Chaitra

Chaitra (Hindi: चैत्र) is a month of the Hindu calendar.

For the short film, see Chaitra (film).
Chaitra month, Jaipur miniature in the National Museum in Warsaw.

In the standard Hindu calendar and India's national civil calendar, Chaitra is the first month of the year. It is the last month in the Bengali calendar, where it is called Choitro. Chaitra or Chait is also the last month in the Nepali calendar (the Vikram Samvat), where it commences in mid-March. Chithirai is the first month in the Tamil calendar. In Sindhi calendar, this month is referred to as Chet and is marked by the celebration of the Cheti Chand (birth of Jhulelal, an incarnation of Vishnu). In the Vaishnava calendar, Vishnu governs this month.

In the more traditional reckoning, the first month commences in March or April of the Gregorian Calendar,[1][2] depending upon whether the Purushottam Maas (extra month for alignment of lunar or solar calendar) was observed in the year. There is no fixed date in Gregorian calendar for the 1st day of Chaitra, i.e., the beginning of the Hindu New Year.

Names

Chaitra is also known as Devanagari: चैत्र chaitra, Gujarati:ચૈત્ર chaitra, Rajasthani Language:चेत chet, Punjabi:ਚੇਤ cēt, Bengali:চৈত্র , Choitro, Assamese: চ’ত (sot), Kannada"ಚೈತ್ರ","Chaitra", Telugu:చైత్రము chaitramu Tamil: சித்திரை chithirai, Malayalam: ചൈത്രം chaitram.

Festivals

The month of Chaitra is also associated with the coming of Spring. Holi, the spring festival of colour, is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) of Phalguna month before Chaitra. Exactly 6 days after which the festival of Chaiti observed.

In lunar religious calendars, Chaitra begins with the new moon in March/April and is the first month of the year. The first of Chaitra – is celebrated as New Year's Day, known as Gudi Padwa[3] in Maharashtra, Chaitrai Vishu or Puthandu in Tamil Nadu[4] and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Other important festivals in the month are; Chaitra Navratri, Ram Navami - the birth anniversary of Lord Ram celebrated on the 9th day of Chaitra, and Hanuman Jayanti that falls on the last day (Purnima) of Chaitra. In Bengal people celebrate Charak Puja. The world-famous "chithirai Thiruvizha" which is held on the banks of Vaigai is held during this month in Madurai.

In the Tamil calendar, Chitterai begins with the Sun's entry into Aries in mid-April, and is the first month of the year.

The full moon day of Chaitra is known as "chithira pournami" in Tamil which is an auspicious day for Amman.

Chaitra is considered to be a very auspicious month in which the creation of the universe was started.

"Chaitra" can also be used as a name, with the meaning of "Spring" or "Aries Sign"

Chaitramasi jagadbrahma sasarju prathamehaani
Shukla paksha samagranthu thadaa suryodaye sathi
Pravarthayaamaasa thatha kaalasya gananaamapi
Grahantaaraan ruthoonmaasaan wathsaraanwathsaraadhipaan

According to the Sloka Chaturvarga Chintamani, the god Bramha created the universe on the first day of Shukla paksha (first fortnight / first half of the month) in the month of Chaitra. He also gradually included planets, stars, ruthu (seasons), years and lords of years.

In this month, the fifteen days in Shukla paksha are dedicated to fifteen deities. Each day of the month is dedicated to a different god.

Shukla Paksha Krishna Paksha
1. Pratipada 1. Pratipada
2. Dwitiya 2. Dwitiya
3. Tritiya 3. Tritiya
4. Chaturthi 4. Chaturthi
5. Panchami 5. Panchami
6. Shashti 6. Shashti
7. Saptami 7. Saptami
8. Ashtami 8. Ashtami
9. Navami 9. Navami
10. Dashami 10. Dashami
11. Ekadashi 11. Ekadashi
12. Dwadashi 12. Dwadashi
13. Thrayodashi 13. Thrayodashi
14. Chaturdashi 14. Chaturdashi
15. Purnima 15. Amavasya
gollark: I disagree with this paradox.
gollark: That's basically when it's most important even.
gollark: Fascinating. I don't think this excludes civility when discussing controversial stuff.
gollark: Civil is polite and *formal* now?
gollark: I don't know exactly what you're redacting, but it sounds like you're redefining "civil" wrong.

See also

Chaitra Navratri in Hindi

References
  1. Henderson, Helene. (Ed.) (2005) Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionary Third edition. Electronic edition. Detroit: Omnigraphics, p. xxix. ISBN 0-7808-0982-3
  2. TimeAndDate.com presents Chaitra Sukhladi in Gregorian Calendars
  3. "Gudi Padawa".
  4. "Chaitra Vishu".
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