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| Season: | Winter |
| Gregorian: | December-January |
| Holidays: | Poush 31 - Poush Sankranti |
Poush (Bengali: পৌষ; Nepali: पौष) is the 9th month of both the Bengali calendar[1] and the Nepali calendar. It overlaps December and January of the Gregorian calendar. It is the first month of the winter season. This month marks the start of Winter (Bengali: শীত, Sheat) in the Bengali calendar.
This month is named after the star Pushya (Bengali: পুষ্যা).
During Poush crops are harvested and farmers often have ample food and income. Bengali people celebrate Poush Sankranti as one of their festival on the last day of Poush.[2] They make Pitha at their homes and share those among each others.[3] Bangladesh Poush Mela Udjapon Parishad organises a three-day fair in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[4] [5]
In his novel Ganadevata, the noted Bengali writer Tarashankar Bandopadhyay quotes a rural rhyme:
Poush-Poush, golden Poush,
Come Poush but don't go away, don't ever leave,
Don't leave Poush, don't,
The husband and son will eat a full bowl of rice.[6]