Vaishakha

Vaishakha (Sanskrit: वैशाख, IAST: Vaiśākha) is the second month of the Hindulunar calendar and the Indian national calendar. The name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Vishākhānakshatra (star) on the full moon day. It corresponds to April–May in the Gregorian calendar. The month corresponds to the end of the spring (Vasanta) season and falls in April–May of the Gregorian calendar.

In the Hindu solar calendar, it corresponds to the month of Mesha and begins with the Sun's entry into Aries. It corresponds to Boishakh, the first month in the Bengali calendar. In the Tamil calendar, it corresponds to the third month of Vaikasi, falling in the Gregorian months of May–June. In the Vaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the third month of Madhusudanah.

In the Hindu lunar calendar, each month has 29 or 30 days. The month begins on the next day after Amavasya (new moon) or Purnima (full moon) as per amanta and purnimanta systems respectively. A month consists of two cycles of 15 days each, Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) and Krishna Paksha (waning moon). Days in each cycle are labeled as a thithi, with each thithi repeating twice in a month.

The month marks the start of summer, and the afternoon storms in the month are called kalboishakhi. The storms usually start with strong gusts from the north-western direction at the end of a hot day.