Question 1

What is Living Calendars?

Accepted Answer

See any date through a different calendar. Malayalam, Tamil, Hijri, Hebrew, Chinese, Ethiopian, Solar Hijri, Baha'i, Coptic, and 36 more.

Question 2

How does a solar sidereal calendar work?

Accepted Answer

These calendars track the Sun's position against the background stars. A new month begins each time the Sun moves into the next constellation (called a Sankranti). Because they follow the stars rather than the seasons, these calendars very slowly drift over thousands of years - but they reflect the actual sky above you.

Question 3

How does a lunisolar calendar work?

Accepted Answer

These calendars use the Moon for months but keep track of the Sun to stay in sync with the seasons. Each month begins at the New Moon (when the Moon is invisible). When the Moon gets too far ahead of the Sun, an extra "Adhika" month is added. This is why some years have 13 months instead of 12.

Question 4

What is an Adhika Masa?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes the Moon completes a full cycle without the Sun moving into a new zodiac sign. When that happens, an extra month is added to keep festivals in the right season. Without this correction, celebrations like Diwali would slowly drift through the year.

Question 5

How does the Hijri calendar work?

Accepted Answer

This calendar follows only the Moon, with no attempt to stay aligned with the seasons. Each month begins when the thin crescent Moon is first sighted after a New Moon. Because 12 lunar months add up to only about 354 days (not 365), the calendar drifts through all the seasons over 33 years. This is deliberate - a theological choice, not an oversight.

📅 Living Calendars