Lunar calender sans festival dates published

Thiruvananthapuram: Attingal-based group Ethal has come out with a scientific lunar calendar. The calendar has deliberately avoided dates of religious festivals and astrology-based information like Rahukalam.

Unlike the Gregorian calendar based on the revolution of the Earth around the sun, the lunar calendar is built on the cycles of lunar phases. Subhash Kavalayoor, who heads the organisation in Kavalayoor near Attingal said they used the internet to get relevant information and calculations.

"We have not included any details of festivals of various religions as has been the practice. Instead, the birthdays of students who attend our tuition classes are given against each month," he told DC.

"There has been every attempt to keep the calendar as accurate as possible. However, as it is the first such attempt, there are chances of minor errors. We would take all efforts to correct the mistakes and bring out a more accurate calendar in the future."

The attempt was part of its efforts to create scientific temper among students who attend the centre's tuition programme. As there are more than 12 lunations in a solar year, the period of 12 lunar months consisting of 354.367 days is referred to as a lunar year.