India is home to a diverse array of regional New Year festivals, each with unique customs and traditions. From Navreh in the picturesque Kashmir valley to Puthandu in vibrant Tamil Nadu, these festivals share several common elements: welcoming the spring season, marking the harvest season, wearing new clothes and enjoying delicious food with loved ones. Despite these similarities, each festival has unique features and distinct cultural practices. Let's delve deeper into the rich tapestry of India's New Year festivals.
Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu, is a vibrant festival that celebrates the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring. The seven-day festival, which starts on April 14, is filled with meaningful rituals and traditions. For instance, the first day of the festival, called Goru Bihu, involves bathing bulls and cows with turmeric paste, a symbol of good health. The second day, known as Manuh Bihu, is a grand celebration where people wear new clothes, and special dishes are prepared in every household. The aroma of various pithas, a type of traditional Assamese sweet, fills the air, adding to the festive spirit of the occasion.
Baisakhi is a festival that celebrates the first crop of harvest and is also considered the first day of the Punjabi New Year. Taking place on April 13, people from all over Punjab will gather at Anandpur Sahib to enjoy the festivities, which are full of vibrant colours and energy. It is also the birth anniversary of the Khalsa, which was founded in 1699. Nagar Kirtan, which involves singing holy hymns and a procession on the streets, is one of the most popular cultural rituals of Baisakhi. The core of the these celebrations is the spirit of selfless service, best represented by the tradition of the Sikh langar.
Bengali New Year, also known as Poila Boishakh, is celebrated across West Bengal. It marks the beginning of the Bengali calendar, with Boishakh being the first month of the year. The word "Poila" or "Pohela" means "first" in Bengali, and "Boishakh" denotes the onset of the spring season. Taking place on April 15, people exchange greetings and wish each other a "Shubho Noboborsho," which translates to "Happy New Year" in English. The celebration includes traditional music, dance and feasting, along with colourful processions. It is a time for new beginnings, with people adorning themselves in new clothes and visiting their relatives and friends to seek blessings for the coming year.
The Tamil New Year, known as Puthandu or Varsha Pirappu, marks the beginning of the Tamil month of Chithirai, which signifies the onset of spring. To celebrate this occasion, which takes place on April 14, people decorate their homes with a special kani tray filled with auspicious items such as fruits, vegetables, coins and betel leaves. The kani is arranged with great care because people believe that the first thing they see on Puthandu will influence their luck for the rest of the year. In addition, colourful and intricate floor art, called kolam, is created using rice powder in front of houses to welcome prosperity and good luck. People wear new clothes, visit temples and enjoy a delicious vegetarian feast to celebrate the day.
This festival takes place on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam. Taking place on April 14 this year, you can expect families to wake up early in the morning to worship the vishukkanni—a special arrangement of auspicious items such as seasonal fruits, vegetables, flowers, rice, clothes, coins, gold ornaments and more. As per custom, elders give money as vishukkaineetam to the young members of the family. The day also marks the start of the Vishu Vilakku festival season in some parts of the state. Preparing the Vishu Sadhya, a delicious feast comprising delicacies made of seasonal produce, is an important part of the celebrations.
Celebrated in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the festival of Ugadi is believed to be the day when Hindu deity Brahma created the world. The name "Ugadi" is derived from the words "yug" (era) and "adi" (new). The festival also marks the beginning of a fresh year of agricultural activities and signifies the start of spring. People celebrate Ugadi by preparing traditional sweets and pachadi, a sweet syrup made with raw mangoes served with the Ugadi feast.
Gudi Padwa is a spring festival that marks the start of the New Year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. On this day, people hoist gudi flags outside their homes. The term "Gudi Padwa" is made up of two words: "gudi" refers to the flag, garlanded with flowers, mango and neem leaves, and topped with an upturned silver or copper vessel. The flag is believed to ward off evil and invite prosperity and good luck into the house. The word "padwa" comes from the Sanskrit term pratipada, meaning the first day of a lunar fortnight. The festival of Gudi Padwa is celebrated with colourful rangoli decorations, gudi flags, street processions and, of course, feasts.
During Pana Sankranti, which falls on April 14 this year, people offer prayers to the Hindu deity Jagannath, partake in cultural activities, fly kites and feast on traditional cuisine that promotes unity and brings joy. The festival involves reading a newly prepared almanac in front of the sibling deities of Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath. People observe fasting and offer pana (sweet water) to the deities at various temples. Pana is made by mixing water, jaggery, yoghurt and spices that have cooling properties.
Kashmiri Hindus celebrate the Navreh festival to mark the first day of the Kashmiri New Year. During this festival, they pay homage to the Hindu deity Sharika. According to the Kashmiri Hindu calendar, it falls on the first day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra.
