Calendar Direction as per Vastu: Which Wall to Choose

Yes, the direction of a calendar matters in Vastu custom, because a calendar stands for the movement of time, much like a clock. Where it hangs is said to reflect how smoothly the days ahead move.

To be honest about the source, printed wall calendars are modern objects and classical Vastu texts do not mention them. Indian homes have long kept a पंचांग (panchang, the traditional almanac), and today's calendar guidance is later custom built on the same respect for time. It is a small, harmless habit that costs nothing to follow.

A calendar should be hung on the North, East or West wall of a room. These are the three walls traditionally recommended.

You should not hang a calendar on the South wall, or on or behind a door, according to traditional guidance. These spots are said to slow progress or to keep time 'swinging' with every person who walks in.

Take old calendars down as soon as the year ends. In Vastu, an out-of-date calendar is treated like a stopped clock, a small sign of time standing still.

The same applies during the year. Turn the page when the month changes, because a calendar stuck three months behind does the opposite of its job. If you love the pictures, cut them out and frame them. Recycle the remaining paper. If an old calendar carries a deity's image, many families set that page aside respectfully and do not throw it into ordinary waste.

Pleasant, hopeful pictures are suitable on a calendar: sunrise, greenery, flowers, flowing water, birds, mountains or a deity your family prays to. You will see the image every day for a month, so it should feel good to look at.

Images that are usually avoided include war scenes, wild animals attacking, storms, sinking boats, dry or burnt landscapes and crying faces. This is partly Vastu custom and partly common sense about mood. A plain calendar with large, clear dates and no picture at all is also perfectly fine, and often more useful.

A desk calendar should be placed on the North or East side of your desk, where you can read it without turning. Keep it showing the current month and free of clutter.

Do not let it block your view of the door or of visitors. If your office wall has room, the wall you face is a better place than the wall behind your chair. For shops, clinics and offices, our commercial Vastu page explains how the wider workspace is arranged.

If your flat has very few free walls, choose whichever North, East or West spot you have and do not worry about the room. In compact Mumbai homes, walls are taken up by windows, wardrobes and the television.

The side of a cupboard that faces the right way, a pin-board in the passage, or the kitchen's East wall away from the stove all work. Not sure which wall is which? Use a phone compass or our direction finder. If the South wall is truly the only place, hang the calendar there and keep it current. A well-kept calendar matters more than a perfectly placed one.

Consult a Vastu expert when you want the whole home or office reviewed, not just one object. A calendar is a small detail, and it supports a space that is already balanced. It cannot correct a larger issue.

Dr. Kimaya Parikh-Ambekar of VastuKimaya, Andheri East, Mumbai, takes compass readings of every room and gives non-structural remedies in a written report. The start of a year is a natural time for such a review. You can book an appointment for an on-site or distant consultation.