Ugadi / Gudi Padwa in Chandigarh

Date and timing in this city

In Chandigarh, Ugadi and Gudi Padwa fall on Thursday 19 March 2026. The following year, the observance falls on Wednesday 7 April 2027. Both dates rest on the same tithi: Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month Chaitra. Chandigarh keeps Asia/Kolkata as its time zone.

This is a lunar new year observance, kept as the Deccan new year in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. The presiding deity associated with the day is Brahma. Because the tithi is watched from the local sunrise, the date printed for Chandigarh is the one computed for Chandigarh's own sunrise, not borrowed from another city or region.

Why the date can differ from India

Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is tied to the Moon's movement, and the moment it begins and ends is judged against the sunrise of a given place. Sunrise in Chandigarh is not the same moment as sunrise in Bengaluru, Hyderabad or Pune. When the tithi is still running at Chandigarh's sunrise, the observance is kept that day; when it has not yet begun, it shifts. This is why a single panchang can show slightly different dates across the country.

Calendar convention also matters. Some communities follow the amanta reckoning, where the month ends at the new moon, while others follow the purnimanta reckoning, where it ends at the full moon. Smarta and Vaishnava households may also differ on which moment anchors the day. Traditions differ; the tithi, not a fixed civil date, is the deciding factor.

Where and how the community celebrates

Chandigarh is home to residents from many parts of India, so the day is observed in more than one style. Families with roots in the Deccan and Maharashtra mark it as Ugadi or Gudi Padwa; others in the city may simply note it as the lunar new year. The observance is a lunar new year (Deccan) festival, and the customs that travel with it are household customs.

• Cleaning and decorating the home, and preparing a festive meal.
• Reading or listening to the panchang for the year ahead.
• In Maharashtra, raising the Gudi and offering prayers.
• In Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, preparing the traditional Ugadi dishes and sharing them with neighbours.

Specific venues, temples, organisers and public events in Chandigarh are not listed here, since these change from year to year and are best confirmed locally.

Practical tips

• Confirm the tithi and sunrise timing with a local Chandigarh panchang close to the date.
• If your family follows a particular convention (amanta or purnimanta, Smarta or Vaishnava), follow that household practice.
• For personal charts and individual guidance, consult a qualified jyotishi.