The differences are deeply rooted in local traditions and have been followed for centuries, leading to the observed variation in Shravan month dates across different regions of India.
The Shravan month is dedicated to Lord Shiv and is considered auspicious. It begins after Devshayani Ekadashi, when Lord Vishnu falls asleep in a deep meditation. During Shravan, Lord Shiv takes over the universe to help Lord Vishnu rest and rejuvenate. The dates of the Shravan month, also known as Sawan, vary across India due to differences in the way lunar calendars are followed in different regions.
Key Reasons:
- Different Calendars:
- Amavasyant Calendar: In western and southern India (e.g., Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh), the lunar month starts the day after the New Moon (Amavasya). This is called the Amavasyant system.
- Purnimant Calendar: In northern and central India (e.g., Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar), the lunar month starts the day after the Full Moon (Purnima). This is called the Purnimant system.
- Regional Interpretations:
- In regions following the Amavasyant calendar, Shravan starts earlier than in regions that follow the Purnimant calendar.
- Despite starting at different times, the duration of the month remains the same—about 29-30 days—but the dates shift depending on the system used.
- Astronomical Factors:
- The exact start of the month can also be influenced by astronomical phenomena like the sighting of the moon, which can vary slightly depending on geographic location.
The 15-Day Gap:
- Timing Difference: Because the Amavasyant system starts the month with Amavasya and the Purnimant system starts with Purnima, there is typically a gap of about 15 days (half a lunar cycle) between the two.
- Shravan Month:
- In the Purnimant system (North India), Shravan starts around the middle of the Shravan month in the Amavasyant system (Maharashtra, Gujarat etc).
- In the Amavasyant system (Maharashtra, Gujarat etc ), Shravan starts roughly 15 days earlier than in North India.
Well the difference is because of the way lunar calendar is interpreted. In North India, shukla paksh comes first and is followed by krishna paksh. However, south Indian States and Maharashtra follows different lunar calendar in which krishna paksha comes first. This is the reason behind the gap of 15 days.
