Panchang: Hindu Calendar, Aaj Ka Panchang and Tithi Guide
The Panchang is the Vedic almanac that tracks the five essential elements of time: Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana. It is the foundation of Hindu festival timing, muhurat selection, and astrological planning. This guide explains what a Panchang is, how to read it, and what to look for in Aaj Ka Panchang (today's almanac).
Explore Panchang 2026
Panchang 2026
Full year festival calendar, muhurats, and planetary events
Shadi Muhurat 2026
Marriage date windows for 2026
Vivah Muhurat 2026
Auspicious wedding dates with nakshatra guide
Frequently asked questions
What is a Panchang?
A Panchang (Hindu almanac) is the five-limbed calendar that tracks Tithi (lunar day), Vara (weekday), Nakshatra (lunar mansion), Yoga (planetary combination), and Karana (half-day period). It is used throughout India and the Hindu diaspora to determine auspicious timing for ceremonies, festivals, religious observances, and daily decisions. The name Panchang means 'five limbs' (pancha + anga) referring to these five tracking elements.
How is a Panchang different from a regular calendar?
A regular Gregorian calendar tracks only solar days. A Panchang tracks the lunar cycle alongside the solar, showing how the Moon progresses through its monthly cycle and how it interacts with the Sun and planets. Indian festivals shift in date each year on the solar calendar because they follow the lunar Panchang. The Panchang also includes muhurat windows, eclipse dates, seasonal transitions, and astrological event markers that no solar calendar provides.
What is the Vikram Samvat year for 2026?
The year 2026 corresponds primarily to Vikram Samvat 2082 (from approximately April 2025) transitioning to Vikram Samvat 2083 (from approximately April 2026 at Chaitra Navratri, the Hindu New Year). Vikram Samvat is the most widely used traditional Hindu calendar in North India. Other regional calendars like Shaka Samvat, Kali Yuga, or regional Amanta/Purnimanta systems may differ in their year numbering.
What is the difference between North Indian and South Indian Panchang?
The primary difference is how months are defined. North India follows the Purnimanta system where a month ends on Purnima (full moon). South India follows the Amanta system where a month ends on Amavasya (new moon). This means the same tithi can fall in different months depending on which system is used. Both systems are astronomically equivalent and produce the same festival dates, but the names of the months in sequence can shift by one position between the two systems.
What is Aaj Ka Panchang (today's Panchang)?
Aaj Ka Panchang (today's Panchang) shows the five Vedic calendar elements for the current day: the active Tithi, the Nakshatra the Moon is currently in, the Vara (today's weekday and its planetary ruler), the active Yoga, and the Karana. Additionally, it shows Rahu Kalam (inauspicious period), Abhijit Muhurat (noon auspicious window), Sunrise and Sunset times, and Chandrodaya (moonrise). Most Indian calendar apps like Drik Panchang, AstroSage, and Prokerala provide this daily.
What is Kal Ka Panchang (tomorrow's Panchang)?
Kal Ka Panchang (tomorrow's Panchang) shows the same five elements for the coming day, allowing advance planning of auspicious activities. Since the Tithi and Nakshatra can change during a day (the Moon moves roughly 13 degrees per day through the zodiac), tomorrow's Panchang may show a different Tithi and Nakshatra from today's, making it essential for accurate ceremony planning. All major Indian panchang apps and websites allow viewing tomorrow's panchang.
What are marriage dates in Hindu Panchang 2026?
The auspicious Vivah Muhurat windows in Hindu Panchang 2026 occur primarily in: January 14 to February 17, April 21 to mid-June (after Akshaya Tritiya), and November 15 to December 25. These are the periods when Jupiter and Venus are both direct and strong in the sky, supporting auspicious marriage muhurats. The months of July through mid-November have very limited marriage dates due to Chaturmas and the planetary conditions of mid-year 2026.
What are Navagraha positions in Panchang 2026?
The nine planets (Navagraha) in 2026 include significant movements: Jupiter enters exalted Cancer on June 2, marking an especially auspicious transit; Rahu shifts to Aquarius and Ketu to Leo on March 29; Saturn continues through Pisces; and Mercury has three retrograde periods (approximately January-February, May-June, and September-October). These planetary positions form the backdrop for all 2026 muhurat and festival timing decisions.
How do I use Panchang to find an auspicious date for Griha Pravesh?
For Griha Pravesh (house entry ceremony), the Panchang check involves: finding a date with a Shubha Tithi (Dwitiya, Tritiya, Panchami, Saptami, Dashami, Trayodashi, or Purnima), a favorable Nakshatra (Rohini, Mrigashira, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada, Hasta, Anuradha, or Revati), a good Vara (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday), and confirming that Jupiter is not retrograde. The ascendant at the time of entry should also be a fixed sign for permanence.