A Bikrami, or Desi year, is a solar year which starts on the 13 of March, or the start of Spring, and consists of 365 days. Nine of its months consists of 30 days, one are of 31 (Visakh) and other two (Jeth, Har) are of 32 days. This calendar is in traditional use in Punjab (both in India and Pakistan). Later the use was changed to other calendars including the Islamic calendar, the Nanakshahi calendar and the Gregorian Calendar.[1]
The names of months are
| S.No. | Month Name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chetar | Mid of March to Mid of April |
| 2. | Visakh | Mid of April to Mid of May |
| 3. | Jeth | Mid of May to Mid of June |
| 4. | Har | Mid of June to Mid of July |
| 5. | Sawan | Mid of July to Mid of August |
| 6. | Bhadon | Mid of August to Mid of September |
| 7. | Asoo | Mid of September to Mid of October |
| 8. | Katten | Mid of October to Mid of November |
| 9. | Maghar | Mid of Novemberto Mid of December |
| 10. | Poh | Mid of December Mid of January |
| 11. | Magh | Mid of January Mid of February |
| 12. | Phaggan | Mid of February to Mid of March |
A day consists of 8 Pahars, every Pahar equals to 3 hours of the modern clock. These Pahars are named: 1: Sajar vela or Sver vela = Morning/Day-break (6'o clock to 9'o clock). 2: Dhammi vela = Pre- noon time(9'o clock to 12'o clock). 3: Paishee vela = Noon(12'o clock to 3'o clock). 4: Deegar vela = Afternoon(3'o clock to 6'o clock). 5: nimasheen/namashan vela = Sunset + Evening + Early hours of night(6'o clock to 9'o clock). 6: Raat vela = Pre-midnight time (9'o clock to 12'o clock). 7: Adh Raat vela = Midnight to 3'o clock (12'o clock to 3'o clock). 8: Sarghee vela = Pre Dawn/Very early morning before the sunrise(3'o clock to 6'o clock). The word vela which may be spelled as vailaa means "time of the day" whereas the word Adh means half.