Understanding the five parts of Panchang

A clear introduction to the Hindu almanac and why dates can vary by location.

What does Panchang mean?

Panchang comes from a term meaning five limbs. In traditional Hindu calendar practice, it refers to an almanac organised around five principal astronomical or calendrical factors: tithi, vara, nakshatra, yoga and karana. Different traditions and regions may follow different conventions.

Tithi — the lunar day

A tithi is determined by the changing angular separation of the Moon and the Sun. Unlike a fixed civil calendar day, a tithi may begin or end at any time, and some calendar dates can contain portions of more than one tithi.

Vara — the weekday

Vara refers to the day of the week. The seven days are associated in classical Indian traditions with solar, lunar and planetary deities. Day boundaries and sunrise conventions can matter when describing religious observances.

Nakshatra — lunar mansion

The sidereal ecliptic is divided into twenty-seven commonly used nakshatras. The Moon moves through them, and its position determines the current nakshatra for calendrical purposes. Exact transition times depend on the astronomical model and geographic context.

Yoga and Karana

Yoga is calculated from a combination of solar and lunar longitudes, while Karana corresponds to half a tithi. Together they complete the five elements used to describe a traditional Panchang.

Why city and date are important

A Panchang prepared for one city should not automatically be reused for another. Sunrise, local time zone and the way observances are determined can affect the published values. Accurate timings should come from a verified location-specific astronomical calculation rather than a static text page.