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Gudi Padwa

Hindu New Year: Regional Names, Dates and Traditions

Hindu New Year is not one uniform holiday: regional observances include Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba.

By ThatPainter Team 3 min read
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“Hindu New Year” refers to several regional New Year observances, not one holiday celebrated identically by all Hindus. Ugadi and Gudi Padwa are two Chaitra-linked examples, while official Indian sources also name Cheti Chand, Navreh, Sajibu Cheiraoba and other observances.

When is Hindu New Year?

For Chaitra-associated observances such as Ugadi and Gudi Padwa, the New Year falls at the beginning of Chaitra—described respectively as the start or first day of the month by India’s Ministry of Tourism. Its Gregorian date is not fixed from year to year. To find the date for a particular year, consult a current panchang that follows the relevant regional calendar.

The India Meteorological Department’s Rashtriya Panchanga presents dates across calendar systems, including the National Calendar, Nirayana, Gregorian and Islamic calendars, and includes information on regional calendar month starts. Choose a reference suited to the region and calendar convention you need.

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What is Hindu New Year called in different parts of India?

Names vary by region and community. India’s official sources group several observances under the broader New Year context, including:

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  • Ugadi: Karnataka’s New Year, observed at the start of Chaitra, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
  • Gudi Padwa: The Marathi New Year and first day of Chaitra, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
  • Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba: Other regional New Year observances named by official Indian sources.
  • Nav Samvatsar and Chaitra Shukladi: Additional names appearing in official listings.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs’ 2025 holiday calendar lists “Chaitra Sukladi, Gudi Padava, Ugadi, Cheti Chand” together. The National Portal of India also groups regional observance names. Such listings are useful references, but they do not mean every community observes the same holiday or customs.

Are Ugadi and Gudi Padwa the same?

They are distinct regional observances associated with the beginning of Chaitra, not interchangeable names for one uniform celebration. The Ministry of Tourism describes Ugadi as Karnataka’s New Year and Gudi Padwa as the Marathi New Year and first day of Chaitra. Their shared calendar association does not make local traditions identical.

Are there customs everyone follows?

No single set of customs is established as universal across Hindu New Year observances. Rituals, foods and ways of marking the day belong to particular regional and community traditions. For example, a practice associated with Ugadi should be described as an Ugadi tradition rather than presented as something all Hindus do for New Year.

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President Droupadi Murmu, in a President’s Secretariat release dated 18 March 2026, said: “The celebration of these festivals on the arrival of New Year symbolises India’s rich cultural diversity and our deep connection with nature.” The statement reflects the diversity of the observances rather than prescribing a single shared custom.

How should you check the date for your region?

  1. Identify the observance and region. Decide whether you mean Ugadi, Gudi Padwa or another regional New Year.
  2. Use a current calendar reference. Consult a panchang for the relevant year that follows the regional convention you need; the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
  3. Check the local calendar details. The Rashtriya Panchanga provides calendar information and regional month-start data, but a regional panchang is the more appropriate choice when you need a specific local observance date.

A printed panchang or almanac can also serve as a reference. Select an edition for the correct year and regional convention rather than assuming every almanac uses the same calendar reckoning.

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Why does the name “Hindu New Year” need context?

The phrase is a convenient umbrella, but it can obscure meaningful regional differences. Official sources use multiple names and connect some observances—particularly Ugadi and Gudi Padwa—to Chaitra. They do not establish one universal Hindu New Year date, name or collection of customs. Naming the specific observance and region gives readers a more accurate answer.

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