Ritu (Sanskrit: ऋतु) means "season" in different ancient Indian calendars used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There are six ritus (also transliterated ritu) or seasons. Seasons are different times of the year and there are 12 months in the year. Every month has its own special season. 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.
Nepal and India observes six ecological seasons.[1] [2]
| 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. First spring harvest along with harvest festivals. | Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Holi, Rama Navami, Puthandu, Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Baisakhi, Hanuman Jayanti |
| 2 | Grīṣma ग्रीष्म | Summer/Hot Season | Jyeshtha and Ashadha | ~ May & June | Very hot, temperatures up to 45-50 degrees celsius; summer solstice occurs. This is one of the two typical Indian/ Hindu Marriage Seasons. | Vat Purnima, Ratha Yatra, Guru Purnima |
| 3 | Varṣā वर्षा | Monsoon/Rainy Season | ~ July & August | Very hot, very humid and heavy monsoon rains; begins with the lunar month after the summer solstice. | Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Nuakhai, Onam, Gurujonar Tithi, Mahalaya Amavasya | |
| 4 | Sharada शरत् | Autumn | ~ Late- September, October & mid-November | Mild temperatures; 19-25 degrees celsius; autumnal equinox occurs in the middle of this season. First autumn harvest occurs along with harvest festivals. Some trees in the Himalayas or upper elevations change colors much like in northern latitudes across the world. | Navaratri, Vijayadashami, Sharad Purnima, Kati Bihu, Deepavali, Dhanatrayodashi, Kartik Purnima | |
| 5 | Hemantaहेमन्त | Pre-Winter/Cool Season | ~ Late November & December | Very pleasant temperatures; generally, 19-25 degrees celsius; ends with the winter solstice. Some trees in the Himalayas and other hills completely shed their leaves much like in northern latitudes across the world. | (mid-winter celebration)Margashira Mahotsavam. Music Season with a number of Indian Carnatic classical music and dance concerts. Thai Pongal, Sankranti are celebrated during the month of Pausha. | |
| 6 | Shishira शिशिर | Winter/Cold Season | Magha and Phalguna | ~ 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. | |
East Indian calendars (Bengali, Assamese, Odia and Mithila) start their new year on Mesh Sankranti. The season names corresponds to the Sanskrit Vasanta, Grishma, Varsha, Sharada, Hemanta, Shishira order.The Bengali Calendar is similar to the Sanskrit calendar above, but differs in start and end times which moves certain dates/days around (i.e., Vasant Panchami occurs here in Vasant ritu but in the calendar above, it occurs in Shishir as that is the Magha Shukla Panchami). The East Indian Calendar has the following seasons or ritus:
Seasons in the Assamese Calendar:
| Assamese season | Start | End | Assamese months | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grishmo (গ্রীষ্মকাল) | Mid-April | Mid-June | Bohag, Jeth | Summer | |
| Borkha (বর্ষাকাল) | Mid-June | Mid-August | Ahaar, Xaaun | Monsoon | |
| Xorot (শৰৎকাল) | Mid-August | Mid-October | Bhado, Ahin | Early Autumn | |
| Hemanta (হেমন্তকাল) | Mid-October | Mid-December | Kati, Aghun | Late Autumn | |
| Heat (শীতকাল) | Mid-December | Mid-February | Pooh, Magh | Winter | |
| Boxonto (বসন্তকাল) | Mid-February | Mid-April | Phagun, Sot | Spring |
Seasons in the Bengali Calendar:
| Bangla Ritu | Bengali Months | English Equivalent | Gregorian Months | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| গ্রীষ্ম(Grishsho) | বৈশাখ-জ্যৈষ্ঠ(Boishakh-Joishtho) | Summer | Mid April - Mid June | |
| বর্ষা(Borsha) | আষাঢ়-শ্রাবণ(Aasharh-Shrabon) | Monsoon | Mid June - Mid August | |
| শরৎ(Shorot) | ভাদ্র-আশ্বিন(Bhadro-Aashshin) | Autumn | Mid August - Mid October | |
| হেমন্ত(Hemonto) | কার্তিক-অগ্রহায়ণ(Kartick-Ogrohayon) | Early Winter | Mid October - Mid December | |
| শীত(Śīta) | পৌষ-মাঘ(Poush-Maagh) | Winter | Mid December - Mid February | |
| বসন্ত(Bosonto) | ফাল্গুন-চৈত্র (Falgun-Choitro) | Mid February - Mid April |
Seasons in the Maithili Calendar:
| Maithili Ritu | English Equivalent | Maithili Months | Gregorian Months | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ग्रीष्म (Grishma) | Summer | Baisakha-Jyeshtha | Mid-April to mid-June | |
| वर्षा (Barkha) | Monsoon | Akhadha, Shrabana | Mid-June to mid-August | |
| शरद(Sharad) | Autumn | Ashwina, Kartika | Mid-August to mid-October | |
| हेमन्तHemanta | Late-Autumn | Maargashirsha, Pausha | Mid-October to mid-December | |
| शिशिर(Shishir) | Winter | Pausha, Magh | Mid-December to mid-February | |
| वसन्त(Basanta) | Spring | Phalgun, Chaitra | Mid-February to mid-May |
Seasons in the Odia calendar:
| Odia Ritu | Season | Odia months | Gregorian |
|---|---|---|---|
| ଗ୍ରୀଷ୍ମ Grisma | Summer | Baiśākha–Jyeṣṭha | April–June |
| ବର୍ଷା Barsā | Monsoon | Āṣāṛha–Śrābaṇa | June–August |
| ଶରତ Sarata | Autumn | Bhādraba–Āświna | August–October |
| ହେମନ୍ତ Hemanta | Pre-Winter | Kārttika–Mārgaśira | October–December |
| ଶୀତ Sita | Winter | Pauṣa–Māgha | December–February |
| ବସନ୍ତ Basanta | Spring | Phālguna–Chaitra | February–April |
The Malayalam calendar or Kollam Era, a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Kerala, and in Karnataka they follows a pattern of six seasons slightly different from North Indian Calendars.
| Ritu | Season | Malayalam solar months | Sanskrit solar months | Gregorian months | Seasonal festivals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vasantam വസന്തം వసంతం ವಸಂತ ಋತು | Spring | Makaram (second half)-Kumbham-Meenam (first half) | Makara (second half)-Kumbha-Mīna (first half) | February & March | Vasantha Panchami, Holi |
| 2 | Grishmam ഗ്രീഷ്മം గ్రీష్మం ಗ್ರೀಷ್ಮಋತು | Summer | Meenam (second half)-Medam-Idavam (first half) | Mīna (second half)-Meṣa-Vṛṣabha (first half) | April & May | Vishu |
| 3 | Varsham വർഷം వర్షాకాలం ವರ್ಷ ಋತು | Monsoon or Rain | Idavam (second half)-Mithunam-Karkatakam (first half) | Vṛṣabha (second half)-Mithuna-Karkaṭaka (first half) | June & July | Karkataka Vavu (marks the beginning of Sharad season) |
| 4 | Sarath ശരത്ത് శరదృతువు ಶರದ್ಋತು | Early Autumn | Karkitakam (second half)-Chingam-Kanni (first half) | Karkaṭaka (second half)-Siṃha-Kanyā (first half) | August & September | Rakshabandhanam, Krishna Janmashtami (Sri Krishna Jayanti), Onam |
| 5 | Hemantham ഹേമന്തം హేమంతం ಹೇಮಂತ ಋತು | Late Autumn | Kanni (second half)-Thulam-Vrischikam (first half) | Kanyā (second half)-Tulā-Vṛścikam (first half) | October & November | |
| 6 | Sisiram ശിശിരം శిశిరం ಶಿಶಿರ ಋತು | Winter | Vrischikam (second half)-Dhanu-Makaram (first half) | Vṛścikam (second half)-Dhanu-Makara (first half) | December & January | |
The Tamil Calendar follows a similar pattern of six seasons as described in the Hindu calendar.
| Tamil season Names | English Meaning | Gregorian Months | Tamil Months | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muthuvenil (Hot Summer) முதுவேனில் | Matured heat / warmth | April 15 to June 14 | Chittirai and Vaikāsi | |
| Kar (Monsoon) கார் | Dark Clouds | June 15 to August 14 | Āni and Ādi | |
| Kutir (Autumn) கூதிர் | Cold / Chill | August 15 to October 14 | Āvaṇi and Puraṭṭāsi | |
| Munpani (Pre-winter) முன்பனி | Early (Frontal) Dew / Mist | October 15 to December 14 | Aippasi and Kārtikai | |
| Pinpani (Prevernal / Early Spring) பின்பனி | Late (Rear) Dew / Mist | December 15 to February 14 | Mārgaḻi and Tai | |
| Ilavenil (Mild Summer) இளவேனில் | Tender heat / warmth | February 15 to April 14 | Māsi and Panguni |
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: typically, Vasant, Sharad, Hemant, Shishir and Varsh are "male" names; "female" names include Vasanti, Sharada, Hemanti, Grishma and Varsha.
Similar naming conventions are also used in Tamil: For female Ilavenil. For male Kar(Vannan).