Festival guide
Ugadi / Gudi Padwa
Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is the lunar New Year for much of India and the first day of Chaitra Navratri. It is celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in the Deccan.
Ugadi / Gudi Padwa dates
| Year | Date | Tithi and its timings |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday 19 March | Chaitra Shukla Pratipada 19 Mar, 06:53 → 20 Mar, 04:52 |
| 2027 | Wednesday 7 April | Chaitra Shukla Pratipada 7 Apr, 05:21 → 8 Apr, 04:29 |
Dates for New Delhi, India; times in Asia/Kolkata. Observed by the rule: tithi at sunrise.
Also known as: Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra), Ugadi (Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana), Cheti Chand (Sindhi), Navreh (Kashmir).
Story and significance
Tradition holds that Brahma began creation on this day. In Maharashtra the gudi — a pole topped with a bright cloth and an upturned pot — recalls victory and prosperity.
How Ugadi / Gudi Padwa is celebrated
- Oil bath, new clothes and decorating doorways with mango leaves and rangoli
- Raising the gudi at the entrance in Maharashtra
- Eating Ugadi pachadi, a dish of six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, astringent) symbolising life’s experiences
- Panchanga shravanam — listening to the new year’s almanac read aloud
- Ghatasthapana for the nine nights of Chaitra Navratri
Customs vary between regions, communities and families. Please follow the guidance of your family priest or local temple for rituals and timings.
Frequently asked questions
When is Ugadi / Gudi Padwa 2026?
Ugadi / Gudi Padwa 2026 falls on Thursday, 19 March 2026, for New Delhi. Choose your city above to see the date for your location.
When is Ugadi / Gudi Padwa 2027?
Ugadi / Gudi Padwa 2027 falls on Wednesday, 7 April 2027, for New Delhi. Choose your city above to see the date for your location.
Why does the date of Ugadi / Gudi Padwa change every year?
Ugadi / Gudi Padwa is fixed by the lunar calendar — the Shukla Paksha tithi 1 of Chaitra (amanta calendar) — not the Gregorian calendar. Lunar months drift against solar dates, so the festival moves by up to a few weeks from year to year.
Can Ugadi / Gudi Padwa fall on different dates in India and abroad?
Yes. The rule depends on the tithi at a particular time of day at your location, so a tithi that begins just before sunrise in India may begin after sunrise in North America, moving the observance by a day.