Sangrand (Sankranti) is the first day of a month according to Indian traditional calendar. Note that there are two types of traditional calendars – Solar (based upon Sun) and Lunar (based upon Moon) and Sangrand is the beginning of new month according to Solar calendar.
The day next to Masya or Puranmashi is considered as the first day of month according to Lunar calendar and most of the religious festivals in India are based upon Lunar calendar.
Chet is the first month of the year according to Bikrami Samvat calendar and hence the sangrand of Chet month is considered as the new year day. The new year will start on Thursday, 14th March 2020. Many readers will say that Vaisakh is the first month of the year and festival of Vaisakhi is the new year day. But actually this festival is related to the harvesting season of wheat crop.
There are 12 months in an year according to calendar. Chet (ਚੇਤ) is the first month of the year and the year ends with the Phagan (ਫੱਗਣ) month. The names of all the months in the calendar are:
- Chet – ਚੇਤ
- Vaisakh – ਵਿਸਾਖ
- Jeth – ਜੇਠ
- Harh – ਹਾੜ੍ਹ
- Sawan – ਸਾਵਣ
- Bhadon – ਭਾਦੋ
- Assu – ਅੱਸੂ
- Kattak – ਕੱਤਕ
- Magghar – ਮੱਘਰ
- Poh – ਪੋਹ
- Magh – ਮਾਘ
- Phagan – ਫੱਗਣ