The Hindu leap year
Hindu festivals are celebrated around the Hindu Leap month, Adhik Maas.
©iStockphoto.com/Murali Nath
The Hindu calendar includes an extra month, often referred to as Adhik Maas, in a leap year. Adhik Maas typically occurs once every three years or four times in 11 years.
Therefore the yearly lag of a lunar year is adjusted every three years. This adjustment allows for Hindu festivals to take place within a given time span rather than on a set day.
The Indian National Calendar and the Revised Bangla Calendar of Bangladesh organize their leap years so their leap day is close to February 29 in the Gregorian calendar.
What is a Leap Year and when is the next one?
Leap Day 2012: Wednesday 29 February
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