Ashadha Maas · Lord Vishnu

Ashadha (Ashadha Maas) 2018

The month Chaturmas begins — Jagannath Rath Yatra, Guru Purnima and Devshayani Ekadashi.

See Ashadha 2026 — this year

Ashadha (Ashadha Maas) 2018 Dates

North India · Purnimanta
Friday, 29 June 2018
to Friday, 27 July 2018 · 29 days
Month ending on the Purnima
Amanta regions
Saturday, 14 July 2018
to Saturday, 11 August 2018 · 29 days
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Why the dates differ. In the Purnimanta calendar a month ends on the full moon; in Amanta it ends on the new moon. So Ashadha begins about 15 days earlier in North India than in Amanta regions — even though the festivals fall on the same day in both, because they are fixed by tithi.

The significance of Ashadha — Lord Vishnu

Ashadha is the threshold of the monsoon and of Chaturmas — the four months in which Vishnu is said to sleep, beginning at Devshayani Ekadashi, when weddings and new ventures pause. It carries the Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri and Guru Purnima, the full moon given to the teacher, when Vyasa is honoured and the disciple bows to the one who shows the way.

Rituals of Ashadha

  • Devshayani Ekadashi — the start of Chaturmas vows
  • Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri
  • Guru Purnima — worship of the guru and Vyasa
  • Taking up a Chaturmas discipline or fast
  • Gupt Navratri for the initiated
  • Fasting on Yogini and Devshayani Ekadashi

Key days in Ashadha 2018

Festivals in Ashadha 2018

Monthly vrats 2018

Ashadha 2018 — Frequently Asked Questions

When does Ashadha Maas 2018 start?

In North India (Purnimanta calendar) Ashadha runs from Friday, 29 June 2018 to Friday, 27 July 2018. In Amanta-calendar regions it runs Saturday, 14 July 2018 to Saturday, 11 August 2018.

Why do Ashadha dates differ in North and South India?

Because the two regions follow different lunar calendars. In the Purnimanta calendar (North India) a month ends on the Purnima, so it starts about 15 days earlier than in Amanta. In the Amanta calendar (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) the month runs new-moon to new-moon.

Which deity is Ashadha 2018 dedicated to?

Ashadha is the threshold of the monsoon and of Chaturmas — the four months in which Vishnu is said to sleep, beginning at Devshayani Ekadashi, when weddings and new ventures pause. It carries the Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri and Guru Purnima, the full moon given to the teacher, when Vyasa is honoured and the disciple bows to the one who shows the way.

Is Ashadha 2018 an Adhik Maas?

No. Ashadha 2018 is a normal 29-day month.