Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c8.16

c8.16

3. *Measures of time.*—Disregarding for the moment the fanciful measures of *Kala* and *Kalpa*, the longest measure of time below a century was a *Qarn* of 31 years’ duration.² Lunar calendars, which survive even to-day, were in use, though the Hindu reckoning appears to be more popular.³ The festivals and in fact almost all the ceremonies of the Hindus, are regulated according to the lunar day or *tithi*. A Hindu lunar month consists of 30 lunar days and begins on the day of the full moon or the new moon. A fortnight ending with the full moon is known as the ‘bright fortnight’ and that ending with the new moon is called the ‘dark fortnight’. The Hijrah year of the Muslims, on the other hand, though strictly lunar, has its months adjusted to the course of the moon by means of a cycle of 30 years, containing 19 common years of 354 days, and 11 intercalary years of 355 days. The cycle, therefore, contains 10,631 days and amounts to 29 Julian years and 39 days. Each year is divided into 12 months containing alternately 30 and 29 days with the exception of the last month of the intercalary years, which invariably contains 30 days. The intercalary years are the 2nd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 26th, and 29th of the cycle. The Hijrah months are not constructed on astronomical principles. The month commences from the evening on which the new moon is seen. The duration of the month depends on the state of the atmosphere and may vary at different places not far distant from each other. No month, however, can contain less than 29 days or more than 30 days. The following are the names of the Hindu and the Muslim months respectively.¹