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Chaitra

For the films, seeChaitra (2002 film)andChaitra (2023 film).

Chaitra(Sanskrit:चैत्र,romanized:Caitra) is amonthof theHindu calendar.

Chaitra
Chaitra month,Jaipurminiature in theNational MuseuminWarsaw.
Native nameचैत्र(Sanskrit)
CalendarHindu calendar
Month number1
Number of days31
SeasonSpring
Gregorian equivalentMarch 22, 2023–April
Significant days

In the standardHindu calendarandIndia's national civil calendar,Chaitra is the first month of the year. It is the last month in theBengali calendar,where it is called Choitro. Chaitra or Chait is also the last month in the Nepali calendar (theVikram Samvat), where it commences in mid-March. Chittirai is the first month in theTamil calendar.In the Sindhi calendar, this month is referred to as Chet and is marked by the celebration of theCheti Chand(birth ofJhulelal,an incarnation of Vishnu). In theVaishnavacalendar,Vishnugoverns this month. In solar religious calendars, Chaitra begins with the Sun's entry intoAries.[citation needed]

In the more traditional reckoning, the first month commences in March or April of theGregorian calendar,[1][2]depending upon whether theadhika masa(extra month for alignment of lunar or solar calendar) was observed in the year. The first day of Chaitra is marked as theChaitra Navaratri,the Hindu lunar new year.

Names

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Festivals

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The month ofChaitrais also associated with the departure of spring.Holi,the Hindu spring festival of colours, is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) ofPhalguna,the month beforeChaitra,exactly six days after which theChaitiform of theChhathfestival is observed.

InChandramana(lunar) religious calendars, Chaitra begins with the new moon in March−April and is the first month of the year. The nine-day festival ChaitraNavratri[3]orNavadurga(or "Nava Durga", the 'nine forms of the GoddessDurga') starts fromChaitra ShuklaPratipada.The first day of month Chaitra is celebrated as Hindu New Year's Day, known asGudi Padwa[4][better source needed]inMaharashtra,PuthanduinTamil Nadu[5]andUgadiinKarnataka,Telangana,andAndhra Pradesh.InWest Bengal,Basanti Puja, Annapurna Puja, Ram Nabami, Neel Puja and Chorok Puja (a.k.a.'Gajon') are held consecutively before the beginning of Bengali New Year onPoila Baishakh.

See also

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References

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  1. ^Henderson, Helene. (Ed.) (2005)Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionaryThird edition. Electronic edition. Detroit: Omnigraphics, p. xxix.ISBN0-7808-0982-3
  2. ^TimeAndDate.compresents Chaitra Sukhladi in Gregorian Calendars
  3. ^"Navratri 2023: Date — Chaitra Navratri".BhaktiBharat.com.
  4. ^"Gudi Padawa".[better source needed]
  5. ^"Chaitra Vishu".
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