Ritu ऋतु
The Hindu year turns through six seasons, or ritus - from the spring of Vasanta to the deep winter of Shishira - each spanning two lunar months, each with its own character, regimen and festivals.
The six seasons
Two lunar months make one ritu, so the six seasons together span the twelve-month year. Because they follow the lunar months, the seasons drift a little against the Gregorian calendar each year.
| Ritu | Season | Lunar months | Around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vasanta | spring | Chaitra & Vaishakha | mid-March to mid-May |
| Grishma now | summer | Jyeshtha & Ashadha | mid-May to mid-July |
| Varsha | monsoon | Shravana & Bhadrapada | mid-July to mid-September |
| Sharad | autumn | Ashwin & Kartika | mid-September to mid-November |
| Hemanta | pre-winter | Margashirsha & Pausha | mid-November to mid-January |
| Shishira | winter | Magha & Phalguna | mid-January to mid-March |
Ritucharya - living with the seasons
Ayurveda pairs each ritu with a ritucharya, a seasonal regimen of diet and routine that keeps the body in balance as the seasons turn - lightening the food in spring, cooling it in summer, nourishing it in winter. Each season’s page gives its regimen alongside its festivals and character.
The seasons and Chaturmas
The four holy months of Chaturmas fall across the monsoon and early autumn (Varsha into Sharad), when Vishnu is said to sleep and ceremonies pause. The two turns of the Sun - Makar Sankranti (Uttarayana) and Karka Sankranti (Dakshinayana) - divide the seasonal year into its bright and dark halves.
Frequently asked questions
What are the six ritus?
The six seasons of the Hindu year are Vasanta (spring), Grishma (summer), Varsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn), Hemanta (pre-winter) and Shishira (winter). Each ritu spans two lunar months, so the six together make up the twelve-month year.
Which season is it now in Mumbai, Maharashtra?
Right now it is Grishma (summer) in Mumbai, Maharashtra - the current lunar month falls in this ritu. Grishma is the height of summer, when the Sun blazes and the land waits for the monsoon. Rivers run low and the heat peaks, making shade, water and rest precious.
How are the seasons matched to the Hindu months?
Two lunar months make one ritu: Chaitra-Vaishakha are Vasanta, Jyeshtha-Ashadha Grishma, Shravana-Bhadrapada Varsha, Ashwin-Kartika Sharad, Margashirsha-Pausha Hemanta, and Magha-Phalguna Shishira. Because they follow the lunar months, the seasons drift a little against the Gregorian calendar each year.
What is ritucharya?
Ritucharya is the Ayurvedic seasonal regimen - the diet and daily routine suited to each ritu, adjusting food, activity and rest to the changing balance of the body's doshas through the year. Each season's page below gives its regimen.
Last updated 26 July 2026