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๐ฌ Think about it
What if you want the Moon's months and the Sun's seasons to both stay correct? You add an extra month now and then. That clever fix is the luni-solar calendar, used across India. Let's see how it works.
What is a luni-solar calendar?
- It uses the Moon's phases for days and months.
- It also adjusts to stay in step with the seasons.
- 12 lunar months (354 days) fall short of the solar year by about 11 days.
- So an extra month (Adhika Maasa) is added every few years.
Example:
Many Indian calendars add a leap month so festivals stay near the same season.
๐ Our scientific heritage
- Ancient Indians noticed the Sun does not always rise exactly in the east.
- In summer it rises a little north of east; in winter, a little south.
- The Sun's northward movement is called Uttarayan.
- Its southward movement is called Dakshinayan.
๐ก Ever heard of ...
- Indian luni-solar months include Chaitra, Vaisakha, and Magha.
- In Amant calendars, the month starts after the new Moon.
- In Purnimant calendars, the month starts after the full Moon.
- Different communities follow different styles.
Important Points
- A luni-solar calendar uses both the Moon and the seasons.
- It adds an extra month (Adhika Maasa) every few years.
- This keeps the lunar and solar cycles in step.
Important Definitions
- Luni-solar calendar — a calendar using the Moon's phases but adjusted to the seasons with an extra month.
- Adhika Maasa (intercalary month) — the extra month added every few years to keep lunar and solar cycles in step.
- Uttarayan — the Sun's apparent northward movement from December to June.
- Dakshinayan — the Sun's apparent southward movement from June to December.
๐ NCERT Question 7 — Scientific studies show that
If the Moon slows and moves farther, will luni-solar calendars need an extra month more or less often?
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