India is the most diverse land with the most colorful bunch of people belonging to different cultures and heritage. The new year in different regions of India indicates the richness of culture and ethnicity India has been blessed with. Some regions follow the solar calendar and some regions are dedicated to the lunar calendar. As a result, we get to experience different cultures on new year’s day. Here is a list of some of the best unique New Year’s Day celebrations in India.
Types Of New Year in India
- Baisakhi – Punjabi New Year
Baisakhi marks the beginning of the New year among Sikhs which falls on the 13 or 14 of April. Baisakhi is also known as the harvest festival in Punjab. This day is celebrated with great enthusiasm among Sikhs. The buzz and excitement of the festival can not just be felt among the Sikhs but people of all religions are seen happily participating in the festival. Baisakhi is special also because Sikh Khalsa was formed on this day. If you wish to witness the true spirit of the festival then you should check out the Golden Temple in Amritsar as the festival is celebrated with great pomp and show.
- Bohag Bihu – Assamese New Year
Bohag Bihu marks the beginning of the New Year for Assamese. The festival is popular in Assam. It falls on the second week of April, mostly on the 14th of April. Bohag Bihu is known to promote ethnic diversity in the state of Assam.
- Navreh – Kashmiri New Year
Navreh marks the beginning of the New year for the Hindus of Kashmir. It falls on the month of Chaitra in the Kashmiri Hindu calendar. The festival is dedicated to the Goddess Sharika. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal among Kashmiri Hindus.
- Pohela Boishakh – Bengali New Year
Pohela Boishakh is prevalent in Bangladesh and among Indian states such as West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam. The festival is celebrated with a grand procession, various cultural programs, shopping, and a lot of family time. This colorful festival is celebrated by tribal people with zeal and passion.
- Hijri – Islamic New Year
Hijri marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year. The first day of Muharram is observed to be the first day of the Islamic year by most Muslims. The festival falls in the middle of July of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Muharram is considered to be a time of mourning and self-reflection. Hijri works on the movement of the moon and it is much shorter than the Gregorian calendar as it has just 354 or 355 days. Some Muslims observe fast and engage in prayers on this day.
The first 10 days of Muharram allow every Muslim to remember the cruel treatment carried out on the people of Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein during the battle. Saffron rice and a special milk drink are prepared during the first 10 days of Muharram.
- Vishu – Malayalam New Year
Vishu is popular in the Indian state of Kerala. The festival marks the beginning of the first month of the Malayalam calendar, Medam. It falls in the middle of April of the Gregorian calendar. You get to spend the entire day with your family and loved ones while preparing colourful and auspicious items. People burst firecrackers in order to celebrate the festival. People wear new clothes and have the special homemade delicacy known as Sadhya. Elders can also be seen giving money to children.
- Gudi Padwa – Marathi New Year
This springtime festival marks the beginning of the New Year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. The festival is recorded to be celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month. The festival is popular among the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The festival is celebrated with colorful floor decorations popularly known as Rangoli, and a special piece of cloth called Gudhi dvaja. The festival is also decked up with festive food, dance, and grand street possessions.
- Puthandu – Tamil New Year
Puthandu marks the beginning of the year in Tamil Nadu. The festival marks the beginning of the first Tamil month, commonly known as Chittirai. It falls on the 14th of April every year. People like to spend this day with their family. The family Puja is held in the house with a tray of fruits, flowers, and auspicious items. People wear new clothes and pay a visit to the local temple. The whole family gathers around the dining table to have a delicious vegetarian meal.
- Ugadi – Telugu New Year
Ugadi is celebrated in the months of March-April (Chaitra month). According to the Hindu calendar system, Ugadi is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month. The festival is popular in the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The day is celebrated by drawing colorful patterns on the floor, popularly known as Muggulu. The day also calls for buying gifts for your loved ones, giving charity to poor people, savoring the special food called pachadi, and paying a visit to the Hindu temple.
- Bestu Varas – Gujarati New Year
Bestu Varas marks the beginning of the New Year for Gujaratis. The festival is celebrated the day after Diwali as the festival falls on the Shukla Paksha Pratipada of the Kartik month. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this day during Chopda Puja by people in an effort of making the year a lot more profitable and successful. This is one of the major festivals in the state of Gujarat.
- Pana Sankranti, Orissa
Pana Sankranti marks the beginning of the solar month of Meṣa. It falls on the 13 or 14 of April of the Gregorian calendar. People are seen paying a visit to the temples on this day. People also take baths in the river and participate in the traditional dançe performance. A refreshing mango milk drink, commonly known as Pana, is prepared on this day.
CONCLUSION:
There are so many different ways they celebrate the new year in India and it is such a fascinating event for tourists and travellers. The New Year celebrated in India indicates the rich culture and traditions India has been gifted with. The people of all religions coming together to celebrate each other’s colourful festivals indicates the state of harmony and peace prevalent among the Indian communities.
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