Ugadi / Gudi Padwa 2027: Date, Tithi, Muhurta & Significance
In 2027, Ugadi / Gudi Padwa falls on Wednesday, 7 April 2027.
History & Mythology
Ugadi (in Karnataka and Andhra) and Gudi Padwa (in Maharashtra) mark the Hindu lunisolar new year on the first day of Chaitra. According to tradition, this is the day on which Lord Brahma set the universe in motion, beginning with the first sunrise in an orderly cosmos.
The Gudi is a bamboo staff topped with a copper or silver pot, decorated with a bright cloth, neem leaves, mango leaves, and a garland of flowers—erected at the entrance of homes to represent victory, auspiciousness, and the Sun's increasing power. Legend also connects the day to Lord Rama's triumphant return to Ayodhya, and in Maharashtra to the beginning of the Shalivahana calendar era.
A distinctive ritual of Ugadi is Ugadi Pachadi—a mixture of six flavors: raw mango (sourness), jaggery (sweetness), tamarind (tartness), neem flowers (bitterness), chilli (heat), and salt—representing the full spectrum of life's experiences. By consciously tasting all six together at the new year, one accepts life in its entirety, the pleasant alongside the difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these with the Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year, and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the two. This is why Diwali, Navratri and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing Shukla Paksha and 15 in the waning Krishna Paksha. Most festivals are tied to a specific Tithi, which is why their Gregorian dates shift each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika computes the precise muhurta for each festival from your local sunrise, Tithi end times and auspicious Nakshatras.
What are Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full-moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha), when Moon and Sun are 180° apart; Amavasya is the new-moon day, when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant — Purnima for celebrations, Amavasya for ancestral rites (Pitru Tarpan).