KATHMANDU, May 17 — The lunar intercalary month known as Malmas or Adhik Maas, which occurs every 32 months, 16 days, 1 hour and 36 minutes, began on Sunday and will continue until June 14, 2026, according to the Nepal Panchang Decision Development Committee.
In Hindu astronomical calculations, a year has 365 days and consists of both solar and lunar months. To align the two systems, an extra month—Adhik Maas—appears periodically. When a lunar month does not contain a solar transition (Sankranti), it is classified as Adhik Maas or Malmas, explained astrologer and architecture expert Shiva Prasad Pokharel.
If two Sankrantis fall within a single lunar month, it is called Kshaya Maas (a shortened month), a phenomenon described in classical texts such as Bhaskaracharya’s Siddhanta Shiromani. Kshaya Maas is rare and last occurred in 1963 (2020 BS), according to experts.
Machhenarayan Mela starts from today
Kshaya Maas typically occurs in months like Kartik, Mangsir, and Poush, while Magh never sees either Kshaya or Adhik Maas. In years when Kshaya Maas occurs, two Adhik Maas also appear—one before and one after, known in tradition as “Samsarpa” and “Ahamspati.”
Hindu mythology describes Adhik Maas as a “month without a deity.” In the Purushottam Maas Mahatmya, the month is said to have approached Lord Krishna in distress after being neglected, after which it was named Purushottam Maas in his honour.
What to Do and What to Avoid in Adhik Maas
Religious scholar Dr. Devmani Bhattarai says daily worship, prayer, chanting, and meditation are recommended during Adhik Maas. Regular vows already in practice may continue, but new vows should not be started.
However, auspicious or major life events such as marriage, sacred thread ceremonies, house construction, and housewarming are traditionally avoided. Conception rituals are also discouraged, though pregnancies already underway are not considered affected. The tradition of newlyweds avoiding the period is also linked to these beliefs.
Activities prohibited during the period are similar to those avoided when Jupiter and Venus are considered “inactive” in astrological terms.
Matsyanarayan Fair Begins
A major fair begins today at Matsyanarayan Temple, located about 8 km southwest of Kathmandu’s Ratnapark. The temple hosts a stone idol of Matsyanarayan and attracts thousands of devotees during Adhik Maas.
According to Chandragiri Municipality Mayor Ghanshyam Giri, rituals and recitations of the Purushottam Maas Mahatmya are conducted throughout the month. Devotees from across the country visit the site for worship.
Hindu texts state that worshipping Lord Vishnu during this month destroys sins and brings spiritual merit. The temple features a decorative golden-plated Garuda gate and an artistic depiction of the Matsya (fish) incarnation of Lord Vishnu holding a conch, discus, mace, and lotus.
In Hindu mythology, Matsya was the first of Lord Vishnu’s ten incarnations, believed to have saved the Vedas during a cosmic flood by taking the form of a fish and guiding a boat.
The last Adhik Maas occurred in July 2023 (Shrawan 2080 BS), when devotees across Nepal performed special recitations and rituals of the Purushottam Maas scriptures.
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