Gudi Padwa / Ugadi 2012
New-year day of the Deccan — the gudhi is hoisted and neem-jaggery shared.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:58
- Sunset18:10
- Fasting window (tithi)2012-03-22 · 20:06 → 21:59
- Parana (tithi ends)21:59
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Gudi Padwa / Ugadi puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaGudi Padwa / Ugadi — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Gudi Padwa?
On the Shukla Pratipada of Chaitra, the first day of the Hindu lunar year, usually in late March or early April. It also opens Chaitra Navratri. This year's date is shown above.
What does the gudi represent?
The gudi — a bright cloth on a bamboo topped with an upturned pot, neem and mango leaves — is a flag of victory and welcome, raised for the new year and, in tradition, for Rama's return to Ayodhya. It is worshipped and lowered by sunset.
Why is neem eaten with jaggery on Gudi Padwa?
Taking the bitter neem with sweet jaggery at the year's first meal is an acceptance of both the bitter and the sweet the year will bring, and has a seasonal logic — neem cools and purifies the blood as the summer heat begins.
Is Gudi Padwa the same as Ugadi?
They are the same day — the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada new year — kept as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and the Konkan and as Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra and Telangana, with regional customs.
Other major festivals in 2012
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2012
- Vasant Panchami — 28 January 2012
- Maha Shivaratri — 20 February 2012
- Holika Dahan — 7 March 2012
- Holi — 9 March 2012
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 23 March 2012
- Ram Navami — 1 April 2012
- Akshaya Tritiya — 24 April 2012
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 21 June 2012
- Guru Purnima — 3 July 2012
- Nag Panchami — 24 July 2012
- Raksha Bandhan — 2 August 2012
- Krishna Janmashtami — 8 September 2012
- Hartalika Teej — 18 September 2012
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 19 September 2012
- Anant Chaturdashi — 29 September 2012
- Pitru Paksha begins — 1 October 2012
- Sharad Navratri begins — 16 October 2012
- Durga Ashtami — 22 October 2012
- Maha Navami — 23 October 2012
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 24 October 2012
- Karwa Chauth — 2 November 2012
- Dhanteras — 11 November 2012
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 13 November 2012
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 13 November 2012
- Govardhan Puja — 14 November 2012
- Bhai Dooj — 15 November 2012
- Chhath Puja — 19 November 2012
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 28 November 2012
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 28 November 2012
- Hindu Festivals 2012 →