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?
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Leap Year in other calendars
- Chinese Leap Year
- Jewish Leap Year
- Leap Year in Iran
- Leap Year in Islam
- Bahá'í Leap Year
- Ethiopian Leap Year
More information
- When is the next Leap Year?
- Why Leap Years are Used
- About Leap Day – February 29
- Leap Day – Famous Birthdays and Events
- February 30 Was a Real Date
Further reading
Calendar tools
- Calendar for 2013
- Calendar Generator – Create a calendar for any year
- Duration between two dates – Calculates number of days
- Weekday Calculator – What Day is this Date? – Find the weekday for any date.