Ṛtu
ऋतु
Season: one of six two-month seasons of the year.
Definition
The year is divided into six ṛtus of two months each: Vasanta (spring), Grīṣma (summer), Varṣā (rains), Śarad (autumn), Hemanta (early winter) and Śiśira (late winter). Calendars define them either by lunar months, Vasanta being Caitra and Vaiśākha, or by the Sun's passage through pairs of signs. Ayurveda's ṛtucaryā describes a regimen for each season.
Articles that use this term
- PanchangaExplainer
Navratri, twice a year: Chaitra and Sharad
The two nine-night festivals of the goddess, at the spring and autumn turns of the year, and the rules almanacs use to fix their first and last days.
7 min read · 1 October 2026