1st

Chaitra

चैत्र

Hindi/Devanagari

Mar 21–Apr 19 Lunar (Vikram Samvat) Aries–Taurus (♈→♉)

Major Festivals

Gudi Padwa / Navreh

गुडी पड़वा / नवरेह

Mar 21–Apr 2

Hindu New Year in North India. Celebrated with raising of Gudi (flag), traditional feasts, and family gatherings. Marks the beginning of the new lunar year in Vikram Samvat calendar.

Rama Navami

राम नवमी

Early–Mid Apr

Birth anniversary of Lord Rama, celebrated with prayers, recitation of the Ramayana, and bhajans. Devotees fast and seek blessings for righteousness (Dharma).

Auspicious Days for Rituals & Events

✓ Chaitra Pournami (Full moon) — auspicious for New Year celebrations and blessings

✓ Chaitra Amavasai (New moon) — Gudi Padwa, for new initiatives

About Chaitra

चैत्र (Chaitra) is the first month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar (Vikram Samvat), celebrated across North and Central India as the New Year. Gudi Padwa is the focal festival, with families raising the Gudi—a bamboo pole decorated with neem leaves, turmeric, sugarcane, and fabric—symbolizing prosperity and victory. Rama Navami celebrates Lord Rama's birth, reinforcing Dharmic values of truthfulness and righteousness. The month transitions from Aries to Taurus, representing the shift from action to manifestation. Chaitra is considered highly auspicious for starting new ventures, marriages, and significant life events. Diaspora Hindi families in USA, UK, and Middle East celebrate Gudi Padwa with traditional Puran Poli (sweet bread) and Chikhalwali (preparation of wheat paste), coordinating feasts via IST video calls with family in India.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Gudi Padwa 2026?

Gudi Padwa 2026 is celebrated on March 24, 2026 (Chaitra Suddha Pratipada new moon day). The exact date shifts yearly. Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of the Vikram Samvat year—2026 will be year 2082–83 in the Vikram Samvat calendar.

How does Gudi Padwa differ from Tamil New Year (Chithirai)?

Gudi Padwa (North Indian, Vikram Samvat lunar calendar) and Tamil New Year (South Indian, Tamil solar calendar) celebrate the new year but on different dates and using different calendar systems. Gudi Padwa falls on Chaitra Suddha Pratipada (lunar new moon), while Tamil New Year (Chithirai) falls on a fixed solar date (Apr 14). Gudi Padwa emphasizes the raising of the Gudi flag; Tamil New Year emphasizes new clothes and special foods like mango rice.

How do diaspora Hindi communities celebrate Gudi Padwa?

Diaspora Hindi families prepare traditional Puran Poli (sweet flatbread with lentil-jaggery filling), Churuli (sweet-savory spiral bread), and Chikhalwali. Many gather at temples for pujas followed by community feasts. Traditional music performances and Marathi/Hindi folk dances may be included. Some families create DIY Gudi from locally available materials, maintaining symbolic representation. Virtual celebrations with India-based family involve synchronized meal preparation and online gatherings.

View Chaitra in Other Languages

Tamil Telugu Kannada Gujarati Rajasthani