Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 14, 2020
It is not uncommon for visitors to India amused and confused over the number of days on which New Year is celebrated through an eight-week period.
With diverse cultural, social and religious overtones, it is little surprise that a New Year dawns on different days in a year.
Public holidays also differ between states.
The following is a glimpse of New Year festivities observed by the people of India.
With the spread of the Indian Diaspora, it is not surprising that each of these festivities is marked all over the world and happily, as well as Indians, members of local communities also join in the festivities at homes and other public places.
However, there have been no outdoor festivities this year in view of the lockdown orders imposed by almost all governments to combat the spread of Covid-19. As such, these are celebrated at home and over the social media, most popular of which are Facebook and Zoom.
Nau Roz: The Kashmiri New Year’s Day falls in March or April. This year it was o March 20, 2020. It is a day of general festivity and rejoicing throughout the state.
Goru Bihu (Assam): The Goru Bihu or the ‘Cattle Festival’ is celebrated on the Hindu New Year’s Day (April 14, 2020). On this day, the cattle are bathed and decorated. They are smeared with turmeric and are treated to gur (jaggery) and brinjals.
Baisakhi (April or May): Baisakhi or Vaisakhi is the first day of the month of Vaisakha, the beginning of the Hindu year in some parts of the country. A holy bath in a river, tank or well is an important feature of the day’s observance. For Sikhs, this day has a particular significance, as it was on this day in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa. This year, the festival started on April 13.
Naba Barsha The Bengali New Year’s Day begins with ‘Prabhat Pheries,’ (early morning processions), songs and dance. A dip in a river or a lake is another essential feature of the day’s ritual. With powdered rice, women make beautiful designs called ‘Alpana’ on the floor. The festival this year is on April 14, 2020.
Gudi Padwa (March or April): This is the New Year’s Day for the people of Maharashtra, a day of great festivity and rejoicing. This was held on March 25, 2020.
Ugadi (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, March or April): New Year’s Day marks the beginning of a new Hindu Lunar Calendar with a change in the moon’s orbit. It is a day when mantras are chanted and predictions made for the New Year. The event this year was on March 25, 2020.
Traditionally, the Panchangasravanam’ or listening to the yearly Calendar would be held at the temples or at the Town Square.
Puthandu: On Tamil New Year’s Day, which is observed in April, a big Car Festival is held at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam. Festivals are also held at Tiruchirappalli, Kanchipuram and many other places. April 14, 2020 is Tamil New Year’s Day.
Vishu (April or May): The people of Kerala celebrate ‘Vishu,’ the New Year of the Malayalam Calendar. It is characterised in Malayali homes, by the ‘first sighting’ (‘Vishukkani’) of auspicious articles ceremoniously placed before a lamp. Elders give cash presents to dependents and relatives younger to them. This is called ‘Kaineettam’ (extending the hand).
