The solar calendar, Hamal to Hut

A solar year counted from the Hijra

The solar Hijri calendar counts its years from the Prophet's migration to Madinah in 622, like the lunar calendar, but its years follow the sun. Each one begins on the day of the spring equinox, on or about 21 March, so its months stay with the seasons: Hamal is always spring, Jadi always winter. The year 1405 began on 21 March 2026.

To turn a solar year into a Gregorian one, add 621 from Hamal to the end of December, and 622 from January until the next Nowruz.

The months

In Dari the months carry the names of the signs of the zodiac, and in Pashto their own names:

1. Hamal, Wray: 31 days
2. Sawr, Ghwayay: 31
3. Jawza, Ghbargolay: 31
4. Saratan, Changakh: 31
5. Asad, Zmaray: 31
6. Sunbula, Wazhay: 31
7. Mizan, Tala: 30
8. Aqrab, Laram: 30
9. Qaws, Lindey: 30
10. Jadi, Marghumay: 30
11. Dalw, Salwagha: 30
12. Hut, Kab: 29, or 30 in a leap year

The first six months are long because the sun moves more slowly across the sky in the northern summer.

Not the Iranian names

Iran uses the same calendar, with the same year and the same month lengths, but names its months differently: Farvardin, Ordibehesht and so on. A date written as Mehr instead of Mizan is a sign that software was made for Iran. This site keeps the Afghan names in its own tables, because the standard software data gives the Iranian ones.

The week

The Afghan week begins on Saturday. Friday is the day of rest, and many offices also close on Thursday afternoon.

The date converter turns any date between the three calendars, and the holidays page lists the year in all three.