If you live in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia or the Gulf, you may have noticed that a festival date in India does not always match the date in your city. This is not a mistake. The Hindu calendar is tied to sunrise and to the position of the Moon at your location, so a muhurat should be worked out for the place where the ceremony happens.
Key takeaways
- Use a panchang calculated for your city or the nearest large city, not the India date by default.
- The same tithi can start and end at different clock times in different time zones, and sometimes falls on a different calendar date.
- Write the muhurat in local time, and remember daylight saving time changes the clock.
- For births, weddings and major ceremonies, a pandit should confirm the muhurat for your exact location.
Why the date changes with the city
A tithi is not tied to a clock or the calendar date. It depends on the angle between the Sun and the Moon, and it begins and ends at a particular moment in time. A festival is held on the day when a given tithi is prevailing at a specific time, such as sunrise or the evening. Because sunrise comes at different moments around the world, and the same instant looks like a different date in different time zones, the festival day can shift between places. This is why two accurate panchangs can disagree. See our guide on how to read a panchang for the basics.
A simple method for diaspora families
- Find a panchang for your own city. Many calendar sites and apps let you set a location and time zone.
- Check the tithi at the time that matters for the rite: sunrise for most fasts, the evening for Pradosh or Diwali Lakshmi Pujan, and midday for some ceremonies.
- If your family follows a specific tradition (Amanta or Purnimanta, a particular community calendar), choose a calendar that follows it.
- Ask your pandit or family elder to confirm for important ceremonies.
Time zones and daylight saving
- Check that the calendar uses your local time zone and applies daylight saving time on the date of the ceremony.
- When a muhurat falls close to midnight, check the date carefully, as it may belong to the day before or after on your local calendar.
- If you take part by video in a ceremony in India, agree the time in both time zones in writing, and note the UTC time if it helps.
Which ceremonies need the most care
- Griha Pravesh and Vivah: a precise muhurat matters. See our guide to Griha Pravesh abroad.
- Naamkaran: the day count begins from the baby's birth, and the nakshatra depends on the local birth time. See our article on Naamkaran for babies born abroad.
- Shradh: the tithi of death is observed. See our guide to Shradh for NRI families.
- Festival pooja at home: a small difference of a few hours is usually flexible, but follow your tradition.
When to rely on a pandit
An app can give a good estimate for a fast or a festival. For a wedding, Griha Pravesh, a naming ceremony or a birth-chart based muhurat, a pandit weighs the tithi, nakshatra and lagna together, and also considers your family's chart. If you have a question about a date, you can speak with an Āchārya, or look at our NRI family page.
Frequently asked questions
Which date should I follow, India's or my city's?
Most diaspora families follow the date for their own city, because the ritual is performed where they live. Some follow the India date by family tradition. Ask your elders and pandit.
Why does my app show a different date from my temple?
Temples often follow a specific tradition's calendar or a decision by their priests. Apps use a default calculation. If the two differ, follow your temple or pandit.
Do I need to adjust for daylight saving?
Yes. A muhurat is a moment in time. Make sure the clock time you note already includes daylight saving, if it applies that day.
Looking for personalised guidance?
Speak with an Āchārya, or plan a ceremony with a pandit.
