Ugadi 2026
Ugadi 2026 falls on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Date and Panchanga Basis
- Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026 (also observed as Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri begins)
- Rule: Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the first tithi of the lunar new year.
- Reckoning: amanta lunar months; date fixed by the start of a kshaya (skipped) tithi.
This date is computed from sidereal Sun and Moon positions (Swiss-precision Meeus ephemeris, Lahiri ayanamsa), not copied from a stored calendar. Regional almanacs that apply a different local rule can occasionally differ by one day; where a festival anchors to a specific hour, such as midnight for Janmashtami or midday for Ganesh Chaturthi, the matching classical rule is used.
Significance
Ugadi in the Deccan and Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra mark the first day of the lunar year, when the new Samvatsara begins. The same tithi opens Chaitra Navratri, so the day carries both new-year and Devi observances.
Timing Your Observance
A festival date names the day; a muhurta names the hour. For puja timing on March 19, consult the day's panchanga: the prevailing tithi and nakshatra, the choghadiya windows, and the Rahu Kaal period to avoid. The daily panchang, choghadiya timings, and Rahu Kaal calculator cover this for your city, and the birth chart calculator shows how the day's sky sits against your own chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ugadi in 2026?
Ugadi 2026 falls on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the first tithi of the lunar new year.
How is the Ugadi date decided?
The date follows the start of a kshaya (skipped) tithi in amanta lunar-month reckoning. This page computes it from sidereal Sun and Moon longitudes (Lahiri ayanamsa) rather than a stored table.
When is Ugadi in 2027?
Ugadi 2027 falls on Wednesday, April 7, 2027.