6 Seasons in India with Months

In a year there are 6 seasons in India which is based on the Lunisolar Hindu Calendar. A season is distinguished with some special climatic conditions & lasts less than 1 year.

The Hindu Lunisolar Calendar which is used in different parts of Asia and India classifies seasons or ritus based on different climatic & geographic conditions. The 6 seasons in India are Spring (Vasant Ritu), Summer (Grishma Ritu), Monsoon (Varsha Ritu), Autumn (Sharad Ritu), Pre-winter (Hemant Ritu), and Winter (Shishir Ritu) season.

Different Types of Seasons in India [Month Wise List]

People across different cultures plan their festivals, occasions, and functions as per the ritus or seasons in India. The seasons in India vary based on various factors;

  1. Longitude and Latitude.
  2. Altitude and Distance from sea level.
  3. Weather pattern and climatic conditions.
  4. Available sunlight during day time.

Each Ritu or season lasts up to 2 months and many special cultural festivals happen during each of the following seasons. The southern part of India which lies very close to the equator observes very less seasonal changes.

However, the northern part of the country mostly adapts to these marked changes in season.

Ritu in India  Season In IndiaMonthTemperature
Vasant RituSpringMarch & April30°C
Grishma RituSummerMay & June40°C
Varsha RituMonsoonJuly & August29°C
Sharad RituAutumnSeptember & October28°C
Hemant RituPre-winterNovember & December23°C
Shishir RituWinterJanuary & February20°C
Month Wise List of Seasons in India

The Lunisolar Hindu Calendar has been followed for ages in many countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka with the faith that the entire year can be divided into these 6 seasons with a tenure of 2 months each. 

Vasant Ritu: The Spring Season in India

Across India, the Springtime or the Vasant Ritu is celebrated between March & April. The Spring Season is considered to be the king of all seasons in India. The weather during this season becomes extremely mild and pleasant.

The Spring Seasons in India
The Spring Seasons in India

Thus a majority of the Indian festivals are celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm during various Indian seasons i.e.

  1. Gudi Padwa
  2. Puthandu
  3. Hanuman Jayanti
  4. Holi
  5. Vasant Panchami
  6. Ugadi
  7. Rama Navami
  8. Baisakhi
  9. Vishu
  10.  Bihu

The 2 most popular Hindu months i.e. Baisakh and the Chaitra are celebrated in this season. In the midpoint of the Vasant Ritu, the vernal equinox occurs that marks the beginning of the seasons in India.

As per the ancient scripts and Vedic theory, Vasant Vishuva or Vasant Sampat are some of the names that are often used about the vernal equinox.

Key Highlights

  • Average Temperature during the season is between 30 to 40 °C.
  • Falls in March and April.
  • It comes before summer and after the winter season.

Origin and Importance

During this season the days become longer and the nights become shorter which gives a very calm and pleasant feeling to everyone. It has also been given the name of “Springing Time” which means that the plants spring from the ground.

Its origin dates back to the 14th century and the old English word “Lent” is often used to describe it among others. Later in the 15th century, the name became shorter and turned out to be “Spring-time”.

It further carried its roots in various cultures and ethnicity of India and it was it the 16th century when it turned out to be called “spring”.

Many beliefs have therefore been related to it over several centuries like;

  1. The idea of life after death.
  2. The concept of revival and rebirth.
  3. Principles of Renewal and Rejuvenation.

Not only are the plants impacted with this pleasant season but animals too have some impact as the fauna appears with a new body.

Since it marks the end of the winter season, the entire human race comes out of their quilted blankets and huge woolen sheets bringing a completely fresh and relaxing perspective to life.

Purpose and Symbolism

The great festivals like Vasant Panchami and Holi are celebrated throughout the country. This season brings new excitement & joy among all the humans. Following changes are quite predominantly observed in nature;

  1. Every natural being appears to be happy and joyful.
  2. Flowers are surrounded by butterflies.
  3. Singing of birds in delight by mangoes is very captivating.
  4. Parrots start making sounds that are quite audible to everyone.

However, the traditional people used to celebrate the spring season in India with excitement and joy which is not that prevalent in modern times. The old leaves from trees start falling and this brings out fresh leaves.

These all are surrounded by beautiful butterflies that create a mesmerizing environment everywhere & this in itself marks the beginning of the spring season in India.

In the 21st century where most of us are stuck with TV’s and people have forgotten the smell of soil, this season still tries to give us all a glimpse of the same atmosphere.

Grishma Ritu: The Summer Season in India

The Summer Season also is known as the Grishma Ritu is the season during May & June where the temperature increases across various parts of India. The major festivals that are celebrated during the summer season are Guru Purnima and the famous Rath Yatra. 

The Summer Seasons in India
The Summer Seasons in India

Along with this, 2 major Hindu months i.e. the Aashaadha and the Jyeshta fall in the Grishma Ritu. Summer season is the hottest season out of all the seasons in India & it usually comes after spring season and before the monsoons.

Key Highlights

  • Average Temperature during the season is 40 °C and above.
  • Falls in May and June.
  • It comes before monsoon and after the spring season.

Origin and Importance

As per the Vedic astrology, the Grishma Ritu always ends on the solstice that has been given the name of Dakshinayana. It has the longest day of the year in India and marks the start of summers in the northern hemisphere.

However, the shortest day of the year in India is observed by the solstice throughout the southern hemisphere. Thus, the nights during this season are the shortest while the days are long and tiring.

Among all the 6 seasons in India, all of them follow a set pattern and show the species on Earth the importance of nature and its various facets. The summer season that comes after the spring shows one such behaviour.

The key indication for the arrival of the summer season is when the sun starts moving towards the Tropic of cancer from the equator position. Sun starts increasing heat in India and especially after the festival of Holi, the temperature rises to 48 degrees.

Purpose and Symbolism

The beginning of summer might be irritating for some of us because of the heat but it has its significance. It is during this season when the crops start to ripen. Summer season is irritating because of the following reasons;

  1. The whole country starts to heat like a hot pan.
  2. Nature’s temperature starts rising enormously.
  3. The body of all the fauna and flora starts to boil due to heatstroke.
  4. All the major water sources like lake, river, ponds etc. start to drain and vanish due to extreme heat.
  5. Animals and Humans start behaving irritated and act aggressively due to the heat waves.

Majority of the creatures like tiger, snakes and peacock start looking for shaded places to protect themselves from the heat. While most of them used to live alone but this season forces them to forget mutual hatred and live together in harmony.

The desire to eat food slowly dies while there is a huge demand for water which leads to its scarcity. The days become lengthier and nights become shorter. The temperature rises which produces hot air that starts roasting or baking the natural flora and fauna of nature.

Many people tend to go on vacation to some chilly cold places as they spend time with their families. While others prefer to sit at home and spend quality time with other family members in cool air conditioners or coolers.

However, there are still places where there is no supply of electricity and therefore they have to suffer a lot. The eatables and drinks that are predominantly enjoyed by people during this season are;

  1. Drinks like lassi, juice and syrups.
  2. Juicy fruits like watermelon, litchi, mangos and cucumber.
  3. Cold items like ice creams and kulfi.

One of the interpretations that we can learn from the cycle of nature is that like rain comes after very hot summers similarly happiness and joy is blessed on us after pain and sufferings.

People who go on vacations enjoy going for walks in the evening as well as try hiking in cold places. Thus, we must enjoy each season and be prepared to tackle the hot sun rays in advance.

Since the days are long therefore you can complete the majority of the work during day time and open your nights with family, maintaining a proper work-life balance. Thus, Summer is the hottest of the different seasons in India.

Reduce the boring part of our lives & enjoy the Grishma Ritu with your family, friends or relatives by going on vacations, spending quality time with them & eating a healthy diet.

Varsha Ritu: The Monsoon Season in India

The Varsha Ritu also known as the Rainy season or the Monsoon season or the Green season in India begins in July and ends in August. It is the season during which rainfall is observed in most of parts of the country out of all seasons in India.

The Monsoon Seasons in India
The Monsoon Seasons in India

This season encompasses the 2 Hindu months of Bhadrapada or Bhado and Shravana or Sawan along with various festivals like;

  1. Onam
  2. Raksha Bandhan
  3. Krishna Janmashtami

The beginning of the monsoon season is marked by the dark clouds wandering in the sky. It is also called the Rainy Season that is considered to be the Queen of all Indian Seasons in India.

A cool breeze starts blowing all around the earth’s surface, covering it with greenery and freshness. The fresh flowing river water splashes the magnificence of rains which is added on by the melodious songs of birds singing in the forests.

Dark Clouds on the sky with bright lightning make the sky extremely beautiful and thus it has been called “The Green Season” by Indian Tourism.

Key Highlights

  • The average temperature during the season is around 25 °C.
  • Falls in July and August.
  • The nights are long and the days are of short duration.

Origin and Importance

Dakshinayana, the solstice marks the beginning of Varsha Ritu, or the Rainy Season. The same is observed in major parts of the northern hemisphere. However, in the southern hemisphere, it is mostly summer season because it lies close to the equator.

The average temperature during the monsoon season is around 25 °C. The season is most widely observable and waited for because of the natural effects and beauty it creates in the atmosphere. The drained-out lakes and ponds get completely drenched in water.

Trees and plants look fresh with the rain droplets on them and the plowing gets started by many farmers in the country. Small insects, scorpions, snakes, etc. are widely observable that come out in the atmosphere to enjoy the weather.

Although rain is the basic need for our existence the spread of diseases like cholera and malaria is also widely observable during this season. Therefore, we should also take good care of our health. Thus, out of the different types of seasons in India, this is the most pleasant one.

Purpose and Symbolism

In India, almost 75% of the population lives in rural areas and most of the population is still involved in agricultural activities. Since the agricultural facilities in rural India are not completely developed.

Therefore, the majority of the rural population still depends a lot on the rainy seasons in India. Thus, agriculture in India acts as the basis of livelihood for the farmers, which is not possible without appropriate rains.

In the urban areas, young children, women, and adults all can be seen with umbrellas and raincoats enjoying the rain and the climatic conditions. Along with all these, there is not only good crop yield but animals also get food in abundance to eat.

Rainfall in the core necessity for food production and therefore has a direct impact on our survival. Thus, we can say that without the monsoon seasons in India, life is not possible to sustain.

While monsoon season brings great joy and happiness yet we should not forget that excessive rains can have a devastating effect on the flora and fauna of the earth. Thus resulting in a massive loss of public fortune.

Sharad Ritu: The Autumn Season in India

Sharad Ritu or the Autumn Season is India beings hot weather in major parts of the country it begins in September and ends by October. Along with the 2 Hindu months of Kartik and Ashwin various festivals that are celebrated during this season are;

The Autumn Seasons in India
The Autumn Seasons in India
  1. Sharad Purnima
  2. Navaratri
  3. Vijayadashami

During the Sharad Ritu, leaves start falling from the trees and weather becomes extremely pleasant.

Key Highlights

  • Average Temperature during the season is around 30 °C.
  • Falls in October and September.
  • Both nights and days are of equal length or duration.

Origin and Importance

The Autumn Season or the Fall Seasons in India in the period when leaves shed off the trees and its beauty is mesmerizing. This season marks its presence after the end of the rainy season and before the beginning of the pre-winter season.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Autumn season is marked by the autumnal equinox and the in the southern hemisphere it marks the beginning of Spring that occurs in between the Sharad Ritu.

As per the Hindu Vedas, the Sharad Sampat or the Sharad Vishuva are the names given to the autumnal equinox during which the days and the nights are of equal duration.

Purpose and Symbolism

The beginning of Sharad Ritu in India makes nature very clean and attractive. The pure moonlight shines on the earth and everything looks very charming and shiny. All the clouds get removed slowly and the sky appears to be pure and clean.

At night, countless stars are visible from the sky and it is visible to everyone on earth. The infinite stars in the sky look just like a flower blooming (flower delivery Northampton) in the sky and the scene looks very charming just like countess pearls scattered shining in the sky.

However, there are some parts of the country where rains are still observed. The environment becomes extremely clean without any pollution or dust. The sky is visible from the earth and the cloud looks very beautiful.

All the ponds, rivers, and lakes become extremely neat and clean and various plants, loaves, etc. appear in the Sharad Ritu. All the population gets back to work because there is some difficulty in the winter season.

Before the arrival of the autumn seasons in India, all the insects and mites are ruined completely. There is no debris, dust or mud seen on earth and the sky looks free from cloud i.e. extremely clear and beautiful.

Autumn has the power of beauty and calmness among all the 6 seasons in India as it fills a fresh hope and excitement among people living in the country.

Hemant Ritu: The Pre-Winter Season in India

Hemant Ritu or Pre-winter season that starts in November and ends in the month of December. It is one of the best seasons as the weather is extremely enjoyable and refreshing.

The Pre-Winter Seasons in India
The Pre-Winter Seasons in India

Apart from the 2 major Hindu months that fall in this season i.e. the Pausha or Poos and the Agrahayana or Again several festivals are the highlights of this season like;

  1. The festival of lights – Diwali
  2. Bhai Dooj
  3. Christmas

The weather starts becoming cool and the minimum temperature also gets reduced. Thus, many Indian prefer to call this a moderate temperature season.

Key Highlights

  • Average Temperature during the season is around 25 °C.
  • Falls in November and December.
  • It is the season before winter and starts at the end of the autumn season in India.

Origin and Importance

The Pre-Winter seasons in India ends on the solstice, where winter is observed in the northern part of the country. However, the southern parts are still hot. As per the Hindu Vedic astrology, Uttarayana is the name given to the solstice.

The beginning of the season marks the end of Autumn and comes before the winter season with an average temperature of around 25 °C. The old ripe-yellow leaves start falling from the trees and the new leaves start taking their place.

This season implicates the importance of new ideas, thoughts and innovation in our lives. To compensate for the loss of water from the tress and to limit the evaporation of tress, the leaves fall from them.

Thus, the leaves that are left can, therefore, adapt to the lack of water in the tress. This is a very beautiful natural process. Thus, to increase the life and energy of the tress, the old shabby ripped leaves fall from it & give space to the new fresh leaves which give a new perspective, look and life to the tress.

The fallen leaves of the trees help the trees in the rainy season by creating a new layer of soil as new sprouts can grow very easily in this new mud-soil layer. The heat of the sun is slightly less and therefore people are relatively relieved.

Purpose and Symbolism

The Hemant Ritu in India gives the message to us that Change is the law of nature and thus urges us to welcome new thoughts and beliefs. This season in India also comprises of various sports events ranging from district, state, national and international level championships.

While there is excessive cold in major parts of the country, this leads to laziness and several common diseases like common cold, cough, asthma etc. The fuels consumption during this season is really low and work productivity is observed to lower relatively.

There is very less heat during this season as the duration of days is very less. Due to heavy rainfalls, the harvest gets destroyed and frost damages the vegetable produce of the farmers.

Shishir Ritu: The Winter Season in India

Shishir Ritu or the Pre-winter season in India starts in January and ends in the month of February. It is one of the best seasons as the weather is extremely gratifying and energizing.

The Winter Seasons in India
The Winter Seasons in India

Apart from the 2 major Hindu months that fall in this season i.e. the Phalguna and the Magha several festivals are the highlights of this season like;

  1. Pongal
  2. Shivratri
  3. Makar Sankranti
  4. Lohri

It has one of the coldest days of the year and everyone loves to spend most of their time at their homes.

Key Highlights

  • Average Temperature during the season is around 20°C.
  • Falls in January and February.
  • It is the season before winter and starts at the end of the autumn season in India.

Origin and Importance

As per the Hindu Vedic Astrology, Uttarayana is the name given to the start of the solstice. In the northern hemisphere that includes India experiences extreme winters. However, summer starts in major parts of the southern hemisphere.

The Origin of the Winter is an old German word that translates it to be the time of water which is interpreted as the middle of rain and snow in the high altitudes. This end of this season marks the beginning of the spring season in India.

In this season the air pressure is highly affected due to the Himalayas as the northern region of the mountain generates high-pressure cold winds that travel to various parts of the country. This wind reaches as the dry continental wind system.

The average temperature is further reduced to 18 degrees due to tropical proximity and sea conditions. In major parts of northern India, the temperature gets reduced to 10 ° C.

This cold winter or Shishir Ritu is also named after the cold wave that travels at various Indian locations and reduces the temperature at night to 0 °C in major parts of the country.

Purpose and Symbolism

The ripening of the crops like rabi, wheat and various pulses gives extreme satisfaction and pleasure to the Indian farmers that happen soon after the growth of Kharif crops in India.

The abundance of fruits and vegetable during this season encourages people to buy more and eat with their families. It is one of the best seasons in India.

The taste of the people is further developed by items like;

  1. Peas
  2. Peanuts
  3. Cabbage
  4. Tomato
  5. Radish
  6. Carrot

It is said that the intake of fresh vegetables and fruits help you increase body immunity and fight against disease easily. The clothing trends also change during this season were people adopt to the woolen fabric.

Along with the woolen fabric, people also wear mufflers, coats and sweaters. Tea which is the all-time beverage of India also gains more popularity. Various sports organizations prefer to organize competitions of cricket, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, football, athletics etc. which increases the delight of cold.

Thus, the winter seasons in India holds great significance and is very beautiful and mesmerizing to enjoy it in India.

Conclusion – Seasons in India and Months

The different types of seasons in India with months are subject to change their duration and temperature based on the number of environmental and geographical factors. Major changes that happen are observed in the intensity of Indian weather.

People in different parts of the country adopt to various seasons by changing their dressing patterns and food preferences are also changing with different seasons. Thus, giving a pleasant experience to the people of India.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What are the different seasons in India?

In a year there are 6 seasons in India which is based on the Lunisolar Calendar. These are Spring or Vasant Ritu, Summer or Grishma Ritu, Monsoon or Varsha Ritu, Autumn or Sharad Ritu, Pre-winter or Hemant Ritu & Winter or Shishir Ritu.

What are the months of Summer in India?

The Summer season in India occurs in May and June with an average temperature of 40 °C.

How many seasons are there in India?

As per the Hindi Lunisolar Calendar, there are 6 ritus or seasons in India which are Spring or Vasant Ritu, Summer or Grishma Ritu, Monsoon or Varsha Ritu, Autumn or Sharad Ritu, Pre winter or Hemant Ritu & Winter or Shishir Ritu.