The Chaitra month will begin from the Pratipada date of Krishna Paksha. According to the Hindu calendar, the Chaitra month is the first month of the year and the Hindu New Year begins on the Pratipada date of Shukla Paksha. From this day Chaitra Navratri begins.
In the Hindu religion, the month Chaitra has a special significance as it is believed that Lord Ram was born during this time in Ayodhya. Immediately after the Hindu New Year, the Sun will move into Mesha (Aries) Sankranti. The first Somvati Amavasya of the year and the first solar eclipse of the year will take place during the month of Chaitra. Here is a list of Chaitra festivals and the main days on which fasts can be observed.
According to Dr. Ganesh Mishra, astrologer at Central Sanskrit University, Puri, the Pratipada Krishna Paksha month of Chaitra will begin at 12:29 pm on Monday, March 25 and will end at 02:55 pm on Tuesday, March 26. The month of Udayatithi in Chaitra will begin on March 26 and end on Chaitra Purnima Tithi. Chaitra Purnima will fall on Wednesday, April 24. On this day, people take bath early in the morning, offer donations and perform charity works.
Here is a list of major fasts and festivals of Chaitra 2024.
Tuesday, March 26: the month of Chaitra begins
Wednesday, March 27: Holi Bhai Dooj
Thursday, March 28: Bhalchandra Sankashti Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi) and Shivaji Jayanti
Friday, March 29 – Good Friday
Saturday March 30 – Rang Panchami
Sunday, March 31 – Holy Week
Tuesday, April 2: Shitala Ashtami, Basoda
Friday, April 5 – Paapmochani Ekadashi Fast
Saturday, April 6 – Shani Pradosh Vrat
Sunday, April 7 – Monthly Shivratri of Chaitra
Monday, April 8 – Somvati Amavasya, Chaitra Amavasya, the first solar eclipse of the year
Tuesday, April 9: Chaitra Navratri, Ghatasthapana, Maa Shail Putri Puja, Jhulelal Jayanti, beginning of Hindu New Year, Gudi Padwa.
Thursday, April 11: Matsya Jayanti, Gangaur
Friday, April 12 – Chaitra Vinayak Chaturthi
Saturday, April 13 – Start of the Solar New Year, Aries Sankranti, Vaisakhi
Sunday, April 14 – Yamuna Chhath
Wednesday, April 17 – Paraná of Chaitra Navratri, Ram Navami
Friday, April 18 – Kamada Ekadashi Fast
Saturday April 20 – Vaman Dwadashi
Sunday, April 21: Ravi Pradosh Vrat, Mahavir Jayanti
Tuesday, April 23 – Chaitra Purnima Vrat
Wednesday, April 24 – Chaitra Purnima Bath and Donation
