Buddhist calendars vary according to geographical regions and local traditions. Indian Buddhists also, therefore, follow different calendars depending on the area to which they belong.
The Thervada Buddhists follow a calendar very similar to the Hindu calendar. And the calendar of the Mahayana Buddhists is an off shoot ofthe Tibetan one.
Though there are many different calendars currently referred to in Buddhism, the dates of Buddhist festivals in India coincide across all the calendars. For instance, Buddha Purnima would be celebrated on the same day by all Buddhists in India. Keeping with the ancient Indian tradition, Uposatha, or the day of rest,
india Festiva Months in the Buddhist calendar along with the corresponding Gregorian months is observed on four days in a month. The Thervada Buddhists consider the full-moon day, new moon day, the eighth day of the bright half and the eighth day of the dark half of a month auspicious and worthy of being holidays. The Mahayana Buddhists observe the 14th, 15th, 29th and 30th days of the month as holidays. This difference is due to some ambiguity in the sacred texts. The 15th or the full moon day is the most auspicious. Infact most Buddhist festivals fall on the full-moon.
In ancient India, the ritual year was divided into three four-monthly periods. The three terms were celebrated with animal sacrifices on the full-moon day of Phalguna, of Ashadha and of Kartik. These sacrificial festivals inaugurated summer, the rainy season and winter.
india FestivaThe Buddhists have retained this ritual division, but of course without the sacrificial acts. Buddhist monks go into retreat during the four-month rainy season. This period is spent preaching.
Thervada Buddhists follow a luni-solar calendar, very similar to the Hindu one, which takes into account the movement of both the sun and moon while calculating the calendar. The year consists of 365 days and has 12 months which, in Simhalese, are: Januory, Februory, Martu, Apreal, Mai,Juni, Juli, Augustu, September,October, Noember, December, corresponding to the Gregorian months. The new year starts from April. There are 12 zodiac signs called Laakna. The signs are similar to the Hindu zodiac. The seven days of the week are Irida (Sunday), Sanduda
The Buddhist Calendar (Monday), Angharuvada (Tuesday), Badada (Wednesday), Brahas patinda(Thursday), Sikurada (Friday),Senae surada (Saturday).
The Mahayana Buddhists in Ladakh follow the luni-solar calendar. Their year comprises of 365 days.There are 12 months in a year of 30 days each. Every two years, one month is added to the calendar to keep it atpar with the solar calendar.
There are seven days in a week: ZaNima (Sunday), Za Dava (Monday), ZaMinmar (Tuesday), Za Lakhva(Wednesday), Za Phurv (Thursday), ZaPasa (Friday), Za Pimpa (Saturday).