The Jalali calendar is the solar calendar used in Iran and Afghanistan, where it is usually called the Solar Hijri or simply the "solar" calendar. Its year begins at Nowruz, the spring equinox, and its months run from Farvardin to Esfand in Iran and from Hamal to Hut in Afghanistan. This guide explains where it comes from, why it is so accurate and how the month names of the two countries line up.
Where it comes from
In 1079 CE the Seljuk sultan Jalal al-Din Malik-Shah commissioned a group of astronomers to reform the calendar. The best known of them was Omar Khayyam. The result was a calendar whose year starts exactly at the moment of the vernal equinox, and it is named "Jalali" after the sultan.
Years are counted from the Hijra, the Prophet's migration in 622 CE, which is why it is also called the Solar Hijri calendar. "Jalali" describes the method of calculation; "Hijri" describes the starting point of the count.
Iran made today's structure official in 1925 (1304 in the Solar Hijri count): six months of 31 days, five of 30 and Esfand with 29 days, or 30 in a leap year, together with Persian month names. Afghanistan uses the same calendar with the Arabic names of the zodiac signs.
Why it is more accurate than the Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar adds leap days by a fixed rule: every fourth year, except century years not divisible by 400. That rule drifts by about one day in 3,300 years.
The Jalali calendar takes the new year from the actual position of the sun: if the equinox falls before noon in Tehran, that day is Nowruz; otherwise the next day is. Its drift is therefore practically zero and it never needs a correction. In software the rule is implemented with standard algorithms, such as the jalaali-js library that RizKharj uses.
Month names in Iran and Afghanistan
| # | Iran | Afghanistan (Dari) | Afghanistan (Pashto) | Zodiac sign | Approx. Gregorian dates | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farvardin | Hamal | Wray | Aries | 21 Mar – 20 Apr | 31 |
| 2 | Ordibehesht | Sawr | Ghwayay | Taurus | 21 Apr – 21 May | 31 |
| 3 | Khordad | Jawza | Gharagolay | Gemini | 22 May – 21 Jun | 31 |
| 4 | Tir | Saratan | Chungash | Cancer | 22 Jun – 22 Jul | 31 |
| 5 | Mordad | Asad | Zmaray | Leo | 23 Jul – 22 Aug | 31 |
| 6 | Shahrivar | Sunbula | Wagay | Virgo | 23 Aug – 22 Sep | 31 |
| 7 | Mehr | Mizan | Tala | Libra | 23 Sep – 22 Oct | 30 |
| 8 | Aban | Aqrab | Laram | Scorpio | 23 Oct – 21 Nov | 30 |
| 9 | Azar | Qaws | Lindai | Sagittarius | 22 Nov – 21 Dec | 30 |
| 10 | Dey | Jadi | Marghumay | Capricorn | 22 Dec – 20 Jan | 30 |
| 11 | Bahman | Dalw | Salwagha | Aquarius | 21 Jan – 19 Feb | 30 |
| 12 | Esfand | Hut | Kab | Pisces | 20 Feb – 20 Mar | 29/30 |
The Gregorian dates shift by a day in some years. Days and structure are identical in both countries, so 24 Shahrivar and 24 Sunbula are the same day.
Where the names come from
The Iranian names come from the Avesta and Zoroastrian concepts: Farvardin (the guardian spirits), Ordibehesht (best truth), Khordad (perfection), Tir (the star Tishtrya, bringer of rain), Mordad (immortality), Shahrivar (good rule), Mehr (covenant and the sun), Aban (the waters), Azar (fire), Dey (the creator), Bahman (good thought), Esfand (holy devotion).
The Afghan names are the Arabic names of the twelve zodiac signs; each month begins when the sun enters that sign. They are the names used in classical Persian astronomy, including the works of Khayyam and al-Biruni.
Practical notes
- Nowruz, 1 Farvardin / 1 Hamal, is the new year and a public holiday in both countries.
- Leap years usually come every four years, occasionally after five; Esfand/Hut then has 30 days.
- Quick year conversion: Solar Hijri year + 621 = Gregorian year from Nowruz to 31 December, + 622 from January to Nowruz. For example, 1405 = 2026/2027.
- The week starts on Saturday in both countries; Friday is the weekly day off.
The Jalali calendar in RizKharj
RizKharj supports the Jalali and Gregorian calendars side by side. Switch under Settings › General › Calendar; transaction dates, monthly reports and savings-goal deadlines follow your choice, and your data stays the same. Month names use the Iranian form (Farvardin to Esfand); readers in Afghanistan can use the table above, and the Afghan afghani (AFN) is one of the app's 156 currencies.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Jalali calendar the same as the Persian calendar?
Yes. "Jalali" is the historical and technical name, "Solar Hijri" the official one and "Persian calendar" the common English name. They all mean the same calendar.
Why do Afghan months have zodiac names?
Because each month starts exactly when the sun enters that zodiac sign. The names come from medieval Islamic-era astronomy; Iran replaced them with Avestan names in 1925, while Afghanistan kept them.
What year is it in the Persian calendar?
The year 1405 began on 1 Farvardin (21 March 2026) and runs until 29 Esfand (20 March 2027).