What Is a Tithi (तिथि)?

A Tithi is a lunar day in the traditional Indian calendar. It is measured through the Sun-Moon angular relationship, so it can begin or end at any clock time rather than at midnight.

Tithi and Paksha

The traditional lunar month is commonly described through two halves: Shukla Paksha, the waxing half toward Purnima, and Krishna Paksha, the waning half toward Amavasya. A Tithi is numbered within that half, such as Shukla Navami or Krishna Ashtami.

Why festival dates can differ

Observers may use sunrise rules, local time, regional calendars or a particular sampradaya's convention. A festival date is therefore not simply a fixed Gregorian date. Moonrise and local sunrise can matter for the observance.

How IndiaTime should display it

A useful display should name the location and convention, show the Tithi boundary when verified, and explain whether the listed festival date is fixed, cross-checked, tentative or awaiting verification. It should never disguise an approximate moon phase as a Panchang Tithi.

Open the Hindu calendar guide · Understand months and Samvat · Compare moon phases and Tithi