Why is Sawan in North India 15 days earlier than Sawan in South India?

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In Northern Side of India, there are more Shivaites and in Southern Side of India, there are more Vaishnavites, because of which the dates to several months start with different ways of lunar cycle.

Why is Sawan in North India 15 days earlier than Sawan in South India?

If you’ve ever spent the monsoon season in India, you’ve probably heard the excitement around Sawan, the sacred month devoted to Lord Shiva. Streets come alive with temple bells, devotees in saffron clothes, and the smell of fresh flowers and incense filling the air.

But here’s something that often surprises people, while folks in North India are already deep into their Sawan rituals, people in South India might still be waiting for the month to even begin.

In fact, there’s usually a gap of around 15 days between when Sawan starts in the North and when it’s observed in the South.

It’s not that the monsoon arrives late in one region, or that the gods are playing favorites as it all comes down to how different parts of India follow different lunar calendar systems. And this tiny difference in calculation changes the dates completely, while the devotion behind the celebrations stays exactly the same.

What is the Lunar calendar and its two versions?

The lunar calendar is a way of keeping track of months and festivals based on the movement of the Moon, rather than the Sun. In simple terms, it follows the Moon’s cycle from one phase to the next, which is roughly 29.5 days.

This is why lunar months are shorter than the months we use in the modern Gregorian calendar. Most Hindu festivals, including Sawan, Diwali, and Holi, are decided by this lunar system because it aligns closely with traditional rituals, farming cycles, and religious observances.

However, even though the lunar calendar is common across India, not everyone calculates the start and end of months in the exact same way, which is where the two versions come in.

In India, the lunar calendar is followed in two main versions: the Purnimanta system and the Amanta system. The Purnimanta version, used mostly in North India, marks the month from the day after a full moon to the next full moon.

On the other hand, the Amanta version, popular in South India and parts of the West, begins the month from the day after a new moon and ends on the next new moon.

Both systems count the same lunar days (called tithis), but because their starting points differ by about half a moon cycle, roughly 15 days, the month names and festival timings can appear to shift from one region to another.

This is why something like Sawan can arrive earlier in North India than in the South, even though both are observing the same phases of the Moon.

Why do these two calendars exist?

The existence of two different Hindu calendars, Purnimanta in the North and Amanta in the South, goes back to ancient India’s diversity in culture, geography, and religious practice.

Thousands of years ago, before the idea of a “single national calendar” even existed, different regions developed their own ways of tracking time based on the moon’s cycle.

In the northern kingdoms, the full moon was seen as a natural climax of the month, a moment of brightness and completeness, so people chose to start the next month the very day after it.

In the southern and some western regions, the new moon held greater spiritual weight, often marking a fresh beginning for agricultural cycles and temple rituals.

Over time, these regional preferences became deeply tied to local traditions, festivals, and even farming schedules, making it almost impossible to replace one system with the other without losing a part of the community’s identity.

These differences also reflect the way India’s religious life has always been decentralized and adaptable. There was no single authority enforcing one “correct” calendar across the entire subcontinent, which allowed each region to honor the celestial events most meaningful to them.

What’s fascinating is that both calendars are equally accurate in astronomical terms as they’re just two different ways of slicing the same lunar month.

The Purnimanta system counts from full moon to full moon, while the Amanta system counts from new moon to new moon. They overlap in dates but differ in when the “first day” falls.

This coexistence is not a conflict; rather, it’s a living example of how India’s traditions adapt to local contexts while staying connected through shared faith. It’s like two recipes for the same dish as slightly different methods, but the same delicious result.

Does this affect other festivals too?

Yes, the difference in the way North and South India calculate months does affect other festivals as well, but not always in the way you might think. Many Hindu festivals are tied to specific lunar dates (tithis) rather than the name of the month, so in such cases, the festival itself often falls on the same Gregorian date across India.

For example, Diwali, which is celebrated on Amavasya (new moon) of Kartik month, happens on the same day everywhere because the lunar phase is universal.

However, the month it is said to belong to might differ in name as to what is called Kartik in one system might still be considered the end of Ashwin in another. The same happens with festivals like Holi or Janmashtami, where the date is fixed by the moon phase, making the celebration synchronous even if the month name differs.

That said, there are certain observances where the difference in month calculation does create a time gap. For instance, Chaturmas, the four-month holy period for fasting and special pujas, begins in the Purnimanta system in North India earlier than in the Amanta system of the South.

Similarly, regional festivals tied to the start of a particular month as like Nag Panchami or certain harvest-related rituals, might be celebrated days or even weeks apart. This can sometimes cause confusion, especially in today’s world where social media shows celebrations from across India instantly.

But rather than seeing this as a mismatch, it’s better to view it as a reflection of India’s cultural variety, two calendars, same devotion, just different dates on the page.

Does this mean South India misses out on Sawan Mondays?

Even though South India begins Sawan 15 days later than the North, it doesn’t mean devotees miss out on any observances. The month of Sawan lasts for the same duration in both regions, approximately 30 to 32 days, depending on the lunar cycle.

This means that while North India may start fasting on earlier dates, South India still observes the same number of Sawan Mondays (Sombar or Shravan Somvar) as typically four, and sometimes five if the month is longer.

This difference doesn’t affect the spiritual significance or the number of fasting days as it’s purely a matter of calendar calculation. Both traditions ensure that devotees get the full experience of Sawan, including special pujas, Kanwar Yatra (where applicable), and fasting rituals.

Whether observed in July or August, the devotion remains equally strong. This variation is a perfect example of how India’s diverse cultural practices coexist, allowing regional traditions to thrive while keeping the essence of the festival intact.

Lastly, India’s cultural diversity is reflected even in its calendars. The 15-day gap in Sawan is not a mistake but a result of two equally valid lunar calendar systems. Whether you celebrate Sawan in July or August, the devotion remains the same.

So, the next time someone asks why Sawan starts earlier in the North, you can explain how Purnimant and Amavasyant calendars create this fascinating difference, all while keeping the spirit of the festival alive across India.

Written by: Nikita, Content Writer, Rudraksha Hub

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