Seasons of India

One of the oldest civilizations in the world, India is a geographically diverse country with the highest mountain ranges, fragile ecosystems, rare species of flora and fauna, etc.

India is the 7th largest country by area in the world; with 28 states, 8 Union Territories, and 2% landmass of the world, not all states have the same season.

You will find some variation in the seasons, but broadly they are the same.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recognizes 4 official seasons of India:

The ancient Hindu traditional scriptures have classified 6 seasons in India.

Seasons of India	Starts from	Ends
Shishir/Shita Ritu: Winter Season	January	February
Vasant Ritu: Spring Season	March	April
Grishma Ritu: Summer Season	May	June
Varsha Ritu: Monsoon Season	July	August
Sharad Ritu: Autumn Season	September	October
Hemant Ritu: Pre-Winter Season	November	December

For this understanding, let us understand the seasons of India as mentioned in the ancient text of India. As per the Hindu calendar, there are six seasons.

01. SHISHIR/ SHITA RITU: WINTER SEASON

The Shita season starts in January and ends in February. Different parts of India experience different temperatures; on average, it ranges between 5 to 25 degrees centigrade.

Cold winds, dryness, and snowfall characterize this season.

The 2 Hindu months of Magha and Phalguna are part of this season.  This is considered the most important part of the year as its harvest time, and festivals like Lohri, Pongal, Makar Sankranti, and Shivratri are celebrated during this time.

The word ‘Shishir‘ is one of the many names for Lord Vishnu and is also mentioned in the ‘Vishnu Sahasranaam,‘ which is the book mentioning 1000 names of Lord Vishnu.

The top 3 Places to Visit in India During Winter Seasons are :

1. Gulmarg – This is a hill town in the northern state of India. It is transformed into a paradise on the arrival of Winter. The snow-covered landscape and the frozen lakes make it a perfect place for tourists looking for adventure sports like skiing and snowboarding. It also has cable car rides.
2. Shimla is a famous holiday destination in North India for tourists who want to experience snowfall. Shimla is the capital city of Himachal, surrounded by hills and snow-covered forests, and has many snow sports.
3. Gangtok –  is a unique hill station and a famous place for Honeymooners. You will find Buddhist pilgrims and trekkers coming here every year. Gangtok is rich with flora and fauna, high-altitude lakes, bright-colored monasteries, and mesmerizing views of the grand Himalayas.
4. Other Places – Manali in Himachal Pradesh, Auli in Uttarakhand, Munnar and Wayanad in Kerala

• Shishir Ritu Begins – December 21, 2021, Tuesday at 09:28 PMShishir Ritu Ends – February 18, 2022, Friday at 10:12 PM
• Tropical Zodiac – Makara (Capricorn) & Kumbha (Aquarius)

02. VASANT RITU: SPRING SEASON

This is the most pleasant and colorful time of the year, lasting from March to April. Temperatures can peak in the afternoons to about 32 degrees Centigrade and go as low as 23 degrees Centigrade at night. In addition to this, the days become longer than the nights.

Vasant Ritu is also called ‘Rituraj,’ which means ‘King of all the Seasons’ as it marks the end of the cold winter season.

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According to the Hindu scriptures, Vasant Ritu occurs in the months of Chaitra and Baisakh.

People put their blankets and woolen clothes back into their closets and wore light cotton clothes.

You will see trees developing new leaves and blooming flowers. You can see birds chirping, colorful butterflies, and bees hovering over flowers, drinking their nectar.

Hindu festivals like Holi, Vasant Panchami, and Gudi Padwa are celebrated during this time of the year.

There is no particular place to visit during this time, and you can choose any destination as the climate is pleasant and beautiful all over India.

However, here are some places you can visit in India during the Spring Season

1. Yumthang Valley in Sikkim
2. Gulmarg in the Himalayas
3.  Ziro Vally in Arunachal Pradesh
4. Ooty in Tamil Nadu

• Vasant Ritu Begins – February 18, 2021, Thursday at 04:13 PMVasant Ritu Ends – April 20, 2021, Tuesday at 02:02 AM
• Tropical Zodiac – Meena (Pisces) & Mesha (Aries)

03. GRISHMA RITU: SUMMER SEASON

This is the hottest time of the year when the temperature can climb up to even 38 degrees centigrade and falls between May and June.  The days are the longest, and the night is of shorter duration during Grishma Ritu.

As per the Hindu scriptures, Grishma Ritu occurs in Jyeshta and Aashaadha.  The word ‘Grishma‘ is taken from the Sanskrit word ‘Grishmarutu,’ which means ‘summer.’

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During this time of the year, the temperature is very hot, causing the water levels in Ponds, Wells, and rivers to go down.

It’s very uncomfortable during this time, and going out makes you sweat or causes your skin to burn. This makes you feel very uncomfortable.

Grishma Ritu comes after Vasant Ritu, followed by Varsh Ritu, which is the rainy season.

People rely on coolers and air conditioners to cool their homes and drink Lassi, Lemon drinks, fruit juices, cold drinks, etc., to keep themself hydrated.

The Indian festival celebrated during the summer season are :

Guru Purnima –  This festival is celebrated on ‘Purnima’ or the full moon day. This is during the Hindu month of ‘Ashadha.’ This is also a day to pay respects to your Guru.

Rath Yatra – Rath Yatra is a famous festival celebrated in devotion to Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri. The idols of the three deities, i.e., Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, are taken out in a massive Chariot on the streets of Puri.

Here are some places you can visit in India during the Summer Season :

1. Coorg in Karnataka
2. Ooty in Tamil Nadu
3. Goa
4. Wayanad in Kerala
5. Rishikesh in Uttarakhand

• Grishma Ritu Begins – April 20, 2021, Tuesday at 02:02 AMGrishma Ritu Ends – June 21, 2021, Monday at 09:01 AM
• Tropical Zodiac – Vrishabha (Taurus) & Mithuna (Gemini)

04. VARSHA RITU: MONSOON SEASON

The Varsha Ritu is a welcomed relief from the scoring heat experienced during the Grishma Ritu. The first shower of rain brings a pleasant feeling not just to us but to all living creatures.

The monsoon or rainy season lasts from June to September. However, it is at its peak during July and August.

The season begins with the humid southwest summer monsoon and slowly spreads across the country, beginning by early June. South India generally receives more rainfall.

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Varsha Ritu lasted from July to August. As per the Hindu scriptures, the Vasha Ritu comes in the months of Shravana and Bhadrapada, also known as Sawan and Bhado.

During this season, the days are short, and the nights are longer.

The temperature will fluctuate depending on the rain intensity; however, the average temperate is around 28 degrees centigrade.

This is the time of the year when the complete landscape is covered with greenery, and you can see hills, mountains, gardens, open spaces, etc., all covered with a carpet of green plants and trees. It is a very pleasant sight.

This is also when water levels in ponds, wells, Rivers, Lakes, and catchment areas are restored. Some places in India receive excess rain, which can cause flooding and landslides.

Hindu festivals like Onam, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Raksha Bandhan are celebrated during Varsha Ritu.

Here are some places you can visit in India during the Summer Season :

1. Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu
2. Cherrapunji in Meghalaya
3. Agumbe in Karnataka
4. Shillong in Meghalaya
5. Udaipur in Rajasthan

• Varsha Ritu Begins – June 21, 2021, Monday at 09:01 AMVarsha Ritu Ends – August 23, 2021, Monday at 03:04 AM
• Tropical Zodiac – Karka (Cancer) & Simha (Leo)

05. SHARAD RITU: AUTUMN SEASON

The season of autumn in India comes during September and October. As per the Hindu scriptures, the Sharad Ritu (Autumn Season) comes in Ashwin and Kartik months.

This is when the hot and humid climate starts disappearing, and you will see leaves falling off the trees, giving it the name fall season.

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The dark clouds of the Monsoon season disappear, and the sky becomes clearer. You can now easily see the moon and the bright stars at night.

The muddy waters in Ponds, Wells, and Lakes start to become clean. Insects and other flies start disappearing during the Sharad Ritu.

The Sharad Ritu begins after the end of the monsoon or rainy season and stays till the beginning of the pre-winter season.  The average temperature during Sharad Ritu is 33 degrees centigrade, and days and nights are of equal length.

The Hindu festival of Navratri is celebrated during this time. This is a nine days celebration when Hindus worship the nine different forms of Goddess Shakti, which ends with  Vijayadashami (Dussera) when the effigy of Ravana is burnt all over India. This signified the victory of Good over Evil.

Here are some places you can visit in India during the Autumn Season :

1. Kashmir
2. Mysore in Karnataka
3. Kalimpong in West Bengal
4. The Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh

• Sharad Ritu Begins – August 23, 2021, Monday at 03:04 AM
• Sharad Ritu Ends – October 23, 2021, Saturday at 10:20 AMTropical Zodiac – Kanya (Virgo) & Tula (Libra)

06. HEMANT RITU: PRE-WINTER

Hemant Ritu comes just before winter; therefore, it’s called Pre-Winter. This season starts in November and ends in December.

Hemant Ritu comes in the Agrahayana and Pausha (Agahan and Poos) months as per the Hindu scriptures. It begins with the end of October heat and lasts till the beginning of the winter season.

Since it marks the advent of winter, the climate is moderately cold, and the average temperature is around 25 degrees centigrade.

Since it’s the transition time from autumn to the winter season, it is the most pleasant time of the year.

The days generally are shorter than nights during these months. Some parts of India would experience foggy and colder nights.

Hibiscus, Rose, Bougainvillea, and Jasmine are the flower that blossoms during this season.

The Hindu festivals of Diwali and Bhai Dooj are celebrated during the Hemant Ritu. This is when children get their Diwali holidays from school and college, and people are seen traveling across countries. Many people come back to India to celebrate these holidays with their families.

Diwali is also known as the festival of lights, and you will see decorations and colorful items like stars, etc., hanging out in almost every house. It is the best time to visit India if you are an international tourist.

Here are some places you can visit in India during the Pre-Winter Season :

1. Shimla in Himachal Pradesh
2. Manali in Himachal Pradesh
3. Auli in Uttarakhand
4. Munnar in Kerala
5. Wayanad in Kerala
6. Puducherry

• Hemant Ritu Begins – October 23, 2021, Saturday at 10:20 AM. Hemant Ritu Ends – December 21, 2021, Tuesday at 09:28 PM
• Tropical Zodiac – Vrishchika (Scorpio) & Dhanu (Sagittarius)

Conclusion – As per the Hindu calendar, India has six seasons. Namely: Shishir/Shita Ritu or Winter Season, Vasant Ritu or Spring Season, Grishma Ritu or Summer Season, Varsha Ritu or Monsoon Season, Sharad Ritu or Autumn season, and Hemant Ritu or Pre-Winter Season. All these seasons have a special mention in ancient Indian scriptures, and festivals and food habits during this period have also been described in the ancient Ayurvedic text, followed even today.