Days of the Week in Hindi

The days of the week in Hindi (सप्ताह के दिन - saptaah ke din) have deep astronomical and mythological significance, with each day named after a celestial body or deity in Hindu tradition. Unlike many Western languages, Hindi weekday names directly incorporate the names of planets and cosmic entities that have been significant in Hindu astrology for thousands of years.

Hindi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by over 600 million people globally, primarily in India and Nepal. The Hindi language uses the Devanagari script (देवनागरी), a writing system that evolved from the ancient Brahmi script and is also used for Sanskrit, Marathi, and other languages of the Indian subcontinent.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the Hindi names for each day of the week, their proper pronunciation, etymology, cultural significance, and practical usage in everyday conversations. Whether you're learning Hindi, planning a trip to India, or simply interested in linguistic diversity, this guide will provide valuable insights into how time is conceptualized in Hindi-speaking cultures.

In Hindi, using the Devanagari script, the concept of capitalization as it exists in English does not apply. The Devanagari script does not have separate upper and lower case letters. However, there are still some important writing conventions to understand:

Devanagari Script Conventions

• Days of the week are written in standard Devanagari script without any special formatting
• All letters in Hindi have equal status regardless of their position in a word or sentence
• When writing days in Hindi using the Latin alphabet (transliteration), it's common practice to capitalize the first letter (e.g., "Somvaar" rather than "somvaar"), though this is not a strict rule

Writing Structure

All Hindi days of the week end with "वार" (vaar), which means "day" or "occasion." The first part of each day name refers to the celestial body or deity associated with that day:

• सोम (Som) - The Moon
• मंगल (Mangal) - Mars
• बुध (Budh) - Mercury
• गुरु (Guru) - Jupiter
• शुक्र (Shukra) - Venus
• शनि (Shani) - Saturn
• रवि (Ravi) - The Sun

Grammar and Usage

In Hindi, days of the week are typically used with the postposition "को" (ko), which serves a similar function to "on" in English:

• "सोमवार को मैं स्कूल जाता हूँ।" (Somvaar ko main school jaata hoon.) - On Monday, I go to school.
• "रविवार को हम मंदिर जाते हैं।" (Ravivaar ko hum mandir jaate hain.) - On Sunday, we go to the temple.

When talking about regular or recurring events, you can simply use the day itself without any postposition:

• "सोमवार मुझे जल्दी उठना पड़ता है।" (Somvaar mujhe jaldi uthna padta hai.) - On Mondays, I have to wake up early.

Common Phrases with Days

• "आज कौन सा दिन है?" (Aaj kaun sa din hai?) - What day is today?
• "आज सोमवार है।" (Aaj somvaar hai.) - Today is Monday.
• "कल क्या दिन था?" (Kal kya din tha?) - What day was yesterday?
• "कल क्या दिन होगा?" (Kal kya din hoga?) - What day will tomorrow be?
• "सोमवार सुबह" (Somvaar subah) - Monday morning
• "मंगलवार दोपहर" (Mangalvaar dopahar) - Tuesday afternoon
• "बुधवार शाम" (Budhvaar shaam) - Wednesday evening
• "गुरुवार रात" (Guruvaar raat) - Thursday night

Abbreviations

In calendars, schedules, and notes, Hindi days of the week are sometimes abbreviated as follows:

• सोम. - सोमवार (Somvaar)
• मंग. - मंगलवार (Mangalvaar)
• बुध. - बुधवार (Budhvaar)
• गुरु. - गुरुवार (Guruvaar)
• शुक्र. - शुक्रवार (Shukravaar)
• शनि. - शनिवार (Shanivaar)
• रवि. - रविवार (Ravivaar)

Hindi days of the week have fascinating etymological origins deeply rooted in Hindu astronomy, mythology, and Sanskrit traditions. Each day is named after a specific planet or celestial body (known as ग्रह - graha in Sanskrit) that is believed to exert influence on that particular day:

Celestial and Mythological Origins

• सोमवार (Somvaar): Named after सोम (Som), the Moon god in Hindu mythology. "Som" is derived from the Sanskrit word "soma," which refers to both the Moon and an ancient ritual drink. The Moon is associated with the mind, emotions, and motherly love in Hindu tradition.
• मंगलवार (Mangalvaar): Named after मंगल (Mangal), the planet Mars. In Hindu mythology, Mangal is the god of war, similar to Mars in Roman mythology. The name "mangal" also means "auspicious" or "fortunate" in Sanskrit, though the planet is often associated with aggression and energy.
• बुधवार (Budhvaar): Named after बुध (Budh), the planet Mercury. In Hindu mythology, Budh is the son of Moon (Som) and is associated with intelligence and communication. The word "budh" is also related to "buddhi," meaning intellect or wisdom in Sanskrit.
• गुरुवार (Guruvaar): Named after गुरु (Guru), the planet Jupiter. In Hindu astrology, Jupiter is considered the teacher or mentor of the gods, hence the term "guru," which means "teacher" or "master" in Sanskrit. Jupiter is associated with wisdom, knowledge, and prosperity.
• शुक्रवार (Shukravaar): Named after शुक्र (Shukra), the planet Venus. In Hindu mythology, Shukra is the teacher of the demons (asuras) and is associated with love, beauty, and fertility, similar to Venus in Roman mythology. The word "shukra" also means "bright" or "clear" in Sanskrit.
• शनिवार (Shanivaar): Named after शनि (Shani), the planet Saturn. In Hindu mythology, Shani is known for delivering justice and is often feared for his harsh but fair judgments. Saturn is associated with discipline, restriction, and hardship but also spiritual growth through challenges.
• रविवार (Ravivaar): Named after रवि (Ravi), another name for the Sun. In Hindu mythology, the Sun god is known as Surya or Ravi and is one of the principal deities worshipped for health, strength, and vitality. The word "ravi" means "sun" in Sanskrit.

The suffix वार (vaar) comes from the Sanskrit word "vaara," meaning "day," "time," or "occasion." This pattern of naming days after celestial bodies is found in many ancient civilizations and reflects how early astronomical observations influenced the organization of time.

Connection to Hindu Astrology (Jyotish)

The ordering of the days in the Hindu week follows the same sequence found in many cultures worldwide, based on the apparent speed of the seven visible celestial bodies as observed from Earth. This astronomical basis for the week is shared across many cultures, from the Middle East to Europe to South Asia, demonstrating the ancient origins of the seven-day week concept.

In Hindu astrology (Jyotish), each planet is believed to have specific characteristics and influences. The day associated with a particular planet is considered especially influenced by that planet's energy, which is why certain activities are traditionally recommended or avoided on specific days of the week in Hindu culture.

In Hindi-speaking cultures, particularly in India, the days of the week carry specific cultural and religious significance that influences daily life, rituals, and activities:

Religious and Cultural Significance

• सोमवार (Somvaar, Monday) is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many devotees fast on this day and visit Shiva temples. It's considered auspicious for beginning new ventures.
• मंगलवार (Mangalvaar, Tuesday) is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and the planet Mars (Mangal). Devotees wear red clothes and visit Hanuman temples. Some avoid cutting hair or starting new journeys on this day.
• बुधवार (Budhvaar, Wednesday) is associated with Lord Vishnu and the planet Mercury (Budh). It's considered favorable for intellectual pursuits, education, and commerce.
• गुरुवार (Guruvaar, Thursday) is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the planet Jupiter (Guru). Many people fast on this day for prosperity and wisdom. It's considered auspicious for beginning education or spiritual practices.
• शुक्रवार (Shukravaar, Friday) is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and the planet Venus (Shukra). Many women fast on this day for marital harmony and prosperity.
• शनिवार (Shanivaar, Saturday) is associated with Lord Hanuman and the planet Saturn (Shani). Some people avoid oil on this day and wear blue clothes to appease Saturn, believed to be a strict but fair planet.
• रविवार (Ravivaar, Sunday) is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya/Ravi). It's a day of rest in contemporary India, with many government offices and businesses closed.

Fasting Traditions

In Hindu tradition, many people observe fasts (vrat) on specific days of the week, dedicated to particular deities. These weekly fasting practices are believed to bring specific blessings:

• Monday fast: For Lord Shiva's blessings, peace, and prosperity
• Tuesday fast: For Lord Hanuman's protection and removal of obstacles
• Thursday fast: For knowledge, education, and success
• Friday fast: For wealth, beauty, and marital happiness
• Saturday fast: To mitigate the negative effects of Saturn

Auspicious Days for Activities

Traditional Hindu culture considers certain days more auspicious for specific activities:

• Starting education: Thursday (Guruvaar)
• Getting married: Varies by personal horoscope, but often Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday are preferred
• Starting a business: Wednesday (Budhvaar) or Thursday (Guruvaar)
• Purchasing new items: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are generally considered favorable
• Moving into a new home: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are typically considered auspicious

Pattern Recognition

All Hindi days of the week end with "वार" (vaar), meaning "day." Focus on learning the first part of each name, which refers to the associated celestial body:

• सोम (Som) - Moon
• मंगल (Mangal) - Mars
• बुध (Budh) - Mercury
• गुरु (Guru) - Jupiter
• शुक्र (Shukra) - Venus
• शनि (Shani) - Saturn
• रवि (Ravi) - Sun

Planetary Connections

If you're familiar with the planets in our solar system, you can use this knowledge to remember Hindi days. The order follows the same pattern used in many ancient civilizations based on the apparent speed of each celestial body:

• Monday (Moon-day) = सोमवार (Som = Moon)
• Tuesday (Mars' day in Norse mythology) = मंगलवार (Mangal = Mars)
• Wednesday (Mercury's day) = बुधवार (Budh = Mercury)
• Thursday (Jupiter's day) = गुरुवार (Guru = Jupiter)
• Friday (Venus' day) = शुक्रवार (Shukra = Venus)
• Saturday (Saturn's day) = शनिवार (Shani = Saturn)
• Sunday (Sun's day) = रविवार (Ravi = Sun)

Hindi Days of the Week Rhyme

A simple rhyme in Hindi that children often learn:

सोमवार, मंगलवार, बुधवार, गुरुवार,
शुक्रवार, शनिवार, और फिर रविवार।
सात दिन का सप्ताह,
हर दिन का अलग प्रभाव।

(Somvaar, Mangalvaar, Budhvaar, Guruvaar,
Shukravaar, Shanivaar, aur phir Ravivaar.
Saat din ka saptaah,
Har din ka alag prabhaav.)

(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday, Saturday, and then Sunday.
Seven days in a week,
Each day has a different influence.)