By Pt. Abhishek Sharma
Palcha Era Tibetan Buddhist Tripurabda System Comprehensive Exploration

The lesser-known calendrical systems of India's small northeastern states represent distinct astronomical and cultural traditions that have evolved independently from major Hindu calendar frameworks yet contain sophisticated timekeeping mechanisms rooted in indigenous knowledge systems. These three states Manipur, Sikkim and Tripura each maintain unique Panchang traditions that reflect their specific geographical, ethnic and spiritual contexts while maintaining measurable astronomical precision.
The Meitei calendar, also known as the Manipuri calendar, Kangleipak calendar or Palcha dynasty calculation, represents one of India's oldest extant indigenous calendar systems. This calendar system was formally established by Emperor Maliyafam Palcha in 1397 BCE, marking the inception of the Palcha Era, making the Meitei calendar system approximately 3,400 years old.
Purely Lunar Structure: The Meitei calendar operates as a genuine lunar calendar with twelve lunar months totaling 354 days, unlike most Indian calendars which are lunisolar.
New Moon Counting: Months are counted from new moon to new moon (Amavasya to Amavasya), making it strictly a lunar system without integration of solar seasonal markers.
Agricultural Naming Basis: Several months bear names derived from agricultural activities of a legendary farmer-hero. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th months carry these agriculturally-derived names, indicating the calendar's deep roots in agrarian society.
Tharonnaba Intercalary Month System: Despite being fundamentally lunar, the Meitei calendar incorporates Tharonnaba (equivalent to Adhik Masa) approximately once every 2.7-3 years to maintain approximate seasonal alignment. This hybrid feature places it on the cusp between pure lunar and lunisolar calendars.
| Modern Meitei Name | Gregorian Period | Traditional Association | Agricultural and Cultural Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sajibu | April to May | New Year Month | Beginning of agricultural cycle; Sajibu Cheiraoba |
| Kaalen | May to June | First agricultural activity | Early monsoon preparation; ploughing season |
| Ee-ngaa | June to July | Second agricultural activity | Full monsoon; paddy sowing |
| Ee-ngen | July to August | Third agricultural activity | Mid-monsoon; crop growth |
| Thouwaan | August to September | Fourth agricultural activity | Monsoon peak; rice maturation begins |
| Laangban | September to October | Fifth agricultural activity | Monsoon withdrawal; harvest season begins |
| Meraa | October to November | Post-agricultural period | Major harvest month; granary opening |
| Heeyangei | November to December | Winter begins | Post-harvest; sister-brother festival |
| Poinu | December to January | Winter continues | Cold season; storage and preparation |
| Waakching | January to February | Winter waning | Winter solstice region; ancestral worship |
| Fairel | February to March | Spring emergence | Spring arrives; field preparation |
| Lamtaa | March to April | Spring full bloom | Spring festival; Holi equivalent |
| Meitei Name | Celestial Ruler | Roman Equivalent | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nongmaijing | Sun | Sunday | Day of the Sun |
| Ningthoukaaba | Moon | Monday | Day of the Moon |
| Leibaakpokpa | Mars | Tuesday | Day of Mars |
| Yumsakeisa | Mercury | Wednesday | Day of Mercury |
| Sagolsen | Jupiter | Thursday | Day of Jupiter |
| Eerai | Venus | Friday | Day of Venus |
| Thaangja | Saturn | Saturday | Day of Saturn |
Celebrated on the 1st day of Sajibu month (April), Sajibu Cheiraoba marks the beginning of the Meitei lunar calendar year. The festival name combines Sajibu (first month), Nongma (first day), Panba (new moon) and Cheiraoba (new year).
The festival emphasizes family unity, renewal and the commencement of agricultural activities. Traditional practices include house cleaning, new clothes, family meals and spiritual worship.
Despite being fundamentally lunar, the Meitei calendar demonstrates hybrid features. The system incorporates intercalary months (Tharonnaba) to maintain seasonal alignment. Some communities calculate Sajibu Cheiraoba using solar year calculations while others use lunar calculations, creating occasional disputes about whether the New Year should be celebrated on the lunar new moon or on the solar-aligned date.
Sikkim, the only northeastern state with a Buddhist-majority population and significant ethnic diversity, employs multiple overlapping calendrical systems reflecting its complex demography.
The predominant calendar system in Sikkim follows the Tibetan lunar calendar, particularly for Buddhist observances. Losar (Tibetan New Year) is celebrated on the 1st day of the 1st month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, typically falling in February.
Calendar Structure:
Sikkim maintains distinct festival dates tied to specific lunar calendar dates rather than fixed Gregorian dates.
| Festival | Lunar Date | Month (Approximate Gregorian) | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Losar | 1st day of 1st lunar month | February | Tibetan Buddhist New Year |
| Pang Lhabsol | 15th day of 7th lunar month | September | Honoring mountain deities guardian spirits Kanchanjunga |
| Lhabab Dhuchen | 22nd day of 9th lunar month | November | Buddha's descent from heaven |
| Monlam | 1st to 15th of 1st lunar month | February to March | Great Prayer Festival |
The indigenous Lepcha people of Sikkim maintain separate calendrical traditions predating Tibetan Buddhism. Pang Lhabsol represents a synthesis of Lepcha indigenous worship (honoring nature deities and Kanchanjunga mountain) with Buddhist practice.
Lepcha shamanic priests perform rituals alongside Buddhist lamas. The festival emphasizes ecological balance and reverence for natural forces with traditional sword dance entertaining divine guardians.
The Tripuri calendar, also known as Tripurabda Era or Twipra Era, establishes its epoch at 15 April 590 CE. According to traditional Tripuri chronicles, this date commemorates when the 118th Tripuri king defeated Bengal.
Contemporary research reveals that the Tripuri calendar, like the Bengali calendar before it, actually derives from the Mughal Fasli era introduced by Emperor Akbar in 1563 CE. The Tripuri adoption of this system occurred during the reign of King Govinda Manikya with the characteristic three-year shift first recorded under his successor.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Solar calendar |
| New Year Date | 1st of Vaishakh April 14 or 15 Gregorian |
| Month System | 12 months with pan-Indian Sanskrit-derived names |
| Era Age | 1,435 years approximately as of 2025 |
| Month Names | Vaishakh Jyeshtha Ashadha Shravan Bhadra Ashwin Kartik Margashirsh Pausha Magha Phalguna Chaitra |
With Tripura's accession to the Republic of India in 1949, the official use of the Tripuri calendar in state administration was discontinued. however the calendar has experienced cultural revival efforts including 1991 reincorporation into state calendars and 2001 three-day festival celebrating Tripuri calendar at district council headquarters.
The Tripuri calendar has become symbolically important to Tripuri ethnolinguistic identity and cultural nationalism. While not used for official state administration, it remains significant for religious and cultural observances within Tripuri communities, serving as a symbol of indigenous ethnic identity distinct from Bengali and Hindu majoritarian calendars and providing historical documentation of Tripura's distinct political and cultural history.
| Aspect | Meitei Manipur | Sikkim | Tripuri Tripura |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar Type | Lunar with intercalary | Lunar Tibetan Buddhist | Solar |
| Era Epoch | 1397 BCE Palcha Era | Tibetan Buddhist calendar | 590 CE Hamtor Fa |
| Age Tradition | 3,400 years | Tibetan Buddhist tradition | 1,435 years official |
| New Year Festival | Sajibu Cheiraoba April | Losar February | Vaishakh 1st April |
| Months Count | 12 lunar months 354 days | 12 to 13 lunar months | 12 solar months 365 days |
| Primary Users | Meitei ethnic community | Buddhist majority Lepcha minority | Tripuri ethnic communities |
| Modern Status | Actively maintained apps available | Religious observance Buddhist practice | Cultural symbol limited official |
| Distinctive Features | Tharonnaba intercalation agricultural naming | Multi-tradition synthesis Buddhist Lepcha | Solar structure colonial history |
Modern Meitei calendar applications provide:
While less digitized than Meitei systems, Sikkim's calendar remains actively practiced through temple calendars maintained by monasteries, Losar celebrations organized by Buddhist communities, integration with Tibetan Buddhist calendar systems globally and preservation of Lepcha shamanic traditions through oral transmission.
Despite decades of discontinuation, Tripuri calendar revival efforts include annual festivals promoting Tripuri cultural identity, academic documentation in universities, NGO initiatives documenting Tripuri astronomical knowledge and symbolic inclusion in state government cultural calendars.
While less documented than major Hindu systems, the Meitei calendar incorporates:
Sikkim's adoption of Tibetan astronomical calculations demonstrates sophisticated lunar-phase tracking for Buddhist ritual timing, integration of Gregorian dates with traditional calculations and multi-tradition flexibility allowing both Buddhist and Hindu practitioners to determine auspicious timings.
The Tripuri calendar maintains exact month-to-season correspondence due to its solar basis, administrative compatibility with modern state governance when used and historical documentation of pre-modern Tripuri astronomical knowledge.
These smaller systems face challenges including limited academic documentation compared to major Indian calendars, reduced transmission to younger generations due to modernization, minimal digital presence relative to major regional Panchangs and risk of knowledge loss without active preservation efforts.
Positive developments include digital app creation for Meitei calendar (maintaining 300+ years of calendrical data), academic research projects documenting Tripuri and Sikkim systems, festival celebrations incorporating traditional calendrical calculations and UNESCO recognition of related cultural practices.
How is the Meitei Calendar different from other Indian calendars?
The Meitei Calendar is purely lunar while most Indian calendars are lunisolar. Its months are named after agricultural activities rather than zodiac signs.
Which two calendar systems does Sikkim use?
Sikkim uses the Tibetan Buddhist calendar for religious observances and the Hindu Panchang for Hindu festivals.
When was the Tripuri Calendar era established?
The Tripuri Calendar era was established in 590 CE when Hamtor Fa conquered Bengal according to tradition.
Are these calendars still used today?
The Meitei Calendar is actively used. Sikkim's Buddhist community uses the Tibetan calendar. The Tripuri Calendar is being reclaimed as a cultural symbol.
What is Tharonnaba?
Tharonnaba is the intercalary month in the Meitei Calendar added every 32.7 years to maintain seasonal alignment.
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