Saṃvat
संवत्
An era or year-count, such as Vikrama or Śaka.
Definition
Saṃvat (short for saṃvatsara, 'year') denotes an era used to number years. The Vikrama Saṃvat runs about 57 years ahead of the Common Era and is widely used in northern and western India, while the Śaka era runs about 78 years behind it and is the basis of India's national calendar, adopted in 1957. The year begins on different days by region, for example on Caitra śukla pratipadā or in Kārtika.
Articles that use this term
- PanchangaExplainer
Why Diwali's date moves every year
Diwali is fixed by the Moon, not the Sun: by the new Moon that closes Ashwina, by the evening it covers, and by the Lakshmi Puja window inside that evening.
7 min read · 3 October 2026
- PanchangaExplainer
Amanta and purnimanta: the Hindu calendar's two month systems
Two ways of deciding where a lunar month ends, why they give one festival two month-names, and which regions use which.
7 min read · 24 September 2026