Asharh

Asharh (Bengali: আষাঢ় āshāḍh, Odia: ଆଷାଢ଼ āsāḍha) is the third month of the Bengali^[1] and Odia calendars^{[citation needed]} and the Tirhuta Panchang (a Hindu calendar followed by the Maithil community in India and Nepal).^[2] It is the first of the two months that comprise the wet season, locally known as "Barsha" (Bengali: বর্ষা Bôrsha, Nepali: वर्षा Barsha, Odia: ବର୍ଷା Barsā), when the monsoon winds blow.^[3][4] It is one of the first five months of the year that have 31 days, according to the Bangladeshi version of the Bengali Calendar.^[5] In the Indian version of the Bengali Calendar, the month can have up to 32 days.^[6]

Asharh
The arrival of monsoon in the month of Asharh helps nature get refreshed after the scorching summer
Native name	আষাঢ় (Bengali)
Calendar	Bengali calendar
Month number	3
Number of days	31 (Bangladesh); 31/32 (India)
Season	Rainy season
Gregorian equivalent	June–July
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Etymology

It is named for the constellation Uttarashadha (Bengali: উত্তরাষাঢ়া Uttôrashaŗha), identified with Sagittarius.^[5]

Culture

Bengali culture

The month and the monsoon are welcome with songs, dance,^[7] and celebration in Bangladesh.^[8][9] A popular poem "Abar Eshechhey Asharh" আবার এসেছে আষাঢ় by Rabindranath Tagore, that is about this season.^[10][11]

Odia culture

There are occurrences of an extra Asadha which is referred as Odia: ମଳ ମାସ maḷa māsa (meaning unclean) in Odia whereas the non-extra Asadha is referred to as Odia: ଶୁଦ୍ଧ suddha.^[12]

See also

• Equivalent month in Hindu calendar, Aashaadha

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. Jan Gyllenbok (2018). "Maithili Calendar". Encyclopaedia of historical metrology, weights, and measures. Vol. 1. Birkhäuser. p. 223. ISBN 978-3-319-57596-4.
3. Aly Zaker (24 June 2011). "So, Asharh is here again!". Star Weekend Magazine. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
4. "Monsoon induces low in Bay of Bengal as rainy season nears". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
5. Syed Ashraf Ali (2012). "Bangabda". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
6. "Festival with a fixed date". The Telegraph. Kolkata. Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
7. "Monsoon melodies". The Daily Star. 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
8. "Rabirag embraces monsoon with music and dance". The Daily Star. 2013-07-08. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
9. "Melodies on a monsoon evening". The Daily Star. 2014-06-17. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
10. "The bounty of monsoon in melodies". The Daily Star. 2014-06-23. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
11. "Ashari Purnima". The Daily Star. 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
12. 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.