Phalguna

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox month Template:Hinduism Phalguna or Phagun is the twelfth and last monthTemplate:Efn of the Hindu lunar calendar and the Indian national calendar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Pushya nakshatra (star) on the full moon day.<ref name="Ety">Template:Cite book</ref> The month corresponds to the end of the winter (Shishira) season and falls in January–February of the Gregorian calendar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In the Hindu solar calendar, it corresponds to the month of Kumbha and begins with the Sun's entry into Aquarius.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Siddhantha">Template:Cite book</ref> It corresponds to Falgun, the eleventh month in the Bengali calendar and Vikram Samvat.<ref name="Siddhantha"/> In the Tamil calendar, it corresponds to the twelfth and last month of Panguni, falling in the Gregorian months of March–April.<ref name="Siddhantha"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Vaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the twelfth month of Govinda.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the Hindu lunar calendar, each month has 29 or 30 days. The month begins on the next day after Amavasya (new moon) or Purnima (full moon) as per amanta and purnimanta systems respectively. A month consists of two cycles of 15 days each, Shukla Paksha (waning moon) and Krishna Paksha (waxing moon). Days in each cycle is labeled as a thithi, with each thithi repeating twice in a month.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Festivals

Holi

Holi is a Hindu festival celebrated to mark the end of winter and the arrival of spring (Vasanta). It celebrates various events from Hindu mythology including the love between god Krishna and his consort Radha.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It symbolises the victory of good over evil and includes the ritual of lighting bonfires (Holika Dahan) the night before. The bonfire is lit to symbolise the burning away of evil, and is attributed to the event in which Prahalada is saved by god Vishnu from a fire lit by demoness Holika, who is made to instead burn in it.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The festival involves throwing coloured powders (gulal) and coloured water, with each colour carrying symbolic meanings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri is a major Hindu Shaiva festival celebrated on Chaturdashi (14th lunar night) thithi of Krishna Paksha (waxing moon) of the month. It is dedicated to worshipping lord Shiva.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The festival commemorates several events from Hindu mythology associated with Shiva including his union with Parvati.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> People remain awake the entire night, while offering prayers, chanting mantras and performing various rituals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Panguni Uthiram

Panguni Uthiram is a Tamil festival that falls on the day when the Nakshatra (star) of Uttiram aligns with purnima (full moon day) in the Tamil month of Panguni.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The day commemorates the divine marriages of Hindu deities such as Shiva and Parvati, Murugan and Deivanai, and Vishnu and Lakshmi. It also marks the day of manifestation of lord Ayyappan.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the day, special rituals, processions and marriage ceremonies of gods are conducted across Hindu temples.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Shigmo

Shigmo is a spring-festival celebrated by agricultural communities in the state of Goa. The festival marks the onset of spring and the upcoming harvest season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The festival features various folk dances accompanies by music and parades.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Astronomical basis of the Hindu calendar
• Hindu astrology
• Hindu calendar
• Indian astronomy
• Indian units of measurement