Indian Calendar made simple for NRIs

There is a specific kind of confusion that only NRIs understand.

Your American-born niece texts you on November 9th: “Happy Diwali!” You smile — because Diwali was actually November 8th. One day off. She tried. She opened Google. She looked it up. But somewhere between the Gregorian calendar on her iPhone and the lunar cycle that governs when diyas are actually lit, something got lost.

That gap — between the date you live by and the date you celebrate by — is exactly what this guide is built to close.

Whether you are searching for what February is called in Hindi, trying to figure out when the Hindi new year 2026 falls, or simply want a clean list of all 12 months name in Hindi and English, you are in the right place. This is the only reference you will need to bookmark.

The Calendar You Grew Up With vs The One on Your Wall

Most Indians carry two mental calendars at the same time. There is the Gregorian one — the 12-month system that the whole world agrees on, the one printed on every office planner and phone notification. And then there is the other one. The one where your mother says Chaitra and means March. Where Shravan feels like the smell of the first rains. Where the year does not start in January but in spring, when the world is actually being reborn.

The Hindu calendar — also called the Panchang — is a lunisolar system. It follows the moon’s cycles to determine months but aligns with the sun’s movement to keep the seasons roughly stable. This is why Hindi months do not map cleanly onto Gregorian months. A Hindi month begins on the new moon (in the Amanta system followed across South and West India) or on the full moon (the Purnimanta system of North India). Neither one starts on the 1st of a Gregorian month.

This is not a flaw. It is a completely different philosophy of measuring time.

But in 2026, when you are trying to coordinate a puja from New Jersey with your family in Nagpur, it helps to have a single conversion table you can trust.

2026 Hindi Month Names in English: The Master Conversion Table

This table follows the Amanta system (new moon to new moon), which is the most widely used reference for pan-Indian calendar purposes. Dates are approximate and may vary by one day based on regional Panchang calculations.

What Month Is It in the Hindi Calendar Right Now?

(This section is updated monthly)

As of February–March 2026, we are in the month of Phalguna — the 12th and final month of the Hindu year in the Vikram Samvat calendar. Phalguna runs from approximately February 18 to March 18, 2026.

This is the month of endings and anticipation. Holi falls in Phalguna, almost always in late February or early March, depending on the full moon (Purnima). It is the month India splashes colour on a cold that is finally letting go. If you are in New York or Chicago, Phalguna is the moment you start believing that spring might actually arrive.

After Phalguna ends, Chaitra begins on March 19 — and with it, the Hindi New Year 2026, the start of Vikram Samvat 2083. This is the date the Indian calendar resets.

February in Hindi: What Is This Month Called?

This is one of the most searched questions from the Indian diaspora in the US, and it deserves a direct answer.

February in Hindi is called Phalguna — but not in the way you might expect. February does not equal Phalguna the way January equals month one. What actually happens is this: February 2026 spans two Hindi months. The first 17 days of February fall in Magha (January 19 – February 17) and from February 18 onward, you are in Phalguna.

This is the key insight that most English-language sites get wrong. They say “February = Phalguna” and stop there. The reality is more layered and honestly more interesting.

The 12 Months Name in Hindi: A Complete Language Guide for NRIs

For those learning Hindi — or teaching it to a second-generation child in the US — here is the complete list of month names in Hindi language with their English transliteration, Devanagari script, and meaning.

Each Hindi month name carries an astronomical root — it is named after the nakshatra (lunar mansion) in which the full moon of that month typically rises. This is not mythology for its own sake. It is a 2,000-year-old star-based timekeeping system that modern astronomy has validated again and again.

Month-by-Month Deep Dive: 2026

Pausha (December 2025 – January 2026): Winter’s Quiet Core

Pausha is the month most NRIs experience as a homecoming. December 20 to January 18. US winter break and Indian winter break overlap almost perfectly here. This is when flights to Mumbai and Delhi fill up three months in advance.

The signature event is Makar Sankranti on January 14 — the one Hindu festival that is fixed to the solar calendar and never shifts. The sun moves into Capricorn (Makara). In Gujarat it is kite day. In Tamil Nadu it is Pongal. In Punjab it is Lohri, the night before. Same solar moment, four different celebrations.

For US readers: Makar Sankranti 2026 falls on January 14 at IST midnight (approximately January 13 at 6:30 PM EST / 3:30 PM PST). The celebration window is the full day of January 14 in India.

Magha (January 19 – February 17, 2026): The Sacred Bathing Month

In the Indian tradition, taking a dip in a sacred river during Magha washes away lifetimes of accumulated karma. That is the mythology. The science is this: Magha corresponds to late January and early February in north India — the coldest, most bracing stretch of winter. The discipline of bathing in cold river water was a real spiritual and physical practice, not metaphor.

Vasant Panchami (January 23, 2026) falls in Magha — the day Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, is worshipped across India. It also marks the technical start of Vasant (spring) in the Ritu (Indian season) system, even though it still feels like winter to everyone standing outside.

For NRI parents: This is a meaningful day to introduce Vasant Panchami to US-born children. Schools are open, so a small at-home celebration with yellow clothes and a book puja on the evening of January 23 works beautifully.

Phalguna (February 18 – March 18, 2026): The Year’s Finale

If there is one Hindi month that feels cinematic, it is Phalguna. The year is about to end. Holi is coming. The cold is breaking. And everyone — from Varanasi to Vancouver — is feeling it.

Maha Shivaratri falls on February 15, 2026, technically still in Magha, in the final days before Phalguna begins. Then Phalguna arrives on February 18 and builds toward its crescendo: Holi on March 4, 2026.

Holi is a Phalguna Purnima (full moon) celebration. The bonfire night — Holika Dahan — is on March 3. The colour celebration on March 4.

For NRI readers in the US: Holika Dahan is March 3 at approximately 10:45 PM IST, which means it coincides with early afternoon on March 3 in the US (EST: 12:15 PM / PST: 9:15 AM). Many US-based Indian communities hold their Holi events the weekend of March 7–8, 2026, to allow for working days. Both are valid — the community celebration and the traditional date.

Chaitra (March 19 – April 17, 2026): The Hindi New Year

Chaitra is where everything begins.

March 19, 2026 is Hindi New Year — the first day of Chaitra Shukla Paksha, the start of Vikram Samvat 2083. This is the New Year observed by most of North and Central India. South India celebrates it as Ugadi (March 19) and Maharashtra celebrates it as Gudi Padwa (March 19) — all falling on the same lunar day, each region giving it its own name and ritual.

The Hindi New Year does not get the global attention of January 1 or even Diwali. But for anyone who follows the Panchang, this is the reset button. New goals. New resolutions. A fresh Vikram Samvat year counted from a calendar system that has been running unbroken since 57 BCE.

Akshaya Tritiya follows in the next month — Vaisakha, April 19, 2026 — considered the most auspicious day in the Hindu calendar for new beginnings, investments, and gold purchases. NRI communities in the US see a surge in gold buying (both physical and digital) around this date every year.

Shravana (July 30 – August 28, 2026): The Monsoon’s Peak

No month is more evocative than Shravana.

Named after the Shravana nakshatra, this is the heart of the monsoon season in India. The rains are heaviest. The rivers are full. Temples are packed. And in the US, NRIs describe a particular homesickness during Shravana — something about the sound of rain on American streets that smells almost like India but not quite.

Raksha Bandhan falls on August 28, 2026 — the last day of Shravana, on the Purnima. Brothers across the world will be receiving rakhis by post. Indian post offices handle over 15 million rakhi parcels in the two weeks before Raksha Bandhan every year. If you are sending a rakhi from the US to India, ship by August 14 to be safe.

Ashwin (September 28 – October 26, 2026): The Festival Season Opens

After the intensity of the monsoon, Ashwin arrives like a deep breath of clear air.

This is when Navratri begins — nine nights of music, dance, and worship across India. In 2026, Navratri runs from approximately October 12 to October 20, culminating in Dussehra on October 20.

For the Indian diaspora in the US, Navratri is one of the most actively celebrated festivals. Garba events in New Jersey, Chicago, Houston, and the Bay Area fill convention centers. Many communities hold multiple nights across the nine-day period.

For US residents: All Navratri 2026 timing references in IST should be shifted:

• EST = IST minus 9.5 hours (or 10.5 hours during EDT, which applies here)
• PST = IST minus 12.5 hours (PDT: minus 12.5 hours)

Kartika (October 27 – November 24, 2026): The Month of Light

Diwali. November 8, 2026.

Kartika is the month every NRI marks in their calendar first. It is the month around which India trips are planned, US leave applications are filed, and Amazon wishlists are quietly circulated.

Kartika Purnima (the full moon of Kartika, November 22) is considered among the holiest days in the lunar calendar — a day when a dip in the Ganga is said to equal the merit of hundreds of pilgrimages. For those not near the Ganga, a mindful lamp-lighting at home holds the same symbolic weight.

For the US Diaspora: A Note on Time Zones

Every date above is given in approximate terms based on the Indian Panchang, which calculates Tithi (lunar day) beginnings and ends in IST (Indian Standard Time, UTC +5:30).

When a festival is listed as “November 8” in India, here is what that means for you:

This is why Diwali can feel like it’s happening in two different time zones within a single Indian-American household. One aunt says “we lit diyas on the 7th evening” (because she followed IST), another says “we celebrate on the 8th” (following local date). Both are correct. The tradition is flexible. The Tithi is the anchor, not the clock.

Purnimanta vs Amanta: Why Your Family and Your Friend’s Family Celebrate on Different Days

This question comes up more than almost any other among NRIs comparing notes about festival dates.

Amanta (South and West India — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) counts the month from new moon to new moon. A month begins the day after Amavasya.

Purnimanta (North India — UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Himachal, much of Punjab) counts the month from full moon to full moon. A month begins the day after Purnima.

The result: the month name is the same, but it starts about 15 days earlier in the Purnimanta system.

For practical purposes, when you see a festival date listed on monthnameshindi.com, we use the Amanta system as the pan-Indian reference standard, with regional variations noted where significant.

The 6 Indian Seasons (Ritu): The Layer Beneath the Months

Behind the 12 Hindi months sits an older system — one that even many Indians in India no longer know. The Ritu system divides the year into 6 seasons of two months each.

The Ritu system is the foundation of Ayurvedic seasonal eating — each season prescribes different foods, routines, and wellness practices. Vasanta, for example, recommends lighter foods and bitter greens as the body sheds the heaviness of winter. Varsha calls for warm, easily digestible meals as digestion weakens in the damp heat.

For NRIs in cold climates — Minneapolis, Chicago, Toronto — the Ritu system does not map perfectly to local weather. But it offers something more useful: a framework for seasonal self-awareness that goes beyond checking the weather app.

Vikram Samvat 2083: Understanding the Hindi New Year

The Gregorian calendar uses the Common Era (CE) system — 2026 years since a fixed reference point.

The Vikram Samvat starts from 57 BCE — the year King Vikramaditya of Ujjain established his legendary era of governance. In 2026, when Chaitra begins on March 19, the Vikram Samvat count will shift from 2082 to 2083.

This is why “Hindi New Year 2026 date” and “Vikram Samvat 2083” are the same question. Both point to March 19, 2026.

For the diaspora specifically: this date holds cultural significance that January 1 never quite captured for Indian families. It is a new year that comes with its own rituals — cleaning the house, settling debts, beginning new ventures on an auspicious Tithi. In Maharashtra, the new year is marked by the Panchang Shravana — a public reading of the year’s astrological forecast. Communities in the US often gather at temples for this on the Sunday closest to March 19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is February called in Hindi? February spans two Hindi months in 2026. From January 19 to February 17, the Hindi month is Magha. From February 18 onward, it becomes Phalguna. So “February in Hindi” is most accurately answered as Phalguna, since the majority of the month — from the 18th — falls in Phalguna.

What is the Hindi New Year date in 2026? The Hindi New Year in 2026 falls on March 19, 2026. This is the first day of Chaitra Shukla Paksha, beginning the year Vikram Samvat 2083. It is also celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in South India on the same date.

How many months are in the Hindi calendar? The Hindi calendar has 12 months, identical in count to the Gregorian calendar. However, since the Hindi calendar is lunisolar, some years include a 13th intercalary month called Adhik Maas (leap month) to keep the lunar cycle aligned with the solar year. Adhik Maas does not occur in 2026.

What is a Tithi? A Tithi is a lunar day — the time it takes for the moon to move 12 degrees relative to the sun. A Tithi can be shorter or longer than a solar day (24 hours), which is why festival times shift each year. Each Tithi has a name, a ruling deity, and astrological significance in the Panchang system.

What is the difference between the Hindi and Hindu calendar? Technically, “Hindi calendar” refers to the calendar used in Hindi-speaking regions of North India. “Hindu calendar” is the broader religious calendar system. In common usage, especially in diaspora contexts, both terms are used interchangeably to refer to the Vikram Samvat lunisolar calendar system.

Why do Indian festival dates change every year in the Gregorian calendar? Because the Hindu calendar follows the lunar cycle, and the lunar year is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar Gregorian year. Without correction, festivals would drift backward through the Gregorian calendar. The Adhik Maas (intercalary month) added roughly every 3 years corrects this drift, keeping festivals within their seasonal bounds.

What is Vasant Panchami’s date in 2026? Vasant Panchami 2026 falls on January 23, in the month of Magha. It marks the traditional beginning of the Vasant (spring) season in the Indian Ritu calendar, even though meteorological spring is weeks away.

What is the Ayurvedic significance of Vasant season? Vasant (approximately mid-January through mid-March) is considered a time of Kapha imbalance in Ayurveda — the accumulated heaviness of winter begins to melt, causing congestion, sluggishness, and allergies. Ayurvedic recommendations for Vasant include bitter and astringent foods, reduced heavy dairy intake, and increasing physical activity to move the ama (toxins) that winter accumulates.

Which Indian states follow Amanta vs Purnimanta calendar systems? The Amanta system (new moon to new moon) is followed in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. The Purnimanta system (full moon to full moon) is followed in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of Punjab. Bengal follows a solar Hindu calendar that operates differently from both.

The Calendar Is Not a Document. It Is a Relationship.

Here is the thing about the Hindi calendar that no conversion table can fully capture.

It is not just a system for tracking dates. It is a rhythm that an entire civilization decided to live inside. When Shravana arrives and the rain begins, it is not a coincidence that this is the month most associated with devotion, introspection, and pilgrimage. The calendar was designed to move with nature, not against it.

For the Indian diaspora in the US, maintaining a relationship with this calendar is an act of identity. Knowing that you are in Phalguna right now — the end of a year, the month of Holi, the last breath before spring — gives your ordinary February a dimension that no Gregorian calendar can offer.

This guide will be updated monthly to keep the “current month” section accurate. Bookmark it. Share it with the group chat that debates Diwali dates every October. And the next time someone asks what February is in Hindi, you will know: it is mostly Phalguna, with a Magha beginning.