It is not uncommon for visitors to India amused and confused over the number of days on which New Year is celebrated through a 12-month 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.
Navroz (March 21): The Parsi New Year’s Day is a day of general festivity and rejoicing for Parsis throughout the world.
Goru Bihu (Assam, April 13 to April 17): The Goru Bihu or the ‘Cattle Festival’ is celebrated on the Hindu New Year’s Day (April or May). On this day, the cattle are bathed and decorated. They are smeared with turmeric and are treated to gur (jaggery) and brinjals.
Baisakhi (April 14): 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.
Naba Barsha (April 15): 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.
Gudi Padva (March 29): This is the New Year’s Day for the people of Maharashtra, a day of great festivity and rejoicing.
Ugadi (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, March 29): Telugu 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. Traditionally, the Panchangasravanam’ or listening to the yearly calendar would be held at the temples or at the Town Square.
Puthandu (April 14): On Tamil New Year’s Day, a big Car Festival is held at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam. Festivals are also held at Tiruchirapalli, Kanchipuram and many other places.
Vishu (April 14): 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).
