Pausha

Overview

Pausha is the tenth month of the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in December or January and marking the depth of the North Indian winter. The month is generally considered inauspicious for marriages and major celebratory events according to Vedic tradition, though it does contain the highly auspicious Makar Sankranti at its end.

Notable Festivals

Makar Sankranti — one of the few Hindu festivals observed by the solar calendar — falls between January 14 and 15 each year, marking the entry of the Sun into the Capricorn zodiac and the start of the auspicious six-month Uttarayana period. The festival is celebrated under various regional names including Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Punjab, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Magh Bihu in Assam, and Khichdi in Bihar. The Pausha Putrada Ekadashi is observed by parents praying for the wellbeing of their children.