Today Bengali Date (আজকের বাংলা তারিখ): West Bengal Bangabda Explained
How the traditional West Bengal Bengali calendar works, why it differs from Bangladesh, and how to read today's Bangla date, months and seasons.
By Indian Date Today Editorial ·
Find today Bengali date for West Bengal (আজকের বাংলা তারিখ). Learn Bangabda year reckoning, Surya Siddhanta months, Poila Boishakh, and how Kolkata’s traditional calendar differs from Bangladesh’s reformed solar calendar.
What is the Bengali calendar in West Bengal?
The Bengali calendar (Bangabda / বঙ্গাব্দ) used in West Bengal, Tripura and Assam is a traditional sidereal solar calendar. Month names come from the nakshatras and match the Hindu solar rashis: Boishakh begins when the Sun enters Mesha, Joishtho with Vrishabha, and so on through Chaitra (Meena). Unlike the North Indian lunisolar Hindu calendar, which starts the year in Chaitra, Bangabda starts in Boishakh. This traditional version remains tied to Surya Siddhanta solar months and is the system Kolkata panjikas use for civil Bangla dating, literature, Haal Khata, and cultural new year. Lunar tithis are still used separately for Durga Puja and other Hindu festivals.
West Bengal vs Bangladesh
There are two living Bengali calendars. West Bengal keeps the historic version: month lengths vary with the actual sankranti (about 29–32 days), and Poila Boishakh usually falls on 15 April. Bangladesh introduced a reformed national calendar (adopted 1987, revised 2018–19) with fixed month lengths and Pohela Boishakh fixed on 14 April. Because of that split, আজকের বাংলা তারিখ in Kolkata and in Dhaka can differ by a day or two even though both use the same month names and the same Bangabda epoch (593/594 CE). Indian Date Today shows the West Bengal date as the primary Bangabda figure and lists the Bangladesh civil date beside it.
How Bangabda relates to the Gregorian calendar
After Poila Boishakh, the Bangla year is the Gregorian year minus 593; before it, minus 594. The twelve months pair into six seasons (ritu): Grishsho (summer), Borsha (monsoon), Shorod (autumn), Hemonto (dry season), Sheet (winter) and Boshonto (spring). The Bengali week is the familiar seven-day week (রবিবার through শনিবার). In the panjika tradition a day begins at sunrise, not midnight.
How to check today's Bangla date correctly
1. Open the Bengali Calendar page on Indian Date Today (it defaults to Kolkata for West Bengal). 2. Read the Bangabda year, month and day — that is the traditional West Bengal date. 3. If you need the Dhaka civil date, use the Bangladesh line on the same card. 4. For puja timing, open Panchang for Tithi, Nakshatra and Rahu Kalam. Bangla civil dating and Vedic ritual timing answer different questions.
- “Today Bengali date” in India means West Bengal Bangabda month and day.
- Poila Boishakh is usually 15 April in West Bengal and 14 April in Bangladesh.
- Puja timing still depends on Tithi and local sunrise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Bengali date the same in Kolkata and Dhaka?
Not always. Kolkata follows the traditional Surya Siddhanta solar months. Dhaka follows Bangladesh’s reformed calendar with fixed month lengths and a 14 April new year. Dates can differ by a day or two.
Q: When is Poila Boishakh in West Bengal?
Poila Boishakh (1 Boishakh) is usually 15 April in West Bengal and Tripura and is a public holiday there. Bangladesh observes Pohela Boishakh on 14 April.
Q: Where can I see আজকের বাংলা তারিখ?
Use the Bengali Calendar page on Indian Date Today for today's West Bengal Bangabda date, and the home or Panchang page for accompanying Tithi and city timings.