Chaitra Maas 2026: The Hindu New Year commences throughout various regions of India when Chaitra month arrives. The Hindu lunar calendar considers this month to be its most important month. The religious calendar for the upcoming year starts with Chaitra because it contains both major Navratri celebrations and Ram Navami festivities.
When Does Chaitra Month 2026 Begin and End?
The North Indian traditional Hindu lunisolar calendar uses the Purnimanta system to schedule Chaitra month for 2026 which will start on March 4 and end on April 2. The month calculations will show minor differences in regions that use the Amanta calendar which is common in Maharashtra Gujarat Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Chaitra Navratri 2026
The month includes Chaitra Navratri as its most important festival which celebrates Goddess Durga through her nine different forms. Chaitra Navratri will start on March 4, 2026, which falls on Shukla Pratipada and will end with Ram Navami on March 12, 2026.
Hindu New Year Celebrations: Regional Variations
Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is celebrated as the New Year in several regions under different names:
- The people from Maharashtra celebrate this festival under the name of Gudi Padwa.
- The people from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka celebrate this festival under the name of Ugadi.
- The people from Kashmir celebrate this festival as Navreh.
Ram Navami 2026
Ram Navami exists as a Hindu festival which celebrates Lord Rama’s birth on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha. The festival will take place in 2026 on March 12.
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Chaitra Month 2026 (Hindu Calendar): Major Days and Festivals
1. 4 March 2026: Start of Chaitra month
2. 4 March 2026: Holi
3. 5 March 2026: Bhai Dooj / Bhratri Dwitiya
4. 6 March 2026: Bhallchandra Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat
5. 8 March 2026: Rang Panchami
6. 10 March 2026: Sheetala Saptami
7. 11 March 2026: Sheetala Ashtami and Associated Vrats
8. 15 March 2026: Papmochini Ekadashi
9. 16 March 2026: Pradosh Vrat
10. 17 March 2026: Masik Shivratri
11. 18 March 2026: Darsha Amavasya
12. 19 March 2026: Chaitra Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana / Gudi Padwa / Ugadi)
13. 20 March 2026: Navratri Day 2 (Dwitiya): Maa Brahmacharini
14. 21 March 2026: Navratri Day 3 (Tritiya): Maa Chandraghanta
15. 22 March 2026: Navratri Day 4 (Chaturthi): Maa Kushmanda
16. 23 March 2026: Navratri Day 5 (Panchami): Maa Skandamata
17. 24 March 2026: Navratri Day 6 (Shashthi): Maa Katyayani
18. 25 March 2026: Navratri Day 7 (Saptami): Maa Kalaratri
19. 26 March 2026: Navratri Day 8 (Ashtami): Maa Mahagauri
20. 27 March 2026: Navratri Day 9 (Navami): Maa Siddhidatri & Ram Navami
21. Late March / Early April: Hanuman Jayanti
22. 2 April 2026: End of Chaitra Month
Why Is Chaitra Month Spiritually Important?
Hindus believe that Lord Brahma created the universe during the Chaitra period according to their beliefs. The month possesses strong spiritual energy because of the seasonal changes which increase the collective spiritual state of existence in nature according to Hindu scriptures.
