One of OIOA’s principles is that we don’t choose between traditions for you. Where a community follows more than one reckoning, you choose. That raises a natural question: which should I pick? Here’s a short guide, community by community, in alphabetical order.
Hindu
The Hindu Home screen calculates the panchang and muhurat windows for your location, so the most important setting is the right city, either your phone’s location or a city you choose. Month names follow either the Amanta or Purnimanta convention by region; if month names look unfamiliar, read Purnimanta and Amanta.
Islamic
There are two choices:
- Prayer-time method: Karachi, Muslim World League or another. Pick the one your mosque uses. In India, Karachi is common. See prayer-time methods.
- Calendar option: Shia, Bohra (Dawoodi, Misri) or Makkah (Umm al-Qura). Pick the one your community follows. For months begun by local moon sighting, treat the date as a guide and follow your local announcement. See Shia and Bohra calendars.
Jain
Choose your sect’s calendar: Shwetamber, Digamber, Khartargachh, Sthanakwasi or another. If you’re unsure, ask at your derasar, sthanak or upashraya, or follow your local sangh’s calendar. See Jain sects and their calendars.
Parsi
Choose Shahenshahi, Kadmi or Fasli. Most Parsi families in India follow Shahenshahi; ask your family elders or your agiary if you’re unsure. See Shahenshahi, Kadmi and Fasli.
Sikh / Punjabi
Choose the original 2003 Nanakshahi calendar or the SGPC method. Many gurdwaras in India follow the SGPC jantri; others follow the original. Ask at your gurdwara. See the two versions compared.
You can always switch
Settings aren’t permanent. You can change your community, method or calendar at any time, for example to see when a relative following another tradition observes a day.
If your method isn’t listed
Tell us. Methods and sects are exactly the kind of thing we want to hear about. Send a request with your community’s published calendar if you can.