Ritu (Indian season)

For other uses, see Ritu (disambiguation).

Ritu (Sanskrit: ऋतु, Bengali: ঋতু) defines "season" in different calendars around the South Asian countries of India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and there are six ritus (also transliterated rutu) or seasons. The word is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Ṛtú, a fixed or appointed time, especially the proper time for sacrifice (yajna) or ritual in Vedic religion; this in turn comes from the word Ṛta (ऋत), as used in Vedic Sanskrit literally means the "order or course of things". This word is used in nearly all Indian languages.

North and West Indian calendars (Nepalese and North Indian)

Nepal and India observes six ecological seasons.^[1]^[2] Southern parts of India experiences the seasons on a different schedule than the one depicted here.

No.	Ritu	Season	Hindu lunar months	Gregorian month	Characteristics	Seasonal festivals
1	Vasanta वसन्त	Spring	Chaitra and Vaishakha	March & April	Temperature around 20-30 degrees Celsius; vernal equinox occurs in the middle of this season.	Vasant panchami, Ugadi, Gudhi Padwa, Holi, Rama Navami, Vishu/Rongali Bihu/Baisakhi/Tamil Puthandu, Hanuman Jayanti
2	Grishma ग्रीष्म	Summer	Jyeshta and Aashaadha	~ May & June	Very hot, temperatures up to 45-50 degrees Celsius; ends with the summer solstice.	Vat Pournima, Rath Yatra, Guru Purnima
3	Varsha वर्षा	Monsoon	Shraavana (Sawan) and Bhadrapada (Bhado)	~ July & August	Very hot, very humid and heavy monsoon rains; begins with the summer solstice.	Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmaashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Nuakhai , Onam, Gurujonar Tithi
4	Sharada शरद्	Autumn	Ashwin (Kwar) and Kartika	~ September & October	Mild temperatures; 19 to 22 degrees Celsius; Autumnal equinox occurs in the middle of this season.	Navaratri, Vijayadashami, Sharad Purnima, Bihu
5	Hemanta हेमन्त	Pre-winter	Margashirsha (Agrahayana, Agahan) and Pausha (Poos, Foos)	~ November & December	Very pleasant temperatures; generally, 20-25 degrees Celsius; ends with the winter solstice.	(mid-Winter celebration), Bihu, Deepavali, Kartik Poornima
6	Shishira शिशिर	Winter	Maagha and Phagun	~ January & February	Moderately cold, but pleasant during occasional sunshine; temperatures may decrease below 10 degrees Celsius.This season is typical to tropical and subtropical regions, because trees actually shed their leaves in this season in tropical areas; starts with the winter solstice.	Shivaratri, Shigmo, Pongal, Sankranthi

East Indian Calendars

East Indian Hindu (Bengali and Mithila which too starts its new year from Mesh Sankranti, in fact Nepali and Assamese and Odia Hindus too do the same, the season names are in all other in Sanskrit Vasanta, Grisma, Varsha, Sharada, Hemanta, Sisira) calendar. The Bengali Calendar is similar but differs in start and end time but is more practical as Vasant Panchami falls here in Vasant but in above calendar in Shishir in fact as that Magha Shukla Panchami. It has the following seasons or ritus:

Bengali season	Start	End	Bengali months	English
Grishmo (গ্রীষ্মকাল)	Mid-April	Mid-June	Boishakh, Joishtho	Summer
Borsha (বর্ষাকাল)	Mid-June	Mid-August	Asharh, Srabon	Monsoon
Shorot (শরৎকাল)	Mid-August	Mid-October	Bhadro, Ashwin	Autumn
Hemonto (হেমন্তকাল)	mid-October	mid-December	Kartik, Ogrohayon	Late Autumn
Sit (শীতকাল)	mid-December	mid-February	Poush, Magh	Winter
Bosonto (বসন্তকাল)	mid-February	mid-April	Falgun, Choitro	Spring

(South Indian Hindu) Tamil calendar

The South Indian Hindu Tamil calendar follows a similar pattern of six seasons as described for north Indian Hindu calendars which in fact need adjustment as taking new year from Grishma like that Bengali calendar....

Tamil season Names	English Meaning	Gregorian Months	Tamil Months
IlaVenil (Spring) இளவேனில்	Tender heat / warmth	April 15 to June 14	Chithirai and Vaikasi
MuthuVenil (Summer) முதுவேனில்	Matured heat / warmth	June 15 to August 14	Aani and Aadi
Kaar (Monsoon) கார்	Dark Clouds	August 15 to October 14	Avani and Purattasi
Kulir (Autumn) குளிர்	Cold / Chill	October 15 to December 14	Aipasi and Karthikai
MunPani (Winter) முன்பனி	Early (Frontal) Dew / Mist	December 15 to February 14	Margazhi and Thai
PinPani (Prevernal) பின்பனி	Late (Rear) Dew / Mist	February 15 to April 15	Maasi and Panguni

In culture

The seasons are described in literature such as the Sanskrit poem Ṛtusaṃhāra written by the legendary Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa.

Names of the ritu are commonly used for persons also, with Vasant, Sharad, Hemanta, Shishir being male names and Grishma and Varsha given to females.

Ritu (Indian season)

North and West Indian calendars (Nepalese and North Indian)

East Indian Calendars

(South Indian Hindu) Tamil calendar

In culture

See also

References

Further reading