Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 9, 2026

Asharh

Asharh is the third month of the Bengali and Odia calendars and the Tirhuta Panchang. It is the first of the two months that comprise the wet season, locally known as "Barsha", when the monsoon winds blow. It is one of the first five months of the year that has 31 days, according to the Bangladeshi version of the Bengali Calendar. In the Indian version of the Bengali Calendar, the month can have up to 32 days.

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Asharh
Rain dropping on leaves
The arrival of monsoon in the month of Asharh helps nature get refreshed after the scorching summer.
Native nameআষাঢ় (Bengali)
CalendarBengali calendar
Month number3
Number of days
  • 31 (Bangladesh);
  • 31/32 (India)
SeasonBarsha (Monsoon)
Gregorian equivalentJune–July

Asharh (Bengali: আষাঢ়, romanized: āshāḍh, Odia: ଆଷାଢ଼, romanized: āsāḍha) is the third month of the Bengali1 and Odia calendars2 and the Tirhuta Panchang (a Hindu calendar followed by the Maithil community in India and Nepal).3 It is the first of the two months that comprise the wet season, locally known as "Barsha" (Bengali: বর্ষা, romanized: Bôrsha, Nepali: वर्षा, romanized: Barsha, Odia: ବର୍ଷା, romanized: Barsā), when the monsoon winds blow.45 It is one of the first five months of the year that has 31 days, according to the Bangladeshi version of the Bengali Calendar.6 In the Indian version of the Bengali Calendar, the month can have up to 32 days.7

Etymology

It is named for the constellation Uttarashadha (Bengali: উত্তরাষাঢ়া, romanized: Uttôrashaŗha), identified with Sagittarius.6

Culture

Bengali culture

The month and the monsoon are welcomed with songs, dance,8 and celebration in Bangladesh.910 A popular poem "Abar Eshechhey Asharh" (আবার এসেছে আষাঢ়) by Rabindranath Tagore, is about this season.1112

Odia culture

There are occurrences of an extra Asadha which is referred to as mala masa (Odia: ମଳ ମାସ, romanized: maḷa māsa, lit. 'Unclean') in Odia, whereas the non-extra Asadha is referred to as suddha (Odia: ଶୁଦ୍ଧ, romanized: suddha).13

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Jan Gyllenbok (2018). "Bengali Calendar". Encyclopaedia of historical metrology, weights, and measures. Vol. 1. Birkhäuser. pp. 260–261. ISBN 978-3-319-57596-4.
  2. "odia month name list, odia masa name, odia 12 months name". www.odiacalendar.com. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  3. Jan Gyllenbok (2018). "Maithili Calendar". Encyclopaedia of historical metrology, weights, and measures. Vol. 1. Birkhäuser. p. 223. ISBN 978-3-319-57596-4.
  4. Aly Zaker (24 June 2011). "So, Asharh is here again!". Star Weekend Magazine. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  5. "Monsoon induces low in Bay of Bengal as rainy season nears". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  6. Syed Ashraf Ali (2012). "Bangabda". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  7. "Festival with a fixed date". The Telegraph. Kolkata. Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  8. "Monsoon melodies". The Daily Star. 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  9. "Rabirag embraces monsoon with music and dance". The Daily Star. 2013-07-08. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  10. "Melodies on a monsoon evening". The Daily Star. 2014-06-17. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  11. "The bounty of monsoon in melodies". The Daily Star. 2014-06-23. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  12. "Ashari Purnima". The Daily Star. 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  13. Roland Hardenberg (2001). "The Renewal of Jagannath". In Hermann Kulke; Burkhard Schnepel (eds.). Jagannath Revisited: Studying Society, Religion, and the State in Orissa. Manohar. p. 87. ISBN 978-81-7304-386-4.