# Alexa Malayalam Calendar Skill

An Alexa skill that calculates and announces today's date in the Malayalam Kollavarsham calendar along with the corresponding Nakshatra (birth star), calculated in real-time according to Indian Standard Time (IST).

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## Development Prerequisites & Tools

To build, test, and deploy this project, ensure you have the following tools installed on your environment:

### 1. Node.js & npm
- **Node.js**: Version 20.x or higher (Supports Node.js 24+).
- **npm**: Version 10.x or higher.
- **Type Support**: Uses native ES Modules (`"type": "module"` with `.mjs` files).

Verify your setup:

```powershell
node -v
npm -v
```

### 2. PowerShell
- Required by the build and deployment scripts (`./scripts/build.ps1` and `./scripts/deploy.ps1`).
- Included by default on **Windows 10 / 11**.
- On **macOS / Linux**, install PowerShell Core (`brew install --cask powershell`).

### 3. AWS CLI (Optional — for Deployment)
- Required if you plan to deploy the compiled Lambda handler directly using the deploy script.
- Install from the Official AWS CLI Page.
- Configure credentials with sufficient IAM permissions before running deployment: `aws configure`

## Getting Started

### 1. Installation
Clone the repository and install the development dependencies:

1. `git clone <your-repository-url>`
2. `cd MalayalamCalendarAlexaSkill`
3. `npm install`

## Development & Testing

The project uses `ask-sdk-test` for end-to-end intent tests for Alexa request envelopes,
and Mocha to provide isolated unit testing for core calendar math. 

### Run All Tests
- `npm test`

### Run Specific Test Suites
- Unit test for date conversion & Kollavarsham calculations: `npx mocha tests/calendar.spec.mjs`
- Integration test for Alexa launch and intent handlers: `npx mocha tests/index.spec.mjs`

## Build & Deployment

### Build Deployment Package
Packages `src/` and production `node_modules` into a zip bundle suitable for AWS Lambda upload:
- `npm run build`

### Deploy to AWS Lambda
Executes the PowerShell deploy script to upload the latest artifact to your configured AWS Lambda function:
- `npm run deploy`

## Info

### Lunar Month

Amanta and Purnimanta are two systems of measuring lunar months.

- Amanta months begin after the new moon and end on the no moon day 
- Purnimanta months start after the full moon and end on the full moon day

In Kerala, the Amanta system is followed.

- 1 Chingam (ചിങ്ങം), Aug – Sep, New Year, Onam Festival
- 2 Kanni (കന്നി), Sep – Oct, Mahanavami, Vijayadashami
- 3 Thulam (തുലാം), Oct – Nov, Monsoon retreat (Thulavarsham)
- 4 Vrischikam (വൃശ്ചികം), Nov – Dec, Sabarimala Season begins
- 5 Dhanu (ധനു), Dec – Jan, Thiruvathira Festival
- 6 Makaram (മകരം), Jan – Feb, Makaravilakku
- 7 Kumbham (കുംഭം), Feb – Mar, Maha Shivaratri
- 8 Meenam (മീനം), Mar – Apr, Temple Festivals (Pooram)
- 9 Medam (മേടം), Apr – May, Vishu (Harvest Festival)
- 10 Edavam (ഇടവം), May – Jun, Arrival of Monsoon
- 11 Mithunam (മിഥുനം), Jun – Jul, Heavy rains
- 12 Karkidakam (കർക്കടകം), Jul – Aug, Ramayana Masam, Ayurveda Season

### Reference Calendar for Verification

https://www.drikpanchang.com/malayalam