The Hindu New Year is being welcomed in different countries on Saturday with traditional festivities and celebrations.
The Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Navareh, Navroz and Chetti Chand are the same festivals in different names, marking the occasion.
Gudi Padava is celebrated in Maharashtra while Ugadi is the Lunar New Year in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The day is being celebrated as the Chaitra Sukladi in northern parts of the country as it marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri and Vikram Samvat.
The auspicious nine-day long festival Chaitra Navratri began with great festivity and fervor across the country on Saturday.
Fasting and praying mark the Navratri celebrations. The festival starts on the first day of Hindi month known as Chaitra and it ends with Ramnavmi, the birthday of Lord Rama.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on this auspicious occasion.
In his message, President Pranab Mukherjee said these festivals herald the advent of springtime.
He hoped that these festivals would promote the values of tolerance and strengthen traditional bonds of amity, understanding and harmony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoped the New Year will bring happiness, good health and well-being.