Asharh (Bengali: আষাঢ়āshāḍh, Odia: ଆଷାଢ଼āsāḍha) is the third month of the Bengali[1] and Odia calendars[citation needed] and the Tirhuta Panchang (aHindu calendar followed by the Maithil community in India and Nepal).[2] It is the first of the two months that comprise the wet season, locally known as "Barsha" (Bengali: বর্ষাBôrsha, Nepali: वर्षाBarsha, Odia: ବର୍ଷାBarsā), when the monsoon winds blow.[3][4] It is one of the first five months of the year that have 31 days, according to the Bangladeshi version of the Bengali Calendar.[5] In the Indian version of the Bengali Calendar, the month can have up to 32 days.[6]
The month and the monsoon are welcome with songs, dance,[7] and celebration in Bangladesh.[8][9] A popular poem "Abar Eshechhey Asharh" আবার এসেছে আষাঢ় by Rabindranath Tagore, that is about this season.[10][11]
There are occurrences of an extra Asadha which is referred as Odia: ମଳ ମାସmaḷa māsa (meaning unclean) in Odia whereas the non-extra Asadha is referred to as Odia: ଶୁଦ୍ଧsuddha.[12]
^ abSyed Ashraf Ali (2012). "Bangabda". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
^"Ashari Purnima". The Daily Star. 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
^Roland Hardenberg (2001). "The Renewal of Jagannath". In Hermann Kulke; Burkhard Schnepel (eds.). Jagannath Revisited: Studying Society, Religion, and the State in Orissa. Manohar. p. 87. ISBN978-81-7304-386-4.
