What is "prathama"

Prathama is the Sanskrit word for "first", and is the first day in the lunar fortnight ( Paksha) of the Hindu calendar. Prathama is also known as Pratipada in Odisha & western India (Maharashtra, Konkan and Goa). Each month has two Prathama days, being the first day of the "bright" (Shukla) and of the "dark" (Krishna) fortnights respectively. Thus Prathama occurs on the first and the sixteenth day of each month. It is also known as Pratipad or Pratipada.

Prathama means "first" in Sanskrit.

It can refer to:

• Prathama (day), the first day in the lunar fortnight (Paksha) of the Hindu calendar.
• Prathama Blood Centre, in Ahmedabad