Frequently asked questions

Panchang means "five limbs": Vara (weekday), Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (lunar mansion), Yoga (combined sun-moon position), and Karana (half-Tithi). Together they form the traditional Hindu almanac.

Tithi is based on the angular distance between the moon and sun along the ecliptic. Each Tithi spans 12 degrees of separation, giving 30 Tithis across a full lunar month, split into the waxing (Shukla) and waning (Krishna) fortnights.

Most printed Panchangs assign the day's Tithi and Nakshatra based on which one is prevailing at your local sunrise. This site calculates values for the current moment instead, so near a transition point the two can briefly disagree.

We use the Lahiri ayanamsa, the most widely adopted convention in Indian Panchangs, to convert tropical positions to the sidereal zodiac used for Nakshatra and Rashi.

Vikram Samvat is a lunar-based era widely used in North Indian calendars, beginning around Chaitra (March/April). Shaka Samvat is the solar-based era used in India's official National Calendar, beginning around 22 March.

Festival dates are researched and verified against public sources for the current year, since Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar and shift on the Gregorian calendar every year.

No. This site is for general, everyday reference only. For muhurat or ritual timing, consult a professional astrologer or a Panchang calculated specifically for your location. See our disclaimer.