Maithili and Nepali Panchang Shared Himalayan Heritage

The Maithili and Nepali Panchang systems represent a remarkable example of shared Vedic astronomical heritage spanning the Himalayan region. The ancient Mithila kingdom, which encompasses modern Bihar and Jharkhand in India and the Terai plains in Nepal, maintains deeply interconnected calendar traditions. Both systems embody centuries of Vedic wisdom while reflecting the unique cultural and agricultural characteristics of their regions.

Maithili Panchang Tirhuta Calendar

Historical Origin

The Maithili calendar, officially known as Tirhuta Panchang, is the traditional calendar of the Mithila region, one of the most ancient centers of Vedic learning and culture. The calendar originated in Mithila, the legendary kingdom ruled by King Janaka, father of Goddess Sita and has been integral to Maithil identity for millennia.

The name Tirhuta derives from Tirhut, the alternative name for the Mithila region. The calendar has deep roots in Hindu religion and Mithila's culture, preserving astronomical knowledge from ancient Vedic texts including the Surya Siddhanta.

Tropical Solar System

The Tirhuta Panchang is a tropical solar Hindu calendar, making it distinct from most other Indian calendars which are either lunisolar or sidereal solar. This tropical framework means the calendar is based on the Sun's movement relative to the vernal equinox rather than fixed stars.

The tropical vernal equinox falls around March twenty-second and by adding twenty-three degrees of trepidation (axial oscillation), the calendar determines the first day of Baishakh as April fourteenth. This makes the Maithili calendar astronomically synchronized with the solar year without requiring complex intercalation adjustments.

Calendar Structure

The Maithili year begins on the first day of the month Baishakh, which coincides with Mesha Sankranti (Sun's entry into Aries zodiac sign). This date falls on April thirteen or fourteen in the Gregorian calendar each year.

Unlike lunisolar calendars that require periodic intercalary months (Adhik Masa) to synchronize lunar and solar cycles, the Maithili calendar's solar structure eliminates this complexity. The year consists of three hundred sixty-five days divided into twelve solar months, each corresponding to the Sun's transit through one zodiac sign.

Twelve Months

No.	Maithili Month	Pronunciation	Colloquial Name	Gregorian Period	Season
1	वैशाख	Baishakh	बैसाख (Baisakh)	April-May	Vasant (Spring)
2	ज्येष्ठ	Jyeshtha	जेठ (Jeth)	May-June	Grishma (Summer)
3	आषाढ़	Asharha	अखार (Akhaar)	June-July	Grishma (Summer)
4	श्रावण	Shravan	साओन (Saaon)	July-August	Varsha (Monsoon)
5	भाद्र	Bhadra	भादो (Bhaado)	August-September	Varsha (Monsoon)
6	आश्विन	Ashwin	आसिन (Aasin)	September-October	Sharad (Autumn)
7	कार्तिक	Kartik	कातिक (Kaatik)	October-November	Sharad (Autumn)
8	मार्गशीर्ष	Margashirsha	अगहन (Agahan)	November-December	Hemanta (Pre-winter)
9	पौष	Pausha	पूस (Poos)	December-January	Hemanta (Pre-winter)
10	माघ	Magh	माघ (Maagh)	January-February	Shishira (Winter)
11	फाल्गुन	Falgun	फागुन (Faagun)	February-March	Shishira (Winter)
12	चैत्र	Chaitra	चैत (Chait)	March-April	Vasant (Spring)

Seven Days of the Week

Like most calendars worldwide, the Maithili calendar has a seven-day week, each day lasting twenty-four hours. Sunday is considered the first day of the week.

[translate:रविवासर] (Sunday) [translate:सोमवासर] (Monday) [translate:मंगलवासर] (Tuesday) [translate:बुधवासर] (Wednesday) [translate:बृहस्पतीवासर] (Thursday) [translate:शुक्रवासर] (Friday) [translate:शनिवासर] (Saturday)

Jur Shital The Maithili New Year

Date and Celebration

The Maithili New Year, known as Jur Shital (also spelled Jur Sital or Jude Sheetal), is celebrated on April fourteen or fifteen, marking the first day of Baishakh month. The name translates to freezing cold in Maithili, referring to the festival's unique tradition of consuming cold foods and beverages to combat the intense heat of the approaching summer season.

Cultural Significance

Jur Shital is observed as part of Satuani, a harvest festival honoring the rabi (winter) crop that has just been harvested. The festival combines gratitude for agricultural bounty with reverence for nature and strengthening of community bonds. It is a secular celebration emphasizing ecological balance and communal harmony rather than religious worship.

Since two thousand eleven, the Bihar government has recognized Jur Shital as Mithila Divas (Mithila Day), declaring it a public holiday to celebrate the region's linguistic and cultural heritage. This official recognition underscores the festival's importance as a cultural cornerstone for Maithili-speaking communities, including Maithil, Awadhi and Tharu peoples.

Unique Traditions

The defining ritual of Jur Shital involves the consumption of cold or room-temperature foods prepared the previous day. Families prepare traditional dishes like [translate:Sattu] (roasted gram flour drink), rice, curd, fruits and vegetables, which are consumed cold to symbolically cool the body and mind as temperatures soar.

Another central tradition is the watering of plants and animals, reflecting the festival's eco-conscious ethos. This practice demonstrates the Maithili commitment to environmental stewardship and the welfare of all living beings, aligning with Vedic principles of harmony with nature.

Alignment with Pan-Indian New Year

Jur Shital coincides with New Year celebrations across India that follow the Sun's path, including Puthandu (Tamil Nadu), Pana Sankranti (Odisha), Pohela Boishakh (Bengal), Vaisakhi (Punjab) and Vishu (Kerala). This synchronization reflects the shared Vedic astronomical foundation underlying India's diverse regional calendars.

Nepali Panchang Bikram Sambat

Historical Foundation

The Nepali calendar is officially known as Bikram Sambat (also spelled Vikram Samvat), abbreviated as BS. According to tradition, this calendar was established by King Vikramaditya of Ujjain in fifty-seven BCE after he defeated the Śaka (Scythian) tribes.

The legendary account, recorded by monk Mahesara Suri, describes how King Gardabhilla of Ujjain kidnapped a nun named Sarasvati, sister of the monk Kalakacharya. The monk sought help from the Saka King of Sistan, who defeated and imprisoned Gardabhilla. Later, Gardabhilla's successor Vikramaditya invaded Ujjain, expelled the Sakas and initiated a new era to commemorate this victory the Vikrama era or Bikram era.

The Rana dynasty of Nepal made Bikram Sambat the official Hindu calendar in nineteen hundred one CE (nineteen fifty-eight VS). It has since remained Nepal's official calendar system, used for all governmental, educational and administrative purposes.

Lunisolar Framework

Unlike the purely solar Maithili calendar, the Nepali Bikram Sambat is a lunisolar calendar that uses lunar months and sidereal years for timekeeping. This creates a hybrid system where the solar cycle determines the New Year date, while lunar phases govern religious festivals and monthly structures.

Era Calculation

Bikram Sambat is fifty-six years and eight months ahead of the Gregorian calendar. The current Gregorian year two thousand twenty-five corresponds to BS two thousand eighty-one to two thousand eighty-two.

Conversion Formulas:

Nepali to Gregorian: Subtract fifty-six years, eight months, seventeen days

Gregorian to Nepali: Add fifty-six years, eight months, seven days

These are approximate formulas; precise conversion requires database mappings due to the variable lengths of months.

Variable Month Lengths

A unique feature of the Bikram Sambat calendar is that the number of days in each month changes annually and can range from twenty-eight to thirty-two days. This variability eliminates the need for a traditional leap year system.

Twelve Months

No.	Nepali Month	Devanagari	Gregorian Period	Typical Days	Major Festivals
1	Baishakh	बैशाख	April-May	30-31	New Year Ganga Saptami Buddha Purnima
2	Jesth	जेठ	May-June	31-32
3	Ashadh	अषाढ़	June-July	31-32	Vyasa Purnima
4	Shravan	श्रावण	July-August	31-32	Hariyali Teej Raksha Bandhan Nag Panchami
5	Bhadra	भाद्र	August-September	31-32	Krishna Janmashtami Hartalika Teej
6	Ashwin	आश्विन	September-October	30-31	Dashain Navratri Durga Puja Dussehra
7	Kartik	कार्तिक	October-November	29-30	Tihar (Diwali) Chhath Puja
8	Mangshir	मंसिर	November-December	29-30	Annapurna Purnima
9	Poush	पौष	December-January	29-30	Tamu Lhosar Makar Sankranti
10	Magh	माघ	January-February	29-30	Maghe Sankranti Saraswati Panchami
11	Falgun	फाल्गुन	February-March	29-30	Maha Shivaratri Sonam Lhosar Holi
12	Chaitra	चैत्र	March-April	30-31	Chaitra Navaratri Ram Navami

Paksha System

Like other lunisolar calendars, Bikram Sambat divides each month into two Pakshas (lunar fortnights):

Shukla Paksha (Gaura Paksha) Waxing moon, from new moon (Amavasya) to full moon (Purnima), considered auspicious for new ventures, contracts and business activities

Krishna Paksha (Vadhya Paksha) Waning moon, from full moon to new moon, considered more suitable for introspection, rest, operations and harvesting

Each Paksha consists of fifteen tithis (lunar days), with specific names and corresponding auspicious or inauspicious qualities for various activities.

Tithi Duration

Individual tithis start at different times during the day and vary in length from approximately nineteen to twenty-seven hours. This astronomical reality explains why festival dates often seem to shift in the Gregorian calendar.

Nepali New Year Naya Barsha

Date and Celebration

Nepali New Year, called Naya Barsha (नया बर्ष) or Bikram Sambat Nava Varsha, falls on the first day of Baishakh month, typically April thirteen, fourteen or fifteen in the Gregorian calendar. This date marks Mesha Sankranti, when the Sun enters the Aries (Mesha) zodiac sign.

The New Year is a national public holiday throughout Nepal, celebrated with family gatherings, exchange of good wishes, participation in rituals for good fortune and festive meals. Traditional observances include visiting temples, wearing new clothes, preparing special dishes and cultural programs showcasing Nepal's diverse ethnic heritage.

Bisket Jatra

The ancient city of Bhaktapur celebrates its spectacular annual carnival, Bisket Jatra, on Baishakh one. This multi-day festival features massive chariot processions, tug-of-war competitions and the symbolic raising of ceremonial poles, attracting thousands of participants and visitors.

Pan-Regional Synchronization

The Nepali New Year coincides with New Year celebrations across South and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh (Pohela Boishakh), Tamil Nadu (Puthandu), Kerala (Vishu), Punjab (Vaisakhi), West Bengal and Assam (Bihu), Odisha (Pana Sankranti), Thailand (Songkran), Sri Lanka (Sinhalese New Year), Myanmar (Thingyan), Cambodia (Choul Chnam Thmey) and Laos (Songkan). This remarkable synchronization demonstrates the widespread influence of Vedic astronomical principles across the region.

Shared Cultural Heritage

Geographic Overlap

The Mithila region historically extended across modern Bihar and Jharkhand in India and the Terai plains of southern Nepal. This geographic continuity created a shared cultural space where Maithili and Nepali traditions naturally intermingle.

Many Maithili-speaking communities reside in Nepal's Terai region, particularly in provinces one, two (Madhesh Pradesh) and adjacent areas. These communities maintain the Tirhuta Panchang tradition while also participating in Nepal's national calendar observances based on Bikram Sambat.

Common Festival Calendar

Both calendars share numerous festivals celebrated on identical or proximate dates.

Chhath Puja: The most important festival for both Mithila and Nepal's Terai region, dedicated to Surya Dev (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. Celebrated twice yearly Chaitra Chhath (March-April) and Kartiki Chhath (October-November, six days after Diwali). The four-day festival involves rigorous fasting, ritual bathing in rivers and offering arghya (offerings) to the setting and rising sun.

Dashain (Durga Puja/Navaratri): Nepal's largest and most significant festival, celebrated for fifteen days during Ashwin month (September-October). The festival commemorates Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Key days include Ghatasthapana (day one), Fulpati (day seven), Maha Aastami (day eight), Maha Nawami (day nine), Vijaya Dashami (day ten the main day when elders apply tika and jamara on younger family members' foreheads) and concludes with Kojagrat Purnima (day fifteen).

Tihar (Diwali): The five-day festival of lights celebrated in Kartik month (October-November). In Nepal, each day honors different beings: Kaag Tihar (crows), Kukur Tihar (dogs), Gai Puja and Goru Puja (cows and oxen), Govardhan Puja and Bhai Tika (siblings). The third day, Laxmi Puja, is the main celebration corresponding to Diwali.

Teej: Celebrated by women during Bhadra month (August-September), involving fasting, prayer to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, wearing red saris and singing traditional songs.

Holi: The festival of colors celebrated in Falgun month (February-March), marking the arrival of spring.

Janaki Navami: Particularly significant in Mithila, celebrating the birth of Goddess Sita (daughter of King Janaka of Mithila) in the sacred city of Janakpur.

Makar Sankranti/Maghe Sankranti: Celebrated when the Sun enters Capricorn (Makara rashi) in Poush/Magh month (January), marking the end of winter solstice and beginning of longer days.

Saraswati Panchami (Basant Panchami): Worshipping Goddess Saraswati on the fifth day (Panchami) of Magh month's bright fortnight (January-February), marking the beginning of spring.

Maha Shivaratri: The great night of Lord Shiva, celebrated on Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi in Falgun month (February-March). Nepal's Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu becomes a major pilgrimage site, attracting hundreds of thousands of devotees.

Six Seasons (Ritus)

Both calendars follow the traditional Vedic division of the year into six seasons (Shadharitu), adapted to the Himalayan and Gangetic plain climate.

Season	Sanskrit Name	Maithili/Nepali Months	Period	Characteristics
Spring	Vasant	Chaitra-Baishakh	March-May	Pleasant weather blooming flowers lychee growth Holi festival
Summer	Grishma	Jyeshtha-Ashadh	May-July	Intense heat mango season preparation for monsoon
Monsoon	Varsha	Shravan-Bhadra	July-September	Heavy rainfall flooding paddy sowing Shravan devoted to Shiva
Autumn	Sharad	Ashwin-Kartik	September-November	Moderate weather festive season Dashain Tihar Chhath harvest
Pre-winter	Hemanta	Margashirsha-Pausha	November-January	Cooling temperatures post-monsoon harvest
Winter	Shishira	Magh-Falgun	January-March	Cold season temperatures drop Makar Sankranti Shivaratri

This six-season division reflects the agricultural and climatic realities of the Indo-Gangetic plain and Himalayan foothills.

Agricultural Integration

Both calendars are deeply integrated with agricultural cycles critical to the Indo-Gangetic plain and Himalayan foothills.

Rabi Crop Cycle: Kartik-Ashin months mark the harvesting of the kharif (monsoon) crop and sowing of rabi (winter) crops like wheat, mustard and gram. Falgun-Chaitra witness the rabi harvest, celebrated through festivals like Jur Shital and Holi.

Kharif Crop Cycle: Farmers wait eagerly for the first monsoon rains in Jyeshtha-Ashadh to sow paddy in their fields. Shravan-Bhadra are crucial monsoon months determining agricultural success. The harvest occurs in Ashwin-Kartik, coinciding with major festivals.

Seasonal Weather Patterns: The calendars track Mithila and Nepal's distinctive seasons scorching summers (Jeth-Asarh with temperatures exceeding forty degrees Celsius), heavy monsoons (Saon-Bhado with frequent flooding), pleasant autumn (Asin-Katik), harsh winters (Poos-Maagh with temperatures potentially dropping to five degrees Celsius) and rejuvenating spring (Chait-Baisakh).

Panchang Significance and Usage

Cultural Authority

The Maithili calendar holds great importance for Maithil people in both India and Nepal. All auspicious dates for life events marriages (Vivah), sacred thread ceremonies (Upanayana Sanskar), first haircut (Mundan) and housewarming (Griha Pravesh) are determined by consulting the Tirhuta Panchang.

Similarly, the Nepali Panchang (Bikram Sambat) is consulted for determining muhurtas (auspicious timings) for weddings, business inaugurations, travel and religious ceremonies. Traditional astrologers (Jyotishis) prepare annual Panchangs providing comprehensive astronomical data, festival dates and predictions.

Modern Accessibility

Both Maithili and Nepali Panchangs have adapted to digital technology. Mobile applications, websites and online converters make calendar information accessible to diaspora communities worldwide. Annual printed Panchangs remain popular, particularly prepared by renowned scholars like Dr. Muktikant Jha for the Maithili calendar.

National Recognition

In two thousand seven, Nepal officially recognized Nepal Sambat (another historical calendar with its epoch in eight hundred seventy-nine CE) as a national calendar alongside Bikram Sambat, acknowledging the country's diverse calendrical heritage. Bihar's recognition of Jur Shital as Mithila Diwas similarly honors the Maithili calendar's cultural significance.

Himalayan Cultural Continuity

The Maithili and Nepali Panchangs exemplify how Vedic astronomical knowledge transcends modern political boundaries, creating a shared cultural space across the Himalayan region. The calendars connect millions of people through synchronized festivals, agricultural rhythms and astrological traditions rooted in ancient wisdom.

This shared heritage demonstrates the unifying power of Vedic timekeeping systems, which harmonize human activities with cosmic cycles, seasonal changes and spiritual observances preserving continuity with ancient traditions while remaining relevant to contemporary life in the twenty-first century.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Maithili Panchang differ from the Nepali Panchang?

The Maithili calendar is purely tropical solar while the Nepali Bikram Sambat is lunisolar. The Maithili calendar is used by Maithili communities while Nepali Panchang serves both governmental and religious purposes at the national level.

Why do Jur Shital and Naya Barsha fall at the same time?

Both occur at Mesha Sankranti when the Sun enters Aries. Both calendars base their year on this solar transition occurring in April.

Does Bikram Sambat require an intercalary month?

Yes, being lunisolar, approximately every three years an extra month is added to synchronize the lunar cycle with the solar year.

How do Maithili and Nepali communities celebrate each other's festivals?

Bordering communities in the Terai region use both calendars and celebrate festivals from both traditions, creating a shared cultural space.

How are the six seasons determined?

Both calendars follow Vedic seasonal division where each season spans two months, reflecting the distinctive climate and agriculture of the Himalayan region.