishakha	March & April	Temperature around 20-30 degrees Celsius; vernal equinox occurs in the middle of this season. First spring harvest along with harvest festivals.	Vasant panchami, Ugadi, Gudhi Padwa (Hindu new year), Holi, Rama Navami, Tamil Puthandu Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Baisakhi, Hanuman Jayanti
2	Grīṣma ग्रीष्म గ్రీష్మము	Summer/Hot Season	Jyeshtha and Ashadha	~ May & June	Very hot, temperatures up to 45-50 degrees Celsius; summer solstice occurs. This is one of the two typical Indian/ Hindu Marriage Seasons.	Vat Pournima, Rath Yatra, Guru Purnima
3	Varṣā वर्षा వర్షాకాలము	Monsoon/Rainy Season	Shravana (Sawan) and Bhadrapada (Bhado)	~ July & August	Very hot, very humid and heavy monsoon rains; begins with the lunar month AFTER the summer solstice.	Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmaashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Nuakhai , Onam, Gurujonar Tithi, Mahalaya Amavasya
4	Sharada शरत् శరదృతువు	Autumn	Ashwina or Ashvayuja (Kwar, Asauj) and Kartika	~ Late- September, October & mid-November	Mild temperatures; 19-25 degrees Celsius; autumnal equinox occurs in the middle of this season. First autumn harvest occurs along with harvest festivals. Some trees in the Himalayas or upper elevations change colors much like in northern latitudes across the world.	Navaratri, Vijayadashami, Sharad Purnima, Kati Bihu, Deepavali, Dhanatrayodashi, Kartik Purnima
5	Hemanta after-content-x4 हेमन्त హేమంతము	Pre-Winter/Cool Season	Margashirsha (Agrahayana, Agahan) and Pausha (Pus)	~ Late November & December	Very pleasant temperatures; generally, 19-25 degrees Celsius; ends with the winter solstice. Some trees in the Himalayas and other hills complete shedding their leaves much like in northern latitudes across the world.	(mid-Winter celebration) Margashira Mahotsavam. Music Season with a number of Indian Carnatic classical music and dance concerts. Thai Pongal, Sankranthi are celebrated during the month of Pausha.
6	Shishira शिशिर శిశిరము	Winter/Cold Season	Magha and Phalguna	~ January & February	Moderately cold, but pleasant during occasional sunshine; temperatures may decrease below 10 degrees Celsius. This season is typical to tropical and subtropical regions because trees actually shed their leaves in this season in tropical areas; starts with the winter solstice.	Shivaratri, Magh Bihu Shigmo

East Indian calendars[edit]

East Indian calendars (Bengali, Assamese, Odia and Mithila) start their new year on Mesh Sankranti. The season names corresponds to the Sanskrit Vasanta, Grishma, Varsha, Sharada, Hemanta, Shishira order.
The Bengali Calendar is similar to the Sanskrit calendar above, but differs in start and end times which moves certain dates/days around (i.e., Vasant Panchami occurs here in Vasant ritu but in the calendar above, it occurs in Shishir as that is the Magha Shukla Panchami). The East Indian Calendar has the following seasons or ritus:

Bengali Calendar[edit]

Maithili Calendar[edit]

Season in the Maithili Calendar

Odia Calendar[edit]

Seasons in the Odia calendar:

Odia Ritu	Season	Odia months	Gregorian
ଗ୍ରୀଷ୍ମ Grisma	Summer	Baiśākha–Jyeṣṭha	April–June
ବର୍ଷା Barsā	Monsoon	Āṣāṛha–Śrābaṇa	June–August
ଶରତ Sarata	Autumn	Bhādraba–Āświna	August–October
ହେମନ୍ତ Hemanta	Pre-Winter	Kārttika–Mārgaśira	October–December
ଶୀତ Sita	Winter	Pauṣa–Māgha	December–February
ବସନ୍ତ Basanta	Spring	Phālguna–Chaitra	February–April

South Indian calendars[edit]

Malayalam Kannada Calendar[edit]

The Malayalam calendar or Kollam Era, a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Kerala, and in Karnataka they follows a pattern of six seasons slightly different from North Indian Calendars.

Tamil calendar[edit]

The Tamil Calendar follows a similar pattern of six seasons as described in the Hindu calendar.

Tamil season Names	English Meaning	Gregorian Months	Tamil Months
Muthuvenil (Hot Summer) முதுவேனில்	Matured heat / warmth	April 15 to June 14	Chittirai and Vaikāsi
Kar (Monsoon) கார்	Dark Clouds	June 15 to August 14	Āni and Ādi
Kutir (Autumn) கூதிர்	Cold / Chill	August 15 to October 14	Āvaṇi and Puraṭṭāsi
Munpani (Pre-winter) முன்பனி	Early (Frontal) Dew / Mist	October 15 to December 14	Aippasi and Kārtikai
Pinpani (Prevernal / Early Spring) பின்பனி	Late (Rear) Dew / Mist	December 15 to February 14	Mārgaḻi and Tai
Ilavenil (Mild Summer) இளவேனில்	Tender heat / warmth	February 15 to April 14	Māsi and Panguni

In culture[edit]

The seasons are described in literature such as the Sanskrit poem Ṛtusaṃhāra written by the legendary Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa.

Names of the ritu are commonly used for persons: typically, Vasant, Sharad, Hemant, Shishir and Varsh are “male” names; “female” names include Vasanti, Sharada, Hemanti, Grishma and Varsha.

Similar naming conventions are also used in Tamil: For female Ilavenil. For male Kar(Vannan).

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• Feller, Danielle. The Seasons in Mahākāvya Literature, Eastern Book Linkers, Delhi, 1995, ISBN 8186339248
• Raghavan, V. Ṛtu in Sanskrit literature, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Delhi, 1972
• Renou, Louis. Sanskrit et culture, Payot, 1950
• Selby, Martha Ann (translator). The Circle of Six Seasons, Penguin, New Delhi, 2003, ISBN 0-14-100772-9