Archive · 17 Aug 2025
Tharoor Questions Kerala's Janmashtami Date
Imagine a big birthday party (Janmashtami) that different groups are celebrating on different days!
Shashi Tharoor noticed that people in Kerala celebrated Janmashtami on a different day than the rest of India.
He wondered why.
Someone explained that Kerala uses a special calendar and looks at the moon and stars to pick the exact day.
Other places use a different calendar.
It's like how some families celebrate birthdays on different days, depending on what's important to them, but it is all the same birthday!
Shashi Tharoor questioned why Kerala didn't celebrate Janmashtami on August 16.
Tharoor noted that the Malayalam calendar listed Janmashtami as September 14.
He questioned the rationale behind different celebration dates for the same religious holiday.
An X user explained Kerala uses a solar calendar and lunar calculations to determine festival dates.
Kerala prioritizes the Rohini Nakshatra and Ashtami tithi for Janmashtami timing.
- Who
- Shashi Tharoor, an X user, and Keralites.
- What
- A discussion about differing dates for the Hindu festival of Janmashtami in Kerala compared to the rest of India.
- When
- The discussion happened around August 16th, 2025, the date of Janmashtami in some parts of India.
- Where
- Kerala, India and online.
- Why
- To understand the reason behind the different dates for celebrating Janmashtami in Kerala.
Shashi Tharoor's Perspective
Explanation for the Kerala's Date
Initial Inquiry
Shashi Tharoor's Perspective
Confused and curious about the date difference.
Explanation for the Kerala's Date
N/A
- Event
- Janmashtami
- Date Discrepancy
- August 16th vs September 14th
- Region with Later Date
- Kerala
- Calendar Used in Kerala
- Malayalam (solar) calendar alongside lunar calculations
- Key consideration in Kerala
- Rohini Nakshatra and Ashtami tithi