10 traditional New Year Celebrations in India
New Year Eve In India
Although New Year traditions vary in different parts of India, 31st December has become a national festival over the years. You will find the excitement and enthusiasm about celebrating the eve of welcoming the New Year all over the country. The day is celebrated with a lot of fervor and prayers’, parties, New Year fetes and social feasts are organized everywhere.
Here is an Interesting list of how & when the various states around the country celebrate their New Year’s Day in different times of the year.
Maharashtrian New Year
Gudi Padwa is the Maharastrian New Year. This day is celebrated on Shuddha Pratipada, the first day in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April). Festivities of Gudi Padwa lasts for three and a half days. The word ‘padwa’ means the end of one harvesting season and beginning of another. According to Brahma Purana, Gudi Padwa is the day on which universe was created by Lord Brahma, Satyug began and Lord Ram returned Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
Punjabi / Sikh (Nanakshahi) New Year
Baisakhi Festival, also called Vaisakhi, holds great importance for the Sikh community and farmers of Punjab. Baisakhi falls on April 13 or 14, the first day of the year according to the Nanakshahi Calender. Sikhs also celebrate this day in honor of their tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Baisakhi commemorates the day when the Sikh Guru eliminated caste differences and founded Khalsa Panth in1689.
Gujarati New Year
Gujarati New Year is celebrated among all the major festivities in the month of October. It is celebrated on the next day of Diwali. Gujarati New Year is synonymous with sudekam of the kartik month - it is the first day of first month of Gujarati calender. Bestu Varas is New Year in Gujarati and Varsha-pratipada or Padwa are other names of the same.
Bengali New Year
If you are in Bengal at the time of mid April, you will hear people wishing each other “Shubo Nabo Barsho“. It is celebrated as a Bengali New Year. This festival usually falls in the month of April which is the month of Baisakh, first month of Bengali New Year. The festival of Nabo Barsha was introduced was the great Mughal emperor, Akbar.
Marwari New Year
Marwaris of Rajasthan consider Diwali as their New Year. They believe Diwali to be an auspicious day to venture into new projects and thus celebrate it as New Year’s day. It usually falls in the month of October - November. The Marwari New Year is celebrated with great charm and exuberance in almost all parts of Rajasthan.
Assamese New Year
Bohag Bihu is the national festival of Assamese as it marks the beginning of the New Year. Rituals and customary practices of Bohag Bihu starts from April 13. There are three forms of a Bihu festival namely Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu (in the middle of April), Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu (middle of January) and Kaati Bihu or Kongali Bihu (in October/ November).
Sikkimese New Year
Losoong is the New Year for the people of Sikkim. It generally, falls in the month of December and marks the end of harvesting season. The highlights of the festival are Chaam dances and archery contests.
Tamil New Year
The month of Chittrai (April - May) embarks the time of festivities in Tamil Nadu. Tamil’s New Year Day “ Puthandu” is celebrated on April 13 or 14 every year (according to the Gregorian Calender). People greet each other “Puthandu Vazthukal” which means Happy New Year. This auspicious day is also popular as Varusha Pirappuv. As per the Hindu mthyical legends, Lord Brahma started creation of the universe.
Telugu New Year
Ugadi marks the advent of the Telugu New Year. The name of the festival derived from “Yuga Aadi” which means New Age. According to the Chandramana system (Shalivahana Shaka), Telugu New Year falls on Chaitra Shuddha Prathipade. It is the first day of the Lunar calender. Like any other religion, Telugu New Year celebrations also has a legend behind it. Hindu mythology says Lord Brahma, created universe on Chaitra Shuddha Prathipade. Since then, this day is celebrated as a New Year’s day.
Malayalam New Year
Vishu festival or Malayalam New Year falls on the first of Malayalam month of Medam (March-April). A number of rituals and customs are associated with the festival. It’s not a pompous festival but more of a homely affair. People of Kerela like to spend it with their family members.
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November 9th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
thanks !! very helpful post!