Zoroastrian Calendar
The Zoroastrian calendar originated as a 360-day system consisting of 12 months of 30 days each. During the Sassanian era, five additional Gatha days dedicated to the teachings of Zarathushtra were added, creating a 365-day calendar. The calendar counts years from the coronation of Yezdegerd III in 632 CE, marked with the suffix Y.Z. (Yazdegerdi Era).
Over time, differences between the Zoroastrian and solar calendars led to the development of three main calendar traditions:
- Shenshai (Shahenshahi) Calendar – Followed mainly by Parsis in India, this version gradually shifted away from the seasonal cycle because leap-year adjustments were not consistently applied. As a result, the Zoroastrian New Year now falls in August.
- Kadmi Calendar – Introduced in India in the 18th century after Iranian priests pointed out a one-month difference between Iranian and Indian practices. Supporters believed this version more closely reflected the ancient Iranian tradition.
- Fasli Calendar – Established in the early 20th century, the Fasli calendar aligns with the solar year and keeps New Year synchronized with the spring equinox through the use of leap-year adjustments. It was designed to maintain harmony with the seasons.
Today, different Zoroastrian communities continue to observe different calendar systems based on historical and regional traditions.
Source: Original content adapted and summarized from https://www.zcserv.com/
The Fasli Calendar below is generously provided by California Zoroastrian Center (CZC) – Morvarid Guiv Foundation.