Similarities are seen in the customs, traditions and many cultural things of the two ancient civilizations of Asia. Similarity is also reflected in the traditional calendars of the cultures of China and India for thousands of years in the past. The calendars of both countries are based on moon sighting, hence they are also called lunar calendars. For example, just as there are 24 solar periods in a year according to the traditional Chinese calendar, in the same way, according to the traditional calendar of India, there are 12 full moons and 12 new moons in a year. These new moon and full moon days are based on the sighting of the moon. That is, on the 15th day of every month, there is a geographical sight like Amavasya i.e. the absence of the moon, then on the thirtieth day of the same month, the full moon is seen, which is called Purnima. These two periods of 15 days each are called Krishna Paksha and Shukla Paksha in the Indian traditional calendar. Most of the Teej-festivals and fasting are based on the sighting of the moon and the period of fasting also ends on the sighting of the moon.
The beginning of spring in China marks the beginning of the new year, which is called Lichun. This year Lichun’s festival was on February 5 and it was celebrated as the Year of the Rabbit. The same day was the full moon of the month of Magha according to the Indian calendar. That day was also the last bath of the Magh Mela to be held in Prayagraj. That is, both the events were on the full moon. Looking at some more similarities, March 21 was the first Amavasya of the year i.e. Amavasya of the month of Chaitra in India and the very next day the new year in India starts from Pratipada i.e. the first date of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month, which is called Gudi. It is celebrated as Padwa. This time that date was 22 March. Whereas in China, the day of Chaitra Amavasya was called Chawanfan i.e. Spring Equinox. In Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bengal and Assam, New Year is celebrated in the month of Vaishakh. Along with this, on March 6, the last full moon of the Indian traditional calendar, the festival of Phalgun Purnima was celebrated as Holika Dahan and Holi, while in China it was celebrated as Chingche.
In both the countries there is a date on full moon or new moon in which one or the other traditional event is organized. As Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the day of Baisakh Purnima on 5th May, the same day is considered as Lishya i.e. the beginning of summer according to the Chinese calendar. In India too, the summer season begins during this period. The calendars of both countries also give information about geographical locations and are designed keeping in mind the cycle of the seasons. The 12 months of the year in India are divided into six seasons and it begins with Rituraj Basant. After this comes the sequence of summer, rain, autumn, autumn and winter seasons. It is also believed that the duration of each season is about two months and during that time two new moons and two full moons come, that is, after two traditional months, the season changes. can be seen.
Every year there are those festivals like Rakhi, Diwali which happen on full moon and new moon. Similarly, during this period in China, the 15th solar cycle called Pai Lu or White Tushar comes on the full moon day of Rakhi i.e. Shravan month. The change of weather in both the countries is also seen almost at the same time. The 19th solar cycle of the year is known as Leidong i.e. the beginning of winter. On the same day, the festival of Sharad Purnima is celebrated in India and it is believed that winter begins from this day itself. While the festival of Diwali is celebrated in India on the new moon day of the month of Kartik, on the same date, the solar cycle called Xiaoshwe i.e. less snow falls in China, which is the 20th solar cycle of the year. In China the last and 24th solar cycle is called Dahan i.e. extreme cold and that date is Paush Amavasya this year in India because this year an additional month is also added. In the years where there is no more month, in those years the date of 24th solar cycle i.e. Dahan is of Magh Amavasya and from the date of Magh Purnima again the beginning of new year i.e. the arrival of the first solar cycle in China.
The following are the 24 solar cycles and the full moon and new moon according to both calendars.
Lichhun (New Year, beginning of spring) – Full moon (Magha- 5 February) – Maghi full moon (winter) Yushui (Rainwater) – Amavasya (Phalgun) Chingche (insect awakening date) – (Full moon-Phalgun – Holi festival Chwanphan (spring equinox) – new moon (Chaitra Pratipada – March 22 – New Year – spring season) Chingming (Vimal Chamak) – full moon (Chaitra – Shri Hanuman Jayanti) Guyu (grain rain) – new moon (Vaishakh) Lishya (beginning of summer) – full moon (Vaishakh) –Buddha Purnima) Xiaoman (early crop bud) – new moon (eldest – – Vat Savitri new moon) Mangjong (rice sowing) – full moon – (eldest) Shyachi (summer solstice) – new moon – (asadah) Xiaoshu (low summer) – Full moon – (Ashadha – Guru Purnima) Dashu (hot summer) – Amavasya (Shravan) Li Chyo (beginning of autumn) – Full moon – (Shravan) Chhushu (end of summer) – Amavasya – (Second Shravan) Pailu (white dew, white) Tushar) – Full moon – (Second Shravan – Raksha Bandhan) Chyophan(autumn equinox) – New moon – (Bhadrapada) Hanlu (cold dew) – Full moon – (Bhadrapada) Shuangchang(Pala period) – New moon – (Ashvin – Sarvapitra new moon) Leidong(winter beginning of winter) – full moon – (Ashvin – Sharad full moon) Shyashwe (less snow) – new moon – (Kartik – Diwali) Dashwe (heavy snowfall) – full moon – (Kartik – Kartik full moon) Dongchi (winter solstice) – new moon – ( Margashirsha) Shyohan(less cold) – full moon – (Margashirsha) Dahan(extremely cold) – new moon – (Pausha)
(Vivek Sharma)
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