For other uses see Ritu

Ritu

For other uses see Ritu.Ritu is a season in the Hindu calendar, and there are six ritus or Indian seasons...

.

Ritu is a season

Season

A season is a division of the year, marked by changes in weather, ecology, and hours of daylight.Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the plane of revolution...

 in the Hindu calendar

Hindu calendar

The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...

, and there are six ritus (also transliterated rutu) or Indian seasons. The word is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit

Vedic Sanskrit

Vedic Sanskrit is an old Indo-Aryan language. It is an archaic form of Sanskrit, an early descendant of Proto-Indo-Iranian. It is closely related to Avestan, the oldest preserved Iranian language...

 word Rtu

Rtu

Ritu in Vedic Sanskrit refers to a fixed or appointed time, especially the proper time for sacrifice or ritual in Vedic Religion, The word is so used in the Rigveda, the Yajurveda and the Atharvaveda...

, a fixed or appointed time, especially the proper time for sacrifice (yajna

Yajna

In Hinduism, yajna is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes...

) or ritual in Vedic Religion

Vedic religion

Vedic religion may refer to:*the historical Vedic religion- Vedic Hinduism **Vedic mythology*Shrauta, surviving conservative traditions within HinduismIn wider meanings of the term "Vedic"*Vedanta*Hinduism in general...

; this in turn comes from the word Rta

Rta

In the Vedic religion, Ṛta is the principle of natural order which regulates and coordinates the operation of the universe and everything within it. In the hymns of the Vedas, Ṛta is described as that which is ultimately responsible for the proper functioning of the natural, moral and sacrificial...

 (ऋत), as used in Vedic Sanskrit

Vedic Sanskrit

Vedic Sanskrit is an old Indo-Aryan language. It is an archaic form of Sanskrit, an early descendant of Proto-Indo-Iranian. It is closely related to Avestan, the oldest preserved Iranian language...

 literally means the "order or course of things".

Seasonal table

The following table gives an overview about the partition of the year in the traditional India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n calendar. ( Duration of seasons is different in south India where monsoon start early in June)

No.	Ritu	Season Season A season is a division of the year, marked by changes in weather, ecology, and hours of daylight.Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the plane of revolution...	Hindu lunar months Hindu calendar The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...	Gregorian month Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...	Characteristics	Seasonal festivals
1	Vasant Vasanta (Ritu) Vasanta or Basant is one of the six ritus corresponding to spring.It is also short for Vasanta Panchami , an Indian festival celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Hindu month Magh , the first day of spring.In Ferozepur, Vasant is celebrated as most auspicious festival than any...   वसन्तः	Spring Spring (season) Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...	Chaitra Chaitra Chaitra is a month of the Hindu calendar....  and Vaisakha Vaisakha Vaishakha or Baisakha is a month of the Hindu calendar. It is the first month of the Nepalese calendar and the Bengali calendar . In the Indian national calendar Vaisakha is the second month of the year, beginning on April 21 and ending on May 20.In the Hindu solar calendar, Vaisakha begins in...	~ March 20 to May 20	Temperature around 25-30 degrees; marriage season	Ugadi Ugadi Yugadi or Ugadi or "Samvatsradi" , Konkani/Marathi: युगादी yugādi, , formed by sandhi of yuga "age" and ādi "beginning": the beginning of an age) is the New Year's Day for the people of the Deccan region of India. It falls on the different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar... , Rama Navami Rama Navami Ram Navami also known as Sri Ram Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Ram is the 7th incarnation of the Dashavatara of Vishnu. Years later Lord Rama was married to Sita on the... , Vishu Vishu Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, usually on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit into the Mesha Raasi , according to Indian astrological calculations, and represents the vernal equinox... /Bihu Bihu Bihu denotes a set of three different cultural festivals of Assam and celebrated by the Assamese diaspora around the world. Though they owe their origins to ancient rites and practices they have taken definite urban features and have become popular festivals in urban and commercialized milieus in... /Baisakhi/Tamil Puthandu, Hanuman Jayanti Hanuman Jayanti Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara god, widely venerated throughout India especially in North India. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the Shukla Paksha, during the month of Chaitra...
2	Grishma Grishma Grishma is short for Grishmarutu, the Sankrit word meaning summer . This is one of the six seasons,each lasting two months. Grishma is short for Grishmarutu, the Sankrit word meaning summer (as in the season). This is one of the six seasons,each lasting two months. Grishma is short for... ग्रीष्मः	Summer Summer Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...	Jyeshta Jyeshta Jyeshta is a month of the Hindu calendar, also known as Jeth or Iethe. In India's national civil calendar, Jyestha is the third month of the year, beginning on 21 May and ending on 22 June...  and Aashaadha Aashaadha Aashaadha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Aashaadh is the fourth month of the year, beginning on 22 June and ending on 22 July. The month is known as Aadi in Tamil...	~ May 20 to July 20	Very hot, up to 40 degrees temperature (But now it is going up to 45-50 degrees in some part); farmers gear up for rice planting;	Vat Pournima Vat Pournima Vat Purnima or Wata Pournima is a celebration observed in Maharashtra and Karnataka, India. Pournima means "full moon" and is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Jyeshta on the Hindu Calendar, which falls in June on the Gregorian Calendar. Women pray for their husbands by tying threads... , Rath Yatra Rath Yatra Ratha Yatra is a huge Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Orissa, India during the months of June or July. Most of the city's society is based around the worship of Jagannath with the ancient temple being the fulcrum of the area... , Guru Purnima Guru Purnima Guru Purnima is a festival traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists.On this day, disciples offer puja or pay respect to their Guru . It falls on the day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh of the Shaka Samvat, Indian national calendar and Hindu calendar...
3	Varsha Varsha Varsha may refer to:* Varsha, Rainy season or ritu in Hindu calendar-Given names:*Bob Varsha, American sports announcer*Varsha Bhosle, Indian journalist*Varsha Soni, Indian field hockey player*Varsha Usgaonkar, Indian actress... वर्षाः	Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...	Shraavana Shraavana Shraavana is a month of the Hindu calendar, also known as Sawan. In India's national civil calendar, Shraavan is the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Aavani and is the fifth month of the solar year...  and Bhadrapada	~ July 20 to September 20	Very hot, very humid and heavy monsoon rains,	Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmaashtami Krishna Janmaashtami Krishna Janmashtami , also known as Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree Jayanthi or sometimes merely as Janmashtami, is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, an avatar of the god Vishnu.Krishna Janmashtami is observed on the Ashtami... , Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival... , Onam Onam Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam and lasts for ten days... ,
4	Sharad Sharad Sharad in North India, variantly referred to as Sharat or Sharath or Sarath in South India, is the early autumn ritu, or season in the Hindu calendar. It roughly corresponds to the western months of mid-September to mid-November. Sharad is preceded by Varsha, followed by Hemant...   शरत्	Autumn Autumn Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....	Ashwin and Kartika Kartika Kartika or Karthika may refer to:* alternative transliteration of Kartik** Kartikeya, the son of Shiva in the Indian mythology* alternative transliteration of Karthika, a feminine name in Indian languages** Kartika Rane, Indian actress...	~ September 20 to November 20	Mild temperatures;	Navaratri, Vijayadashami Vijayadashami Vijayadashami also known as Dasara, is one of the most important festivals celebrated in various forms, across India, Nepal and Bangladesh... , Deepavali, Sharad Purnima, Kartik Poornima Kartik Poornima Kartik Poornima is a Hindu holy day celebrated on the full moon day or the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik . It is also known as Tripuri poornima and Tripurari Poornima. It is sometimes called Deva-Diwali or Deva-Deppawali - the festival of lights of the gods... ,
5	Hemant हेमन्त	Pre-winter	Margashirsha (Agrahayana) and Pausha Pausha Pausha is a month of the Hindu calendar In the Indian national calendar, Pausha is the tenth month of the year, beginning with the solstice on 22 December and ending on 20 January....	~ November 20 to January 20	Very pleasant temperatures (20-25 degrees); farmers reap the rice;	Pancha Ganapati Pancha Ganapati Pancha Ganapati, a five day festival celebrated from December 21 through 25, is a Hindu festival in celebration of Lord Ganesha, Patron of Arts and Guardian of Culture....  (mid-Winter celebration), Pongal Pongal Thai Ponggal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Indian Union Territory of Pondicherry and in Sri Lanka. Pongal coincides with the festival Makara Sankranthi celebrated throughout India. Pongal in Tamil means "boiling over" or "spill over". The boiling... , Sankranthi Sankranthi Makar Sankranti or Sankranti or Sankranthi marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rashi on its celestial path...
6	Shishir Shishir Shishir in Hindu calendar is the season or Ritu, related to winters and cold. It is also one among the many names of the Hindu God Lord Vishnu,and appears in the Vishnu sahasranama , and hence also a given name for boys. it is the month of Magha and Phalguna or mid January to mid march in the...   शिशिर	Winter Winter Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...	Magh Magh Magh may refer to:* Magi* Magh people, the Arakanese nationalities known in Bengal as Maghs* Maagha, a month in Hindu calendar* Magh * Magh * Magh * Magha , author of Shishupala Vadha...  and Phalguna Phalguna Phalguna is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Phaalgun is the twelfth month of the year, beginning on 20 February and ending on 21 March .In lunar religious calendars, Phaalgun may begin on either the new moon or the full moon...	~ January 20 to March 20	Quite cold, but very pleasant during occasional sunshine; temperatures may go below 10 degrees.	Vasant panchami Vasant Panchami Vasant Panchami , sometimes referred to as Vasant Panchami or Shree Panchami , is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Indian month Magh , the first day of spring... , Shivaratri, Holi Holi Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United... , Shigmo Shigmo Shigmo , or Shishirotsava, is a spring festival celebrated in the Indian state of Goa, where it is one of the major festivals of the Hindu community... ,

The seasons are described in literature such as the Sanskrit

Sanskrit

Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...

 poem Ṛtusaṃhāra.

Further reading

• Feller, Danielle. The Seasons in Mahākāvya Literature, Eastern Book Linkers, Delhi, 1995, ISBN 681-86339-24-8
• Raghavan, V. Ṛtu in Sanskrit literature, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Delhi, 1972
• Renou, Louis. Sanskrit et culture, Payot, 1950
• Selby, Martha Ann (translator). The Circle of Six Seasons, Penguin, New Delhi, 2003, ISBN 0-14-100772-9

External links

• Hindu Calendar showing Ritu