Shishira Ritu शिशिर
The cold depth of winter that thaws into the colours of Holi.
- Season
- Winter
- Around
- mid-January to mid-March
The season
Shishira, winter, spans Magha and Phalguna (roughly mid-January to mid-March). It carries the sacred Magha bathing and Maha Shivratri, and closes the lunar year in the colour and fire of Holi - even as Vasant Panchami heralds the spring to come.
Shishira is the coldest season, deep winter shading toward spring. Days begin to lengthen, the great bathing month of Magha falls here, and the season ends in the bonfire and colours of Holi.
Ritucharya - the seasonal regimen
Like Hemanta, winter's regimen is nourishing and warming - rich, sweet and warm foods, ghee and sesame, warm drinks and oil massage - guarding the body's strength against the cold.
Festivals of Shishira
Vasant Panchami (welcoming spring and honouring Saraswati), Ratha Saptami and the Magha bathing; Maha Shivratri, the great night of Shiva; and Holika Dahan with the festival of colours, Holi.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Shishira ritu?
Shishira, winter, spans Magha and Phalguna (roughly mid-January to mid-March). It carries the sacred Magha bathing and Maha Shivratri, and closes the lunar year in the colour and fire of Holi - even as Vasant Panchami heralds the spring to come.
Which months are in the Shishira season?
Shishira spans the two lunar months of Magha and Phalguna, roughly mid-January to mid-March.
What festivals fall in Shishira?
Vasant Panchami (welcoming spring and honouring Saraswati), Ratha Saptami and the Magha bathing; Maha Shivratri, the great night of Shiva; and Holika Dahan with the festival of colours, Holi.
What is the ritucharya (regimen) for Shishira?
Like Hemanta, winter's regimen is nourishing and warming - rich, sweet and warm foods, ghee and sesame, warm drinks and oil massage - guarding the body's strength against the cold.
Last updated 26 July 2026