Festival of Chaitra

Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu calendar year.

In India's national civil calendar Chaitra is the first month of the year while it is the last month of the year in Nepali calendar where Baisakh is the first month. With the calendar reforms, it coincides with the northern spring equinox on March 20.

In the more traditional reckoning, the first month commences in March or April of the Gregorian Calendar, depending upon whether the lunar or solar system is used. There is no fixed date in Gregorian calendar for 1st day of Chaitra, i.e., the beginning of the Hindu New Year.

It is the last month in the Bengali calendars (the Bônggabdo), where it is called Choitro (Bengali: চৈত্র). It commences in mid-March. It is also the last month in the Nepalese calendar (the Bikram Sambat), where it commences in mid-March. Chitterai is the first month in the Tamil calendar and starts in mid-April. In the Vaishnava calendar, Vishnu governs this month.

According to the Sloka Chaturvarga Chintamani, Lord Brahma 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) and rains. 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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaitra_maas