The Gujarati Calendar: Vikram Samvat, Months and Seasons

How the Gujarati calendar differs from the Gregorian, the names of days and months, when the new year begins, and the three seasons: summer, monsoon and winter.

Gujarat uses two calendars side by side. The Gregorian calendar is used for daily and official purposes, and the traditional Vikram Samvat calendar governs festivals, auspicious dates and the Gujarati New Year.

Days of the week

સોમવાર — Monday
મંગળવાર — Tuesday
બુધવાર — Wednesday
ગુરુવાર — Thursday
શુક્રવાર — Friday
શનિવાર — Saturday
રવિવાર — Sunday

The word વાર means "day". The names honour the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and the Sun.

Gregorian months

જાન્યુઆરી, ફેબ્રુઆરી, માર્ચ, એપ્રિલ, મે, જૂન, જુલાઈ, ઓગસ્ટ, સપ્ટેમ્બર, ઓક્ટોબર, નવેમ્બર, ડિસેમ્બર

The Vikram Samvat calendar

The Vikram Samvat year is roughly 57 years ahead of the Gregorian year. In Gujarat, the new year begins the day after Diwali, in October or November. The calendar follows lunar months, with adjustments to match the sun.

Traditional months:

કારતક (Kartak) — around October–November, the first month in the Gujarati year
માગશર (Magshar)
પોષ (Posh)
મહા (Maha)
ફાગણ (Fagan)
ચૈત્ર (Chaitra)
વૈશાખ (Vaishakh)
જેઠ (Jeth)
અષાઢ (Ashadh)
શ્રાવણ (Shravan)
ભાદરવો (Bhadarvo)
આસો (Aso)

Because lunar months don't match Gregorian months exactly, festival dates in the Gregorian calendar change from year to year.

Fortnights and lunar days

Each lunar month has two halves: સુદ (the bright half, waxing moon) and વદ (the dark half, waning moon). Dates are given as, for example, કારતક સુદ એકમ (the first day of the bright half of Kartak).

Seasons

Gujarat has three main seasons:

ઉનાળો — summer (roughly March to June), hot and dry
ચોમાસું — monsoon (roughly June to September), with rain
શિયાળો — winter (roughly November to February), cool and pleasant

Traditional and poetic descriptions use six seasons, but daily conversation uses these three.

The monsoon

ચોમાસું is welcomed after the heat. Words include વરસાદ (rain), વાદળ (cloud), વીજળી (lightning), મેઘધનુષ (rainbow), પૂર (flood).

Auspicious dates

શુભ મુહૂર્ત (auspicious time) is important for weddings, housewarmings and new ventures. Families consult an astrologer or almanac (પંચાંગ) to select dates.

Writing dates

In daily use, dates are written day/month/year: ૦૫/૧૦/૨૦૨૬ or 05/10/2026, using Gujarati or Western digits.

Gujarati numerals

૦ ૧ ૨ ૩ ૪ ૫ ૬ ૭ ૮ ૯ are 0 to 9, and appear on signs and older documents, though Western digits are common today.

Useful phrases

આજે કઈ તારીખ છે? — What's the date today?
આજે કયો વાર છે? — What day is it today?
આવતી કાલે — tomorrow
ગઈ કાલે — yesterday
આ અઠવાડિયે — this week
આવતા મહિને — next month

Learning tips

Learn the days and Gregorian months first.
Learn કારતક to આસો in order.
Know the New Year date.
Practise dates aloud.

Common beginner errors

Assuming Gujarati New Year is on 1 January.
Forgetting that lunar dates shift.

Look up Gujarati days and months with English Gujarati Dictionary →