What is Tithi?
A tithi is a lunar day in the Hindu calendar — the time it takes for the Moon to move 12 degrees ahead of the Sun. Unlike solar days which are fixed at 24 hours, tithis vary in length from roughly 19 to 26 hours.
There are 30 tithis in a complete lunar month, split into two halves:
- Shukla Paksha (waxing fortnight) — Pratipada through Purnima (new moon to full moon)
- Krishna Paksha (waning fortnight) — Pratipada through Amavasya (full moon to new moon)
Why Tithis Matter
Tithis determine the timing of nearly every Hindu festival and religious observance. Diwali falls on Amavasya (new moon) of Kartik month. Holi falls on Purnima (full moon) of Phalgun. Ekadashi (the 11th tithi) is observed as a fasting day twice every lunar month.
Beyond festivals, tithis influence daily decisions:
- Auspicious tithis like Dwitiya, Tritiya, Panchami, and Dashami are preferred for new beginnings
- Cautionary tithis like Chaturthi, Ashtami, and Chaturdashi call for restraint
- Rikta tithis (4th, 9th, 14th) are generally avoided for important activities
How to Read Today's Tithi
The tithi at sunrise determines the tithi for the day, even if it changes during the day. This is called the sunrise tithi convention. When a tithi spans two sunrises, it's considered auspicious. When it doesn't touch any sunrise (kshaya tithi), special rules apply.
Tithi in KAAL
KAAL shows you today's tithi prominently on the Daily screen, with the exact start and end times. The monthly calendar view color-codes days by their auspiciousness based on the ruling tithi.
Track today's tithi and all panchang elements with KAAL — the modern Hindu calendar app with precise lunar day timings for your location.
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