Ugadi 2026, Date, Bank Holiday Status & New Year Significance

Ugadi (called Yugadi in Karnataka) is the Hindu lunisolar New Year, falling on Thursday, 19 March 2026. It marks the start of Chaitra, the first month of the Chandramana (lunar) calendar, and the beginning of Akshaya Samvatsara, a year considered auspicious for new beginnings.

Ugadi 2026, At a Glance

March 2026 Bank Holiday Cluster, Karnataka, AP & Telangana

Ugadi falls in a back-to-back bank closure window. Plan any branch-dependent transactions for March 18 (Wednesday) or March 23 (Monday).

For users in Karnataka, AP, and Telangana: Thursday March 19 (Ugadi) through Sunday March 22 is effectively a 4-day window of limited or no branch access. Complete cheque deposits, DD requests, and loan document submissions by Wednesday March 18.

Eid-ul-Fitr subject to moon sighting.

Is Ugadi a Bank Holiday in Your State?

Source: Gazetted holiday notifications under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Confirm with your specific bank branch.

Ugadi marks the most auspicious day of the year to begin something new. Starting a new financial year? Check your pre-approved personal loan offer on CreditMitra, compare offers from 30+ banks and NBFCs in 2 minutes. Soft inquiry, zero CIBIL score impact. No branch visit. Available on Ugadi itself. Check My Pre-Approved Offer →

What Is Ugadi?

Ugadi, Yugadi in Kannada, is the Hindu lunisolar new year celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Goa. The name comes from the Sanskrit words yuga (age or era) and adi (beginning): the start of a new age. According to Hindu tradition, this is the day Lord Brahma began creation, the first day of cosmic time. Each Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Samvatsara, one of 60 named years in the Hindu calendar cycle, along with the annual Panchanga Shravanam, the astrological forecast for the year ahead.

What is Chandramana Ugadi?

The Chandramana calendar is India's traditional lunar calendar, tracking months by the moon's phases. Ugadi falls on the first day (Pratipada) of Chaitra, the first month of the Chandramana year, making it the Chandramana New Year.

This distinguishes Ugadi from the solar (Saura Mana) calendars used in some other regional traditions. Because the lunar calendar cycles slightly faster than the Gregorian calendar, Ugadi's Gregorian date shifts each year, falling somewhere between late March and mid-April.

Why does Ugadi sometimes fall in March, sometimes April? The lunar month of Chaitra begins when the new moon following the sun's entry into Pisces occurs. This alignment produces a range of Gregorian dates, March 19 in 2026, May 9 in some years. The exact date is determined by the regional Panchanga (almanac) each year.

Akshaya Samvatsara, The Year That Begins at Ugadi 2026

Ugadi 2026 marks the start of Akshaya Samvatsara, the 27th year in the current 60-year Hindu Samvatsara cycle. Akshaya in Sanskrit means imperishable, inexhaustible, or eternal, a name associated with abundance and lasting prosperity.

Panchanga Shravanam, the ritual reading of the year's astrological forecast, is performed on Ugadi morning in temples and homes across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The Panchanga outlines the year's Samvatsara, Ritu (season), Masa (month), Paksha (lunar fortnight), and Tithi (lunar day), along with forecasts for rainfall, harvest, and regional prosperity.

How Ugadi Is Celebrated

Karnataka (Yugadi): Yugadi in Karnataka begins before sunrise with an oil bath (abhyanga snan) and new clothes. The central tradition is Bevu-Bella, eating neem flowers and jaggery together, symbolising the mix of bitter and sweet experiences life brings. Homes are decorated with Torana (mango leaf garlands), floors with Rangoli patterns, and families gather for Panchanga Shravanam at temples. Holige (also called Obbattu), a sweet flatbread stuffed with jaggery and lentils, is the festive dish of the day in Karnataka.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (Ugadi): In AP and Telangana, the centrepiece is Ugadi Pachadi, a chutney made with six distinct flavours: neem flowers (bitterness), jaggery (sweetness), tamarind (sourness), raw mango (tanginess), chilli (spice), and salt, representing the full spectrum of experiences in the year ahead. Muggulu (Rangoli) patterns in turmeric and rice flour decorate doorsteps, and Bobbatlu (sweet lentil flatbread) is the festive dish.

Goa and Maharashtra (Gudi Padwa): In Maharashtra and Goa, the same day is celebrated as Gudi Padwa, marked by raising the Gudi (a bamboo staff with a bright cloth, neem leaves, and an upturned pot) outside homes, symbolising victory and prosperity. The celebration is structurally parallel to Ugadi, rooted in the same Chaitra Shukla Pratipada date.

Ugadi as a New Year for Financial Decisions

Ugadi is explicitly considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar to begin new ventures, buying property, signing agreements, starting businesses, and making investments. The Panchanga read on Ugadi morning traditionally includes guidance on auspicious timings (muhurats) for financial decisions across the year.

Practically, this means the weeks around Ugadi see elevated activity in:

• Home purchases and registration (considered auspicious in the new Samvatsara)
• Gold buying (gold is purchased as a symbol of Akshaya prosperity on auspicious days)
• New business registrations
• Loan applications for home, vehicle, and personal purchases

CreditMitra's 100% digital process is available on Ugadi itself, no branch visit required.

Future Ugadi Dates: 2026–2031

Dates determined by Chaitra Shukla Pratipada in the respective year's Chandramana calendar. Regional Panchanga may vary by a day in some cities.

Frequently Asked Questions on Ugadi 2026

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More from CreditMitra's Holiday Calendar

March 2026 Cluster: March 2026 Holidays · Holi 2026 · Eid-ul-Fitr 2026 · Ram Navami 2026 · Mahavir Jayanti 2026

Same-Day Celebrations: Gudi Padwa 2026 · Chaitra Navratri 2026 · Cheti Chand 2026

State Holiday Pages: Karnataka Holidays 2026 · Andhra Pradesh Holidays 2026 · Telangana Holidays 2026 · Goa Holidays 2026 · Maharashtra Holidays 2026

Holiday Hubs: Indian Festivals 2026 · Bank Holidays in India 2026 · Saturday Bank Holidays 2026