Chaitra

Overview

Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar according to the Vikram Samvat tradition followed across most of North India. It typically falls in March or April of the Gregorian calendar and marks the arrival of spring. Chaitra opens with the new moon (amavasya) and contains the nine days of Chaitra Navratri, culminating in Ram Navami on the ninth day of the bright fortnight.

Notable Festivals

Chaitra Navratri is observed with daily worship of the nine forms of the goddess Durga and concludes with Ram Navami, commemorating the birth of Lord Rama. The Marathi and Konkani New Year (Gudi Padwa) and the Telugu and Kannada New Year (Ugadi) both fall on the first day of Chaitra Shukla. The month is regarded as one of the most spiritually charged periods of the Hindu year, traditionally associated with new beginnings, fasting, and pilgrimage.