Ugadi / Gudi Padwa in Ayodhya

Date and timing in this city

In Ayodhya, the festival of Ugadi / Gudi Padwa is observed on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Chaitra. Because the tithi is tied to the Moon's movement rather than to the civil calendar, the date is worked out for Ayodhya's own sunrise and its own time zone, Asia/Kolkata.

For Ayodhya, the date falls on:

• 2026: Thursday 19 March 2026
• 2027: Wednesday 7 April 2027

The observance is the lunar new year, and the deity associated with the day is Brahma. The same tithi is celebrated across India under different regional names, and Ugadi / Gudi Padwa is the form most familiar in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra.

Why the date can differ from India

A single panchang date is not computed once for the whole country. It is computed for a given place, using that place's sunrise and its time zone. Ayodhya's sunrise and its position within Asia/Kolkata are what determine the local date shown above.

This is why a festival date printed for one city can differ by a day from another, and why a date given for "India" in general may not match Ayodhya exactly. Traditions also differ on where the lunar month is reckoned to begin — some follow the amanta system, others the purnimanta — and Smarta and Vaishnava households may mark the day slightly differently. Where such differences exist, families usually follow the practice of their own lineage and the panchang they trust.

Where and how the community celebrates (general, no venue claims)

Ugadi / Gudi Padwa is a home-centred observance as much as a public one. Households begin the day with a bath and clean, often new, clothes, and the home is decorated. A kalash or gudi is set up in many homes, and the day is treated as the start of a fresh lunar year.

In Ayodhya, as elsewhere, the day is marked with prayers, the reading or listening of the panchang, and the sharing of the traditional Ugadi preparations — neem, jaggery, tamarind and similar tastes that together carry bitter, sweet and sour notes. Families exchange greetings and visit elders. The details vary by region and by family, and no single form is the only correct one.

Practical tips

• Confirm the date against a panchang computed for Ayodhya, not a general national listing.
• Note that the tithi may begin or end at a particular hour; if your family observes a specific window, check the local timing.
• Follow your own family or sampradaya custom where it differs from a general description.
• For anything tied to your personal chart, consult a qualified jyotishi rather than relying on a general festival page.