Hindu New Year (Ugadi, Gudi Padwa) · Ugadi, Gudi Padwa

Culture of origin: Hindu · Cultural

Holiday sources: Hinduism

Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the day after the new moon of Chaitra, begins the year in the lunisolar calendar, and Chaitra Navaratri starts with it. In Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana it is Ugadi: families share pachadi, a dish of six tastes, sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent, each standing for a side of life, and gather in the evening to hear the new year's almanac read (Panchanga Shravanam). In Maharashtra every household raises a gudi, a bamboo pole dressed in bright cloth with neem and mango leaves and topped with an upturned metal pot. Sindhis celebrate the same day as Cheti Chand.