Did you know that the Bengali calendar is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Bengal? Although people of modern Bengal use the Gregorian calendar for official and international purposes, the Bengali calendar, which is called the Bengali Panjika (বাঙালি পঞ্জিকা), plays a significant role in the day-to-day life and customs of the Bengalis.
This calendar is not just a way of measuring time, but also the history, culture, and climate of the region and the festivals celebrated there. It’s a solar calendar that’s used to fix the dates of festivals, religious functions, and other important days in Bengali society. So, today, let me guide you through the Bengali calendar. We’ll learn about Bengali months, discover what calendar 1431 is, and more. Let’s find out how this calendar shapes celebrations, agricultural cycles, and the vibrant culture of Bengal.
Table Of Contents
Understanding The Bengali Calendar
In the Bangla calendar, the first month is April – May, which is called Boishakh (বৈশাখ). It’s also the most colorful festival and is celebrated as the “Bengali New Year,” Pohela Boishakh (পহেলা বৈশাখ)
The present calendar is the Bengali calendar 1431 (as of 2024). Every month of the calendar has meaning and is a clear manifestation of the bond between the community and the territory. As such, it helps to comprehend the cultural background of Bengal, its timings, and its traditions. This calendar is followed mainly in West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam in India, and Bangladesh.
The Structure Of The Bengali Calendar
The Bengali calendar comprises 12 months, much like the Gregorian calendar, but the length of each month is slightly different. Furthermore, every month starts with the sunrise, linked with the solar year, which makes this calendar perfect for agricultural seasons.
The calendar uses the solar year, but the lunar cycle is also considered to decide the number of days in a month and the time of the festivals. For instance, the New Year is celebrated on the Gregorian date of 14th or 15th of April every year, but the Bengali calendar date may slightly shift forward or backward because of the lunar calendar.
The months in the Bengali calendar are listed in the table below.
The Use Of The Bengali Calendar In Daily Life
The Bengali calendar is very much used in the Bengali community’s daily life. It’s used to find out the dates of religious occasions, good days, harvesting days, and other officially adopted events. Some celebrated events are the Bengali New Year, which is called Pohela Boishakh, and the harvest festival Nabanna.
The calendar is also used in setting the dates of some of the most important events in one’s life, including weddings, housewarming ceremonies, and naming ceremonies. In the countryside, the farmers depend on the Bengali calendar since it’s in harmony with the cycles of the sowing and harvesting seasons.
The Transition To The Revised Bengali Calendar
The calendar used in Bengali-speaking regions has been through some changes in the past. It was in 1966 that the Bangla Academy in Bangladesh changed the calendar. This revised version of the current calendar is used in Bangladesh and West Bengal in Indian states, although the latter has a slightly different calendar, with the month still based on the solar-lunar calendar.
List Of Public Holidays And Festivals Of The Bengali Calendar
Like most other calendars, the Bengali calendar is filled with cultural and religious celebrations, some of them are:
- Bengali New Year is a key festival celebrated in April.
- Durga Puja is the most popular festival celebrated in October.
- Nabanna is the harvest festival, which is celebrated in the month of November-December.
- Saraswati Puja or Vasant Panchami is another Bengali festival, celebrated in January or February.
- Pohela Falgun is the spring festival celebrated in February and March.
These festivals are observed with much enthusiasm, as Bengalis love to mark celebrations with dancing, music, and eating and drinking.
The Bengali Calendar In The Modern Age
The Bengali calendar is essential in modern days. The Bengali Sambat is still in use in the present era, especially in social and religious activities. Though the Gregorian calendar was adopted for most formal and commercial purposes, the Bangla calendar is still preferred for calculating religious and traditional occasions, agricultural practices, etc.
The calendar is also one of the most significant cultural markers of the Bengali people and their culture. It conveys a message about Bengal’s cultural heritage and its roots, strongly linked to the soil.
How Do You Say ‘Calendar’ In Bengali?
In Bengali, the word calendar is referred to as Ponjika (পঞ্জিকা), pronounced as Pon-ji-ka.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Bengali Calendar
1. Who Is The Founder Of The Bengali Calendar?
The Bengali calendar was developed by King Shashanka of Bengal in the 7th century CE. This calendar has played a vital role in shaping the cultural and agricultural practices of Bengal, marking its significance in the region’s history.
2. Is There Any Scientific Basis For The Bengali Calendar?
Yes, the Bengali calendar is solar-based and also lunar-based to some extent. While it divides the year into twelve months, it takes into consideration the lunar month to coincide with the agricultural and seasonal calendar of Bengal.
3. How Is The Bengali Calendar Calculated?
The Bengali calendar calculates months based on the solar year, starting with mid-April. It’s adjusted for lunar cycles with a system of intercalary months to ensure it aligns with seasonal changes and festivals.
Wrapping Up
The Bengali calendar marks the cultural and seasonal events of Bengal, and it’s of great importance in the lives of Bengali people. If you’re interested in this culture and language, take a look at Ling’s Bengali blog to discover its food, grammar, holidays, and much more.
And if you’re thinking of learning Bengali, the Ling app can give you a hand! It’s designed to make language learning fun and engaging, with just a few minutes of practice a day.
