Paksha


Paksha refers to a fortnight period consisting of various lunar phases in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Literally meaning "side" in Sanskrit, it refers to the periods between amavasya and purnima, and vice versa.
A lunar month in the Hindu calendar has two fortnights, with each fortnight subdivided into lunar days called tithis. A paksha consists of 15 such tithis, each of which correspond to a 12-degree angular motion of the Moon. The fortnight between amavasya and purnima is called as Shukla Paksha or Gaura Paksha, which corresponds to the period of the waning moon. The second fortnight is called Krishna Paksha or Vadhya Paksha' and corresponds to the period of the waxing moon. Amavasya corresponds to the period when the Moon is within 12 degrees of angular distance from the Sun before their conjunction.
A lunar month begins on the next day after amavasya in the amanta tradition and on the next day after purnima in the purnimanta system. The amanta system is followed majorly in the South India and the purnimanta system in North India.

Shukla Paksha

Shukla Paksha refers to the bright lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar, corresponding to the waning moon. Shukla is the Sanskrit word for "white" or "bright". The Shukla Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after the amavasya and culminating on purnima and is considered auspicious.
Numerous festivals are held during this period, including the Navaratri festivals, most importantly Chaitra Navaratri and Ashvin Navaratri.
DayTithiFestivalMonth
1st dayPratipadaGudi Padwa, UgadiChaitra
1st dayPratipadaBali Pratipada, Govardhan PujaKartika
2nd dayDvitiyaBhaibeejKartika
3rd dayTritiyaTeejBhadrapada
3rd dayTritiyaAkshaya TritiyaVaishakha
4th dayChaturthiGanesh ChaturthiBhadrapada
4th dayChaturthiGanesh JayantiMagha
5th dayPanchamiNuakhaiBhadrapada
5th dayPanchamiVivaha PanchamiMargashirsha
5th dayPanchamiVasanta PanchamiMagha
6th dayShasthiSitalsasthiJyestha
8th dayAshtamiRadhashtamiBhadrapada
9th dayNavamiRama NavamiChaitra
10th dayDashamiVijayadashamiAshvin
11th dayEkadashiShayani EkadashiAshadha
11th dayEkadashiVaikuntha EkadashiMargashirsha
14th dayChaturdashiSamvatsariBhadrapada
15th day PurnimaGuru PurnimaAshada

Krishna Paksha

Krishna Paksha refers to the dark lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar, corresponding to the waxing moon. Krishna means "dark" in Sanskrit. Krishna Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after the purnima day, and ends on the amavasya day. The period is considered inauspicious, as the moon loses light during this period.
Festivals during the Krishna Paksha are:
DayTithiFestivalMonth
4th dayChaturthiKarva ChauthKartika
8th dayAshtamiKrishna JanmashtamiŚrāvaṇa
13th dayThrayodashiDhanterasKartika
13th dayThrayodashiPradoshaMagha
14th dayChaturdashiMaha ShivaratriMagha
14th dayChaturdashiNaraka Chaturdashi Kartika
15th day AmavasyaLakshmi Puja Kartika

Thithis or days