Vaishakh month or Vaishakh mahina or Vaishakh Maas is the second month in traditional Hindu calendar. Vaishakh Month 2011 starts on April 19 and ends on 17 May 2011 in North Indian Hindi calendars. Vaishakh mahina 2011 begins on May 4 and ends on 1 June 2011 as per Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, and Telugu calendars.
Vaisakh month is considered as most auspicious month and favorite month for Lord Vishnu. Among the three auspicious months (Kartik mahina, Magh mahina and Vaisakh mahina) Vaisakh mahina is the supreme month as per the Sage Narada. Vaisakh Snan or Vaishakha snanam is the meritorious ritual performed during the month. Vaisakha maas has the sacredness to cleanse the sins of previous births and free the devotee from the result of his bad deeds.
In Gujarati calendars, Vaishakh month is the seventh month. In Bengali and Oriya calendars, Vaisakh month or Baishakh month is the first month. Pohela Boishakh, the first day of Baishakh month, marks the beginning of Bengali New Year.
Vaishakh month coincides with Chithirai and Vaikasi masam in Tamil calendar and Medam month and Edavam month in Malayalam calendar.
Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej), Adi Shankara Jayanti, Ganga Pujan and Ganga Saptami, Narasimha Jayanti or Narasimha Chaturdashi, and Kurma Jayanti are the important festivals in Vaishakh month. In 2011, Ganga Pushkarams are also coinciding with Ganga Pujan days in Vaishakh mahina.