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Paksha
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<h2 id="days-of-shukla-paksha-and-krishna-paksha">Days of Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Shukla Paksha</th><th>Krishna Paksha</th></tr><tr><td>1. <a href="/facts/Prathama_(day)/82geWMzr">Prathama</a></td><td>1. Prathama</td></tr><tr><td>2. <a href="/facts/Dwitiya/bNJqzs6C">Dvitiya</a></td><td>2. Dvitiya</td></tr><tr><td>3. <a href="/facts/Tritiya/BkPudmxL">Tritiya</a></td><td>3. Tritiya</td></tr><tr><td>4. <a href="/facts/Chaturthi/lrLdIS53">Chaturthi</a></td><td>4. Chaturthi</td></tr><tr><td>5. <a href="/facts/Panchami/xEKzT5CU">Panchami</a></td><td>5. Panchami</td></tr><tr><td>6. <a href="/facts/Shashti/9Qq12CzT">Shashti</a></td><td>6. Shashti</td></tr><tr><td>7. <a href="/facts/Saptami/2AeV4rD5">Saptami</a></td><td>7. Saptami</td></tr><tr><td>8. <a href="/facts/Ashtami/UPog5nfX">Ashtami</a></td><td>8. Ashtami</td></tr><tr><td>9. <a href="/facts/Navami/1Vm2kIvF">Navami</a></td><td>9. Navami</td></tr><tr><td>10. <a href="/facts/Dashami/lhAkBJXL">Dashami</a></td><td>10. Dashami</td></tr><tr><td>11. <a href="/facts/Ekadashi/sbPrRBPM">Ekadashi</a></td><td>11. Ekadashi</td></tr><tr><td>12. <a href="/facts/Dwadashi/zAqlKf2T">Dwadashi</a></td><td>12. Dwadashi</td></tr><tr><td>13. <a href="/facts/Thrayodashi/sLyf7BUJ">Thrayodashi</a></td><td>13. Thrayodashi</td></tr><tr><td>14. <a href="/facts/Chaturdashi/pTl3I677">Chaturdashi</a></td><td>14. Chaturdashi</td></tr><tr><td>15. <a href="/facts/Purnima/dkPbvenS">Purnima</a></td><td>15. Amavasya, Ausi</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="shukla-paksha">Shukla Paksha</h2> <p>Shukla Paksha refers to the bright lunar fortnight or waxing moon in the <a href="/facts/Hindu_calendar/3oYoSHLj">Hindu calendar</a>. <i>Shukla</i> (<a href="/facts/Sanskrit_language/ychfjhlx">Sanskrit</a>: शुक्ल) is a <a href="/facts/Sanskrit/ychfjhlx">Sanskrit</a> word for "white" or "bright". The Shukla Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after the <i>amavasya</i> (new moon) day and culminating on <i>purnima</i> (full moon) day and is considered auspicious.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>Numerous festivals are held during this period, including the <a href="/facts/Navratri/edpyYXLY">Navaratri</a> festivals, most importantly <a href="/facts/Chaitra/fHTWPV6m">Chaitra</a> Navaratri and <a href="/facts/Ashvin/BI4kXpln">Ashvin</a> Navaratri. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Day</th><th>Tithi</th><th>Festival</th><th>Month</th></tr><tr><td>1st day</td><td>Pratipada</td><td><a href="/facts/Gudi_Padwa/5IHhL9sa">Gudi Padwa</a>, <a href="/facts/Ugadi/vQTcmbY8">Ugadi</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Chaitra/fHTWPV6m">Chaitra</a></td></tr><tr><td>1st day</td><td>Pratipada</td><td><a href="/facts/Bali_Pratipada/mcXwDWWS">Bali Pratipada</a>, <a href="/facts/Govardhan_Puja/pDu81M03">Govardhan Puja</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Kartik_(month)/A3QdTUEq">Kartika</a></td></tr><tr><td>2nd day</td><td>Dvitiya</td><td><a href="/facts/Bhaibeej/jLLRP2eX">Bhaibeej</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Kartik_(month)/A3QdTUEq">Kartika</a></td></tr><tr><td>3rd day</td><td>Tritiya</td><td><a href="/facts/Teej/CsQHgJjc">Teej</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Bhadrapad/vdULeCN8">Bhadrapada</a></td></tr><tr><td>3rd day</td><td>Tritiya</td><td><a href="/facts/Akshaya_Tritiya/nKgJelqn">Akshaya Tritiya</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Vaishakha/chG6EsMT">Vaishakha</a></td></tr><tr><td>4th day</td><td>Chaturthi</td><td><a href="/facts/Ganesh_Chaturthi/1B4bjvwR">Ganesh Chaturthi</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Bhadrapada/vdULeCN8">Bhadrapada</a></td></tr><tr><td>4th day</td><td>Chaturthi</td><td><a href="/facts/Ganesh_Jayanti/6q8tT5Jp">Ganesh Jayanti</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Magha_(month)/UlCcBXe0">Magha</a></td></tr><tr><td>5th day</td><td>Panchami</td><td><a href="/facts/Nuakhai/XWHtb7Xo">Nuakhai</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Bhadrapad/vdULeCN8">Bhadrapada</a></td></tr><tr><td>5th day</td><td>Panchami</td><td><a href="/facts/Vivaha_Panchami/fdBM4oJ9">Vivaha Panchami</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Margashirsha/4R31gB8J">Margashirsha</a></td></tr><tr><td>5th day</td><td>Panchami</td><td><a href="/facts/Basant_Panchami/9bqYAFI4">Vasanta Panchami</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Magha_(month)/UlCcBXe0">Magha</a></td></tr><tr><td>6th day</td><td>Shasthi</td><td><a href="/facts/Sitalsasthi/TU5ry1GN">Sitalsasthi</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Jyestha/mHgcCJYu">Jyestha</a></td></tr><tr><td>8th day</td><td>Ashtami</td><td><a href="/facts/Radhashtami/Uy3zUyCs">Radhashtami</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Bhadrapada/vdULeCN8">Bhadrapada</a></td></tr><tr><td>9th day</td><td>Navami</td><td><a href="/facts/Rama_Navami/ghooKyhv">Rama Navami</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Chaitra/fHTWPV6m">Chaitra</a></td></tr><tr><td>10th day</td><td>Dashami</td><td><a href="/facts/Vijayadashami/A5R3o8C9">Vijayadashami</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Ashvin/BI4kXpln">Ashvin</a></td></tr><tr><td>11th day</td><td>Ekadashi</td><td><a href="/facts/Shayani_Ekadashi/wgsgDR7L">Shayani Ekadashi</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Asadha/mD8fYBNx">Ashadha</a></td></tr><tr><td>11th day</td><td>Ekadashi</td><td><a href="/facts/Vaikunta_Ekadashi/pwxFGf6Y">Vaikuntha Ekadashi</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Margashirsha/4R31gB8J">Margashirsha</a></td></tr><tr><td>14th day</td><td>Chaturdashi</td><td><a href="/facts/Samvatsari/e188taWl">Samvatsari</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Bhadrapada/vdULeCN8">Bhadrapada</a></td></tr><tr><td>15th day (full moon)</td><td>Purnima</td><td><a href="/facts/Guru_Purnima/TeCG9Bkf">Guru Purnima</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Ashada/mD8fYBNx">Ashada</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="krishna-paksha">Krishna Paksha</h2> <p>Krishna Paksha refers to the dark lunar fortnight or waning moon in the <a href="/facts/Hindu_calendar/3oYoSHLj">Hindu calendar</a>. <i>Krishna</i> (<a href="/facts/Sanskrit_language/ychfjhlx">Sanskrit</a>: कृष्ण) is a <a href="/facts/Sanskrit/ychfjhlx">Sanskrit</a> word for "dark". Krishna Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after <i>purnima</i> day (full moon), culminating on the <i>amavasya</i> (new moon). <i>Krishna Paksha</i> is considered inauspicious,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> as the moon loses light during this period. </p><p>Festivals during the Krishna Paksha are: </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Day</th><th>Tithi</th><th>Festival</th><th>Month</th></tr><tr><td>4th day</td><td>Chaturthi</td><td><a href="/facts/Karva_Chauth/uGKhALT0">Karva Chauth</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Kartik_(month)/A3QdTUEq">Kartika</a></td></tr><tr><td>8th day</td><td>Ashtami</td><td><a href="/facts/Krishna_Janmashtami/2g3HIGtS">Krishna Janmashtami</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Bhadrapada/vdULeCN8">Bhadrapada</a></td></tr><tr><td>13th day</td><td>Thrayodashi</td><td><a href="/facts/Dhanteras/RGPDwH30">Dhanteras</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Kartika_(month)/A3QdTUEq">Kartika</a></td></tr><tr><td>13th day</td><td>Thrayodashi</td><td><a href="/facts/Pradosha/UupC6LEK">Pradosha</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Maagha/UlCcBXe0">Magha</a></td></tr><tr><td>14th day</td><td>Chaturdashi</td><td><a href="/facts/Maha_Shivaratri/bDldTJ42">Maha Shivaratri</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Maagha/UlCcBXe0">Magha</a></td></tr><tr><td>14th day</td><td>Chaturdashi</td><td><a href="/facts/Naraka_Chaturdashi/ozC47qPl">Naraka Chaturdashi</a> (<a href="/facts/Diwali/LdhcIQrj">Diwali</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/Kartik_(month)/A3QdTUEq">Kartika</a></td></tr><tr><td>15th day (no moon)</td><td>Amavasya</td><td><a href="/facts/Lakshmi_Pujan/CSrlC1Go">Lakshmi Puja</a> (<a href="/facts/Diwali/LdhcIQrj">Diwali</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/Kartik_(month)/A3QdTUEq">Kartika</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="other-usages">Other usages</h2> <p>In <a href="/facts/Vedic_astrology/zKz7fjCe">Vedic astrology</a> when a person does a <a href="/facts/Vedic_astrology/zKz7fjCe">prasna</a> (a question chart) and the planet Venus indicates the time period, the event referred to in the answer will happen in a pakṣa (<i>fortnight</i>) from the time the question was asked. </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Pitru_Paksha/VtDVHqaK">Pitru Paksha</a></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/K._V._Sarma/8Mc0ykHT">K. V. Sarma</a> (2008), "Paksa", <a href="/facts/Encyclopaedia_of_the_History_of_Science%2c_Technology%2c_and_Medicine_in_Non-Western_Cultures/SY6vMB4d">Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures</a> (2nd edition) edited by <a href="/facts/Helaine_Selin/nrkEJUTG">Helaine Selin</a>, Springer, <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1-4020-4559-2.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROzCT3pHCjM&list=PLYNax2xNHwV2r5_Ca4JeJM2zFhvwTHRry&index=14">Ahargana - The Astronomy of the Hindu Calendar: Maana, Krishna Pksha, Shukla Paksha and Chandra Masa</a> Explains Krishna paksha and Shukla paksha by means of astronomical simulations created using <a href="/facts/Stellarium_(software)/mqdPw484">Stellarium</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/hindu_calendar.htm">Hindu Festivals Calendar 2010</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161206150554/http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/hindu_calendar.htm">Archived</a> 2016-12-06 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a></li> <li><a href="http://himalayanacademy.com/resources/panchangam/pancha_intro.PDF">Introduction to the Hindu Calendar (pdf)</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Defouw, Hart; Robert Svoboda (2003). Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India. Lotus Press. p. 186. ISBN 0-940985-69-1. <a href="0-940985-69-1" target="_blank">0-940985-69-1</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Kumar, Ashwini (2005). Vaastu: The Art And Science Of Living. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 50. ISBN 81-207-2569-7. <a href="81-207-2569-7" target="_blank">81-207-2569-7</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Monnier-Williams, M: (1851) Sanskrit Dictionary ISBN (none) <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Defouw, Hart; Robert Svoboda (2003). Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India. Lotus Press. p. 186. ISBN 0-940985-69-1. <a href="0-940985-69-1" target="_blank">0-940985-69-1</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Hindu calendar Archived 2010-09-01 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Astronomy/HinduCalendar.html" target="_blank">http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Astronomy/HinduCalendar.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Rinehart, Robin (2004-07-21). Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture, and Practice. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-57607-906-5. <a href="978-1-57607-906-5" target="_blank">978-1-57607-906-5</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Iyer, N. P. Subramania (1991). Kalaprakasika. Asian Educational Services. p. 79. ISBN 978-81-206-0252-6. <a href="978-81-206-0252-6" target="_blank">978-81-206-0252-6</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>