Chaitra
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Chaitra (Hindi: चैत cait or चैत्र caitr) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar Chaitra is the first month of the year. It begins in March or April, depending upon the position of planet system. There is no fixed date in calendar for beginning of the Hindu New Year i.e. 1st day of Chaitra. It is also the last month in the Bengali calendar (the Bônggabdo), where it is called Choitro, and in the Nepalese calendar (the Bikram Sambat), where it ends on April 13.
The month of Chaitra is also associated with the coming of Spring, since Holi, the spring festival of colour, is celebrated on the eve of Chaitra (namely, the last day of Phalgun).
In lunar religious calendars, Chaitra begins on the new moon or the full moon around the same time of year, and is usually the first month of the year. The first of Chaitra – Maharashtrian New Year or Gudi Padwa, Ugadi – New Year celebrated in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, are important festivals, as is Ram Navami (9 Chaitra), the birthday of Lord Ram.
In solar religious calendars, Chaitra begins with the Sun's entry into Pisces, and is usually the last month of the year.
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Chaitra is also the Kashmeri word for "snow" or "snow season".
