Understanding the Gujarati Calendar (Kartikadi Vikram Samvat)
While most of northern India begins the Vikram Samvat year in the spring month of Chaitra (known as Chaitradi Samvat), the traditional Gujarati calendar observes the Kartikadi Vikram Samvat. In this system, the New Year—celebrated culturally as Bestu Varas—begins on the day following Diwali, on Kartak Sud Ekam (the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartika).
Cultural Heritage of Bestu Varas & Chopda Pujan
For centuries, Gujarat's merchant and trade guilds have structured their business and fiscal years around Diwali and Bestu Varas. On the night of Diwali (Ashwina Amavasya / Aaso Vad Amas), merchants perform Chopda Pujan to close old financial ledgers and inaugurate new accounting books sanctified with auspicious symbols of Swastika, Shubh, and Labh. Bestu Varas marks the spiritual and commercial dawn of the new year.
The 12 Gujarati Months (From Kartak to Aaso)
The Gujarati calendar arranges the 12 lunar months starting from late autumn rather than spring:
- Kartak: Marks the beginning of the year and winter.
- Magshar: Fostering spiritual introspection and cold weather.
- Posh: Contains the auspicious Makar Sankranti (Uttarayan).
- Maha: Celebrates Vasant Panchami and Maha Shivratri.
- Fagan: Culminates in the festival of Holi.
- Chaitra: Marks Chaitra Navratri and Ram Navami.
- Vaishakh: Peak summer, Akshaya Tritiya.
- Jeth: High summer and Ganga Dussehra.
- Ashadh: Arrival of monsoon and Jagannath Ratha Yatra.
- Shravan: Holy month of Shiva and Raksha Bandhan.
- Bhadarvo: Ganesh Utsav and Shraddha (Pitra Paksha).
- Aaso: Concluding month featuring Navratri and Diwali.
Semi-Technical Mechanics: Month Offset and Samvat Leap Shift
Because the Gujarati year starts in Kartika, between Chaitra and Kartika the Chaitradi Vikram Samvat and Gujarati Kartikadi Samvat share the exact same year number. However, between Diwali and Chaitra (roughly November to April), the Gujarati calendar advances to the next year number, while the North Indian Chaitradi calendar remains in the preceding year. Furthermore, the Gujarati calendar utilizes the Amanta system (months end on Amavasya / Amas), utilizing the regional terms Sud for the waxing bright half and Vad for the waning dark half.
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