12 - myPanchang.com

Calendar
Explanation
We are pleased to release the 2011 calendar based on Hindu dharma shastra and drika siddhanta. This
calendar is specially prepared for the Greater Vancouver area, and it may not be applicable in other parts of
the world. All time presented here is adjusted for daylight saving time.
Calendar Types: There are two main types of calendars. One is the Solar Calendar which is used in
Tamilnadu, Orissa, Bengal, and Kerala. The other is a Luni-Solar Calendar based on Chandramasa. In the
Luni-Solar calendar there are two types: Amavasyant - months ending in Amavasya; and Purnimant -
months ending on Purnima. The Amavasyant is used in Gujarat, Maharastra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Tamilnadu & Kerala (along with Solar Calendar). The Purnimant calendar is used in North India.
Tithi: In the lunar calendar the moon takes a month for each revolution around the earth. The lunar
calendar is divided into two groups called Pakshas. The first one is called Krishna Paksha (or dark
fortnight) which is when the moon is waning. The second is called Shukla Paksha (or bright fortnight) which
is when the moon is waxing. Each paksha is divided into 15 thithis. The first 14 thithis are the Sanskrit
numbers from 1 to 14 (Prathama, Dvithiya etc). The 15th thithi of Shukla Paksha is Poornima (full moon) &
the 15th of the Krishna Paksha is Amavasya (moon is not visible as it is closest to the sun). So a lunar month
consists of 30 thithis and each thithi then corresponds to the time taken by the moon to move 12 degrees, with
respect to the sun. Krishna Paksha tithis are in the darker color with dark background and Shukla Paksha
tithis are mentioned in the red color with white background.
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6696 Main Street, Vancouver BC V5X3H2 TEL: (604) 327 9316 FAX:(604) 327 9410
Amavasyant
Calendar
position of the tropical Sun to determine Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. Hence January 14 th isn’t
Uttarayana. Actual Uttarayana occurs on December 21 st /22 nd of every year.
For more details please visit http://www.mypanchang.com or write to shastriji@mypanchang.com.
Kari Dina: Avoid Kari Dina for your auspicious activities. This calendar has marked Kari Dinas.
About mypanchang.com: mypanchang.com is the most popular website site that provides the most
accurate panchagam in English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil languages as
per North and South Indian calendar systems for over more than 350 cities all over the world. Most
temples in the world rely on mypanchang.com for accurate panchang data and festival observance
times. Please visit mypanchang.com for more details. The panchang data and festival data presented
here are the most accurate according to Hindu Vedic Tradition and in accordance with Hindu
dharma shastra. If you have any questions about confusion about any festival please contact
mypanchang.com and we’ll provide you with a further explanation.
2011 Calendar Acknowledgements:
Panchangam Data
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Nakshatra: There are 27 Nakshatra (constellations) in the Zodiac. A Nakshatra is the zodiac constellation
in which the moon is found on the particular day. Nakshatras are in italics.
Timings listed in the Calendar: The times listed after a Thithi & Nakshatra are the times at which the
Thithi or Nakshatra ends. The panchanga uses the Vedic definition of a day, i.e., a day starts with sunrise
and ends with the subsequent sunrise. Thus, a thithi with a time of 29:00 indicates that the thithi ends before
the next sunrise. According to the western calendar, this means that the thithi ends at 5:00 AM (29:00 –
24:00) on the next day. Hence 24:00 means 00:00 hours of the next day, 25:00 means 1:00 AM of the next
day, 29:00 means 5:00 AM of the next day. This is standard for any panchangam.
How to read the panchangam:
The time next to the tithi and nakshatra is the time when it is going to end. If tithi or nakshatra
ends after midnight but before next sunrise the end-time will have a value greater than 24 hours.
To get actual time, please subtract 24 from the time. The English date and day will be changed
after midnight but not so for the Indian date and day. Indian day/date does not change at
midnight 0:00 hours and it is from one sunrise to another sunrise. e.g. Trayodashii 08:18. This
means Trayodashi ends at 8 hours 18 minutes.
The time next to the nakshtra indicates when it is going to end. The same rules for tithi timings
apply to nakshatras as well. E.g. Rohinii 09:02. This means Rohini nakshatra ends at 9 hours, 02
minutes. Nakshatra is also known as a Star. This way you can find your child’s birth star.
The time for Sun’s samkramana is when sun will enter that rasi or sign on that day. e.g. Makara
4:36 means Sun is entering Makara rasi at 4 hour 36 minute.
Uttarayana / Dakshinayana: The season occurs based on tropical sun (without ayanamsha). This is
due to earth’s tilt of 23.45 degrees. The earth circles around sun with this tilt. When the tilt is facing the Sun
we get summer and when the tilt is away from the Sun we get winter. Because of this tilt it seems like the Sun
travels north and south of the equator. This motion of the sun is called Uttarayana – The sun is moving
towards North and Dakshinayana the sun is moving towards South. This motion of the sun moving towards
the north is called Uttarayana. When it is moving towards the south it is called Dakshinayana. This causes
rise to seaons. They are dependent on equinoxes and solstices.
There is a common misconception that Makar Samkranti is the Uttarayana. This is because at one point in
time Sayana and Nirayana Zodiac were same. Every year equinoxes slides by 50 seconds due to precision of
equinoxes, giving birth to Ayanamsha and causing Makar Samkranti to slide further. As a result if you think
Makar Samkranti is uttarayana then as it’s sliding it will come in June after 9000 years. However Makar
Samkranti still holds importance in our rituals as a Samkranti. All Drika Panchanga makers will use the
Festivals &
Muhurthas
Advisors
Calender Design
Management
Architect
Vancouver Calender
Sponsored by
Pandit Mahesh Shastri
Drika Panchang Karta and Siddhanti
Seattle, WA USA
Dr. Ramchandra Joisa, Sistla Somayajulu,
Rallabhandi Anjaneyulu, Santhosh Kumar Sharma Gollapelli
Parantap Kumar Vyas
Monica Monasterio,
Vikas Pulpa, Rama Srinivasan, Paddy Ramaiyanger
Mrs. Nayana Shastri, Ms. Sowjanya Kodidala
Robert Beardsworth
Nanda Jewellers Inc. Mr. Ganesh Nanda.
Printed by Puget Sound Reprographics (206) 769 6666
I would like to thank Mr. Ganesh Nanda and family for printing this calendar for Vancouver Area.
Notes: Any data presented here is copyright of mypanchang.com and its associates, any portion reproduced
for commercial purposes without prior written permission of mypanchang.com will be treated as a violation
of the United States copyright laws
Nanda Jewellers Inc.
Panchanga Calculations by mypanchang.com