Kalnirnay is an Indian almanac (panchang) published annually from Mumbai, Maharashtra. Combining the traditional Hindu panchang with the Gregorian calendar, it lists tithis, festivals, religious observances, civic holidays, and astrological information across multiple Indian communities and faiths. It is widely regarded as one of the most popular printed calendars in India and is distributed in several Indian languages.
| Type | Almanac / calmanac (calendar-cum-almanac) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Jayantrao Salgaocar |
| Year founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Publisher | Sumangal Press |
| Languages | Marathi, Hindi, English, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and others |
| Frequency | Annual |
The word Kalnirnay is derived from Sanskrit, broadly meaning "determination of time". Traditional Indian panchangs were typically dense reference works used by priests and astrologers. Kalnirnay was conceived as a household-friendly publication that retained panchang detail while presenting information in a tabular monthly format alongside the Gregorian calendar.
Kalnirnay was launched in 1973 by Jayantrao Salgaocar, who designed the publication to merge religious, cultural, and civic timekeeping in a single compact format. The first edition was published in Marathi. Over subsequent decades editions in additional Indian languages were introduced to serve readers across linguistic regions.
After the death of the founder, the publication has continued under the management of the Salgaocar family. Beyond the printed calendar, Kalnirnay has expanded into digital formats, including websites and mobile applications that reproduce festival, tithi, and muhurat information.
A standard Kalnirnay edition is a wall-mountable booklet with one page or spread for each Gregorian month. Typical content includes:
Kalnirnay is published in multiple regional editions adapted to local festivals, regional calendars (such as the Shaka and Vikram Samvat) and language preferences. Marathi remains its flagship edition, while the Hindi and English editions are widely circulated across northern and urban India.
Kalnirnay is considered a cultural fixture in many Indian households, particularly in Maharashtra, where it is commonly displayed in kitchens and offices. By integrating the panchang with the civic calendar in an accessible layout, it helped bring traditional timekeeping into everyday domestic use. The publication is frequently cited as one of the largest-selling almanacs in the world by circulation.