Kumbha (month) of Mīna. The solar month is significant because it inspires the name of the 12-year cycled Kumbha Mela, where Hindu pilgrims gather by tens of millions to one of four pilgrimage sites, in the weeks before it starts. The Kumbha month is called "Masi" in the Tamil Hindu calendar. The ancient and medieval era Sanskrit texts of India vary in their calculations about the duration of Kumbha, just like they do with other months. For example, the "Surya Siddhanta" calculates the duration of Kumbha to be 29 days, 19 hours, 41 minutes and 12 seconds. In contrast, the "Arya Siddhanta"
Surya Siddhanta in South and Southeast Asia are rooted in this text, but the regional calendars adapted and modified them over time. The "Surya Siddhanta" calculates the solar year to be 365 days 6 hours 12 minutes and 36.56 seconds. On average, according to the text, the lunar month equals 27 days 7 hours 39 minutes 12.63 seconds. It states that the lunar month varies over time, and this needs to be factored in for accurate time keeping. According to Whitney, the Surya Siddhanta calculations were tolerably accurate and achieved predictive usefulness. In Chapter 1 of "Surya Siddhanta", states Whitney, "the Hindu