India is a diverse country with amalgamation of different cultures. Hence it celebrates the New Year differently from the rest of the world. The Culturally rich India has its own way of celebrating the New year, in different states with different names and at different times too.
It celebrates the New Year following both solar and lunar calendar system. Every region in India follow a different cultures, so traditions of new year’s day celebration also vary. Generally New year is celebrated in different states of India at the time of harvesting of crops, This is the same day which celebrate at other regions with different name as Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi, Cheiraoba – Manipur and Diwali – Marwari New Year.
The Hindu New Year is celebrated in accordance with the Almanac or the Panchanga, that is, the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Hindu New Year is also known as the Vikram Samvat. The current era of Vikram Samvat is believed to have begun in the year 57 BC. This day also marks the end of one agricultural harvest and the beginning of a new one. Hence, this event is concerned with the sowing and reaping of crops. On this day, the sun is found to be at the point just above the intersection of the equator and the meridians. This day also marks the beginning of the season of spring or the Vasanta Ritu.
Legends
The origins of the Hindu New Year revolve around the legend of the great Hindu King, Vikramaditya, who ruled in 57 BC. It is believed that King Gardabhilla, who ruled in 12th Century CE, once seized a nun named Saraswati. She was the sister fo the Jain monk, Kalakacharya. The monk then took the help of the ruler of Saka to conquer Gardabhilla. The former eventually defeated the latter. A defeated Gardabhilla went to the forest, where he was killed by a tiger. His son, Vikramaditya, grew up to be a great King. He invaded Ujjain and defeated the Sakas. This new era of the King’s victory, it is said, is celebrated as the Vikram Sampat.
According to the Brahma Purana, the New Year marks the day when Lord Brahma recreated the entire world after the previous Pralaya or Great Deluge. Time, hence, was created anew on this day.
Yet according to another Legend, Lord Shiva had cursed Lord Brahma that he will not be worshipped ever but in Andhra Pradesh this festival of Ugadi is specifically celebrated in honour of Lord Brahma. As per the ancient tales, it is believed that Lord Vishnu had taken the form of Matsya.
The exact day of the Hindu New Year changes every year, in accordance with the calculations in the lunar calendar. Each state in India celebrates the New Year in its own unique way, following customs and traditions that are exclusive to that particular region. We now take a look at the way in which this event is celebrated in different parts of the country.
The different names of the New Year in Different Parts of the Country
Ugadi – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka
The south Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and Even Konkani celebrate the New Year as “Ugadi”. The word “Ugadi” also known as “Yugadi” has been derived by combination of two words ‘Yuga’ meaning age and ‘adi’ meaning beginning of a new age. Yugadi refers to the age today we are living in which is the kali Yuga which is believed to have been started after Lord Krishna left the world. The event has been described by Maharshi Vedavyasa as “Yesmin Krishno divamvyataha, Tasmat eeva pratipannam Kaliyugam”. In the luni-solar calendar the festival falls on the bright half of the Chaitra month “Chaitra Sudhdha Padyaami” and it falls mostly in April or March as per the Gregorian calendar.
This year ‘Ugadi’ is being celebrated on 18th March, and during the festival the season of spring is believed to have arrived at its fullest and every where the colours of festivals can be seen. On the day of Ugadi people clean their house and the nearby area and decorate the entrance of their house with mango leaves. The day begins with an elaborate oil bath ritual, followed by a visit to the nearby temple. This is followed by a feast of a certain dish including all six tastes, called the “Ugadi Pacchadi” in Telugu and “Bevu-Bella” in Kannada. This is symbolic of accepting and enjoying life in the year ahead, which is a mixture of all different tastes or experiences, including happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust and surprise. Post the feast, people gather to listen to the recitation of the Panchanga of the new year, followed by a forecast of the year ahead. This is called Panchanga Shravanam.
Gudi Padwa – Maharashtra, Konkani
Gudhi Padwa or Gudi Padwa, also referred to as Samvatsar Padvo (among the Hindu Konkanis residing in Goa), is celebrated by Maharashtrians, on the day of the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. This is also the first day of Chaitra Navratri and is known as Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana. The word “Padwa” is taken from the Sanskrit word, Pratipada, the first day of the lunar month.
On this day, an ornamented Gudi is hoisted and worshipped, which is what gives the festival its name. This festival is celebrated at the very end of the Rabi season. It is one of the Saade-Teen Muhurtas, or the 3 and a half auspicious days of the Hindu Lunar calendar. The other similar Muhurta days include Akshaya Tritiya, Vijayadashami (or Dusshera) and Balipratipada.
All over Maharashtra, the Gudi is prominently displayed in all households. A long bamboo stick is fixed onto the ground or a fixed surface and the tip is tied with a brightly colored brocade or zari cloth, and some gaathi (sugar crystals), neem leaves, mango leaves and a garland of red flowers is tied over it. A copper or silver pot is placed in an inverted position over the tip of this stick. This is referred to as the Gudi.
Maharashtrians consider this as the symbol of victory of Chhatrapati Shivaji, as also the victory of King Shalivahana over Sakas. It also signifies the Brahmadhvaja or Brahma’s flag, or the Indradhvaja, or Indra’s flag. It indicates Rama’s victory over the demon King, Ravana. People believe that it also wards off evil and brings good luck in the household.
On this day People clean their households before the big day. Houses in villages are swept clean and are plastered with fresh cow-dung. Women create rangoli designs on the doorstep of their homes, using vibrant colors, which are associated with the abundant colors of spring. People take an elaborate bath and wear new clothes. This is also a time for family get-togethers. A paste of neem leaves, tamarind and sugar or jaggery is made and all family members consume the same. This is believed to be capable of strengthening the body’s immune system. Women also make Pooris, Shrikhand and Pooran Polis on this day. Konkanis make Kanangachi Kheer, which is made of sweet potato, jaggery, coconut milk, rice flour and Sanna.
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) – Punjab
Baisakhi, Vasakhi or Vaisakhi is the festival celebrated in Punjab, by the Sikh community residing there.
This event is in commemoration of the establishment of the Khalsa. The 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had laid the foundation of the Panth Khalsa in the year 1699. The day is also celebrated by farmers as a way of giving thanks for the abundant harvest during that year, also praying for future prosperity.
In East Punjab, especially in Talwandi Sabo, in a Gurudwara in Anandpur Sahib and also at the Golden Temple at Amritsar, people celebrate this festival with great vigor and verve. In West Punjab too, the festival is widely celebrated by Sikhs. Hundreds of Sikhs from all over the globe undertake pilgrimages to sacred Sikh places of worship including Nankana Sahib and Hasan Abdal. Even Sikhs living abroad celebrate the festival in an elaborate manner. They hold daylong Kirtans in their local Gurudwaras, with hordes of people pouring in to attend the same. Many communities also hold Nagar Kirtan, which involves the participants going around the streets, singing Kirtans. In some places, Vaisakhi Melas or fairs are also conducted in order to celebrate this festival with even greater cheer.
Sikhs living in India traditionally visit Gurudwaras prior to dawn, along with flowers and other offering. In rural Punjab, people get together to do the vigorous and very joyous Bhangra dance. Then revelers partake of an elaborate feast and make merry, while also praying for a fruitful and profitable year ahead.
Putthandu – Tamil Nadu
Putthandu, also known as Chitthirai-Tirunaal, is celebrated as the New Year day across Tamil Nadu. This day falls on 14th April. Incidentally, this is regarded as the first day of the Tamil New Year among all Tamil people living in Singapore, Malaysia, Reunion and Mauritius.
The Tamil people follow the vernal equinox or Nirayanam. According to this, the first day of the new year usually falls on 14th April, in the month of Chitthirai. The people of Tamil Nadu celebrate this day in a big way. In the temple city of Madurai, the Chitthirai Thiruvizha is celebrated at the Meenakshi Temple there. A massive exhibition, called Chitthirai Porutkaatchi, is also held in the premises.
In some parts of Southern Tamil Nadu, this day is also called Chitthirai Vishu. The entrances to homes are decorated with elaborate kolams or rangolis and the women of the house get busy preparing a great feast. Some households also include neem flowers and raw mangoes, which symbolize growth and prosperity. In some regions, they also conduct a Car Festival during this time of the year.
Vishu – Kerala
Vishu is an important festival for residents of Kerala, as also in Mangalore and Udipi. In fact, this day is second only to Onam for Malayalis from around the world. This day also marks the New Year day according to the Kolla Varsham or the Malayalam calendar.
The most important ritual on this day is the “Vishukkani”, which literally implies the “first thing seen” on the morning of Vishu. For this ritual, people arrange articles such as raw rice, fresh vegetables and fruits, coconut with betel leaves, arecanut, the sacred Konna Poo (the bright yellow Cassia fistula variety of flowers), sacred texts, gold, silver, coins and money; in front of a metal mirror. A nilavilakku or lighted lamp is placed beside this arrangement.
This Vishukkani is prepared the previous night, just before going to bed. The custom is to get up from bed before dawn and proceed towards the arrangement with closed eyes, only opening them to look at it. This is done so that one sees only good and auspicious things first thing in the morning, on the day of the New Year.
Malayalis take a ritual oil bath, after which they visit temples in the vicinity. Many of these temples also maintain a Vishukkazhcha for the devotees to take a look. Later, verses from the Ramayana are read out before a gathering of family members. Then the day is celebrated with much fervor with people lighting the Vishuppadakkam or firecrackers, wearing and gifting new clothes (Puthukodi) younger family members and elders giving Vishukkaineettam (giving money) to youngsters, including children; even including the domestic helpers of the household.
Family members then assemble to partake of a grand Saddhya or feast, consisting of equal quantities of salty, sweet, sour and bitter food items. The Vishu Kanji and the Thoran are the two most important items served during the Saddhya. The Kanji, which is nourishing and very tasty, is prepared with rice, coconut milk and some select spices.
Maha Vishuva Sankranti – Orissa
In Orissa or Odisha, the New Year day is referred to as the Maha Vishuva Sankranti or the Pana Sankranti. The Oriya month of Mesha starts from this day on and that is why it is also called Mesha Sankranti.
People fill a small pot with Pana or a sweet drink. There is a tiny hole at the bottom of the pot, which allows the fluid to fall from it. People first offer a mixture made of horse gram, banana and curd to the sacred Tulsi plant in their homes, before consuming the same. They then make special offerings to the Shivalinga, Shalagrama, Hanuman, the various forms of Devi Parvati and other deities as well. Many also undertake Jhaamu Yatras to major Devi temples in Odisha.
The tribals in Odisha perform a ritual called Danda Nata, Danda Nacha or Danda Jatra, which goes on for a period of 13 days. This is one of their most ancient traditional forms of welcoming in the New Year. This ritual, dedicated to Goddess Kali, is a group event, where devotees invoke Her grace and blessings. People believe that performing this ritual destroys negativity and sin and brings peace and prosperity, along with a good harvest all year round.
The end of the last day is referred to as Pana Sankranti or Meru Sankranti. People undertaking this ritual completely avoid non-vegetarian food during these 13 days, even avoiding the intake of onion and garlic.
Cheti Chand – Sindhi’s
Cheti Chand is an important festival for Sindhis and is also celebrated as the New Year’s Day by Sindhis hailing from both India and Pakistan. This festival is celebrated by Sindhis from around the world as well. This day for Hindus falls on the second day of the month of Chaitra. Sindhis refer to this month as Chet, and hence the name, Chet-i-Chand.
The Sindhi community celebrates this day to commemorate the birth of their Ishtadeva, Uderolal, more popularly known as Jhulelal, who is regarded as the Patron Saint of the Sindhis. On this day, people worship water, the giver of life.
Many Sindhis take the Baharana Sahib to a nearby lake or river. The Baharana Sahib comprises a Jyot or oil lamp, Phota or cardamom, Misiri or sugar crystals, Fal or fruits and Akha. Behind all these sits the Kalash, with a coconut, covered with cloth, flowers and leaves. Sindhis also place an idol of their Pujya Jhulelal Devta and offer prayers to him.
Devotees of Jhulelal offer their obeisance to Chaliho Sahab. Traditionally, they undertook rituals for forty whole days and nights and stood vigil on the banks of the river Sindhu. The men did not shave, use soap or detergent and did not wear new clothes either. They would just wash their clothes, leave them to dry and then wear them again. in the evenings, they would worship Lord Varuna, the God of water and rain, singing songs in his praise, praying for salvation. Even today, those who follow the traditional ritual of Chaliho, celebrate this day as a day of thanksgiving to Jhulelal.
Bestu Varas – Gujrat
Bestu Varas is the Gujarati New Year’s Day – this day falls on the day just after Diwali. Some Gujaratis also follow Vikram Sampat. This day starts by bursting plenty of firecrackers, starting as early as 4am. Young boys gather and sell raw salt, calling it “Sabras”, meaning, “all tastes”. People decorate their homes with aaso palav and marigold torans or door hangings and draw colorful rangolis at their doorstep.
People then take an elaborate ritual bath, wear new clothes and visit temples. Then is the time for cooking up a tasty feast and partaking of the same. People also visit their friends, relatives and neighbors to wish them a happy and prosperous New Year.
Gujaratis mark four new year dates. The first, and most important culturally, is the one immediately after Diwali, called Bestu Varas During the second new year, which we mark in Surat at the end of the Jain Paryushan, we say “michchami dukadam” to each other. This phrase in Prakrit. The third new year is the one all the world celebrates on 1st January. The fourth annual date is marked not for the year to come but the year just past on 31 March, the date at the cusp of the financial year.
Chaitti and Basoa – Himachal Pradesh
Chaitti and Basoa are celebrated as part of the festivities to usher in the New Year in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Chaitti is the first day of the Chaitra month and so, it considered to be very important and auspicious for people residing in this part of India.
Basoa, also referred to as Bishu, is celebrated on the first day of the Baisakh month. On this day, the farmers and aboriginals living in this region participate in this festival with great joy and enthusiasm. Three days prior to this festival, people start making small cakes called Kodra, and then wrap them up in leaves, leaving them to ferment. On the day of Bishu, they invite their relatives to break these cakes and eat them with honey and sweet water mixed with jaggery.
According to the vikrami calendar the new year begins in the month of Chaitra. The first day of this month (Chaitra Sankranti) is considered very important and is celebrated all over the state. Two colourful festivals are celebrated during this month . One is Navratri and the other is Ralli Puja. In some corner of the house which faces east a plant is covered with soil and sown with barley seeds, coconut, symbolising the goddess Bhagwati is also placed near it. For nine days the ritual ‘puja’ is performed there and on the tenth day (Dashami) the barley shoots are distributed all over the village. These shoots are known as Riholi and they are said to symbolise the goddess Durga Bhagwati.
In Ralli Puja, the young unmarried girls in the village make little statues of the lord Shiva and his wife Parvati and place these on a plank and offer prayers to it throughout the month of Chaitra. The entire ritual is strange and beautiful. All the young unmarried girls gather early in the morning in the house where Ralli is going to be worshipped and afterwards they go to the local lake singing songs. There they bathe and fill small metal pots with water and come home and bathe the deities with this and offer them flowers. At the end of the month a ritual wedding between Ralli and Lord Shiva is enacted. On the Baisakhi day Ralli is brought out ceremoniously in a palanquin and taken to a river bank. There she is immersed in the water and as it is being done the girls cry and weep. On the day of the wedding, people are invited for Bhat (ritual feast) and the girls pray to the goddess to bless them with a husband as good as her own.
Pohela Boisakh – Bengali, Assam and Tripura
Pohela Boisakh, also called Poila Boisakh, is the Bengali New Year’s Day, which is celebrated all over West Bengal, extending to the Bengali people in Assam and Tripura; even crossing national borders and influencing the residents of Bangladesh.
In Bengali word “pohela” means the first, and Baisakh is the first month in the traditional Bengali calendar. Pohela Boishakh is celebrated on the 14th of April. According to the Bengali calendar the current year is 1419. Being clean is very important tradition. People have a bath and the whole house is thoroughly cleaned. People traditionally visit their cousins, friends and neighbours.
No Bengali New Year would be the same without Boshakhi fairs. They offer huge amounts of various food, toys, handicrafts etc. People also visit them to enjoy the traditional music and dance. There is a very famous music festival known as the Bangla Sangit Mela. It is organized in Kolkata by the Government of West Bengal.
One the most spectacular Pohela Boishakh fesitivities is in the capital of Bangladesh Dhaka. The centre of local celebration is the Ramna Park. People traditionally gether under the banyan (banian) tree. For the occasion Chhajanat artist performs the song called “Esho, he Boishakh, Esho Esho” (“Come, O Boishakh, Come, Come”). The song was written by the famous Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). Similar party is held by students at the Institute of Fine Arts.
In Indian city of Kolkata people believe that the Pohela Bishakh is the best time to get married. Shop keepers try to use the occasion so they offer huge discounts on clothes. Women traditionally wear saris made of white cloth with red border. Bengali men wear kurta and dhuti (dhoti). People often participate in processions held in the early morning hours of the first day of the new year.
Pohela Bishakh is also the start of Bengali business year. There is a special puja that includes the halkhata (accounting book). Mantras are chanted. A priest draws shostik (Hindu swastika) on the halkhata.
Food is an important part of the Bengali New Year. People usually eat panta bhat (rice soaked in water), shutki (dried fish), fried Hilsa fish and achar (pickles).
Cheiraoba – Manipur
Cheiraoba is the New Year’s Day festival, celebrated by the people of Manipur. This elaborate and joyous festival is celebrated with much verve all over the state. The name “Cheiraoba” is actually a combination of two words, namely, “Chahi” or “Year” and “Laoba”, which means “Declaration”. So this festival declares or announces the New Year, also bidding goodbye to the past year. This day falls on the same day as Gudi Padwa, and so this state too celebrates the festival along with the rest of the Indian states.
Exposure to modern life or religious conversion has not led the tribes to forget their festivals or rituals. On the contrary, they celebrate their ancient festivals with much vigor and love. One such example is the Cheiraoba Festival.
The tribes in Manipur celebrate a number of festivals all over the year. While some of these are related with harvest, there are a few religious ones. Cheiraoba Festival is associated with celebrating New Year. This is a major and sacred festival for the people of Manipur. The residents clean up their households and adorn them. It is the time when they visit friends and relatives and exchange gifts. On this day, the locals climb adjacent hill tops since they believe the act symbolizes rise of human civilization.
Cheiraoba also called Sajibu Cheiraoba is an annual and religious festival which is held in April. The Meitei tribes are particular about celebrating this festival. They worship the deity called ‘Sidaba Mapu’. They believe this festival is auspicious because this is held at the joining of two years. So, it is their duty to pay respect to the deity for good fortune.
Apart from cleaning the houses for ‘Cheiraoba’, the locals also discard old kitchen utensils and clothes. On the day of the festival, the elderly member in each house reform a ritual for prosperity and long life at the gate. They worship deity Lainingthou Sanamahi in the early morning. The locals make offerings of rice, vegetables and other foods to the deities like Iram Shenba Tushemba, Kum Sana Kumliklai and Lamaba Tumaba. Cheiraoba is associated with another festival called ‘Saroi Khangba’. Both men and women take part in preparing the dishes for offering to the deities. The dishes are offered to the deity in banana leaves as per their ancient traditions. The places of home where the foods are offered are decorated with mud and flowers.
After the offering to the deities are over, the dishes made for feast are exchanged with neighbors and relatives. This is known as Mathel Laanba. At the evening, the hill climbing part takes place.
Navreh – Kashmir
Navreh is celebrated as the New Year’s Day in Kashmir. This day too coincides with the first day of Chaitra Navratras. The people residing in this part of India consider this day to be as sacred and holy as the Shivartri day. In fact, this day is even mentioned in the Nilamat Purana and the Rajtarangini of Kashmir.
The people here celebrate this second Navratra (the first one is during the 9 days of the festival of Navratri, concluding with the Dusshera) in commemoration of the victory of their great King, Lalitaditya. Navreh falls on the same day as Gudhi Padwa or Ugadi.
The first month of the year in this reckoning is called Chaitra. Navreh-the Kashmiri New year’s day- falls on the first day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra when the moon enters the constellation Mesha (Aries). We believe this day coincides with the first day of year on the Saptarishi calendar also used by the Kashmiri Hindus.
On the morning of Navreh, the Kashmiri tradition calls for the ritual viewing (Darshan) of a plate (usually bronze or steel thali) filled with various items and paraphernalia for good omen. The thali is prepared on the eve of the festival (called Thaal Bharun). The thali is kept covered over with a towel overnight (instead of the traditional wicker basket). The thali is presented early next morning individually to all the family members by a younger female or an elderly lady. In return for this service she is compensated with ritual offering of money-for zang-good omen.
The thali usually contains: Rice,Yogurt, Milk,Walnuts/almonds, Salt, Flowers/Daffodils, Pen/pencil and a paper pad, A coin, honey, Ghee, picture of a Deity, small mirror, A Bitter herb, new calendar (panchang), little cooked rice,
The rice and coins represent our daily bread and wealth, the pen and paper a reminder of the quest for learning, the mirror represents retrospection.The calendar signals the changing time and the Deity the Universal Constant; and they together a reminder of the constancy of changing time. The bitter herb is reminiscent of life’s bitter aspects, to be taken in stride alongside the good. The bitter herb ‘why’ is usually eaten with walnuts to bring wholeness of life’s experiences in the admixture. Symbolism aside, the consumption of this bitter herb has also been practiced by Native American cultures as well as by some of the American transcendentalist philosophers for various reasons. However, Food and Agricultural Organization Corporate Document Repository and other sources indicate that the herb we call ‘why’ or calamus contains carcinogenic and hallucinogenic components. So beware!
After darshan of the thali, each person takes a walnut to be thrown into a river (in the US we place it under a tree). The rice is cooked to make Tahar (rice with turmeric) and eaten as a prashad. The day is filled with celebrations of wearing of new clothes, cooking and serving fancy dishes, and visiting friends and relatives. In Kashmir, people would go for a picnic to view almond blossoms.
On the third day after Navreh-the day of ‘Zanga Triy’- women folk would visit their parents’ house (natal place) if close by and return in the evening with presents of a bunch of salt, be read, and small amount of money as attagath (travel money). This was to harken good beginnings –zang- for the New Year.
Juire Sheetal – Bihar
It is also popularly known as the Maithili New Year. It falls during the month of April and the festive occasion is in keeping with the Vikram Samvat, an official calendar of Nepal and whole of Mithila region. This day falls on the 13-14th or 14–15 April and coincides with the new years of other eastern states of India. Sweets and greetings are exchanged. This day is also called Hanumant Dhwajadanam, the day Hanuman’s flag (and hence Mithila’s flag) is to be flown. It is also the birthday of Raja Shailesh (Shailesh was the king of Himalayas region of Mithila who won area up to Tibet) whose garden is at the Mahisautha in Siraha district headquarters of Nepal.
The Maithili New Year follows New Year tradition among the people of Bihar. As per believes the Maithili calendar begins on the same date, with Baishakh which is the first month of the year as per Hindu calendars’. Another Indian region follows traditional marking of the New Year with this same Hindu calendar including, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab, Tripura and also in Nepal.
It is also the birthday of Raja Saltash. In every Mithila village there is ‘Rajaji’s gahwar,’ and the Paswans community actually worshipped them. So this day is symbolising communal harmony also.
Maithili Calendar is the traditional Calendar of Mithila region of India and Nepal. After a long period of demand, Bihar government in 2011 announced that the day will be marked as the public holiday in Bihar. Officially, the Maithili New year day is addressed as the Mithila Diwas by the Government of Bihar. So every year there will be the holiday for Mithila Diwas on 14 April in the Indian State of Bihar with the respect of the festival Juir Sheetal.
Even Buddhists celebrate this day as Vesakha, Vesak, Wesak or Vaisakha. It commemorates the Birth, the Awakening and the Passing Away of Gautama Buddha. For the followers of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, also Chaitra ShuddaPadyami is a big day as the Guruji has founded the Arya Samaj on this day, in the year 1875. Hence, this is a big day for that community as well.
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