Traditional New Year Festivals in India

Festival

Features

• It marks the beginning of the new year day according to the Hindu calendar (Vikram Samvat) in parts of North India.
•  It falls on the first day of the Chaitra month, the first month of the Hindu calendar.
  • Vikram Samvat: It is based on the day when the emperor Vikramaditya defeated Sakas, invaded Ujjain and called for a new era. Under his supervision, astronomers formed a new calendar based on the luni-solar system.
    • • It is still followed in the northern regions of India.
    • It is the first day during the waxing phase (in which the visible side of the moon is getting bigger every night) of the moon in the Chaitra (first month of Hindu calendar).

• It is celebrated by the peoples of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra, marking the beginning of a new lunar year.
• It derives its name from the Sanskrit words “yuga” (age) and “adi” (beginning). 
• Ugadi is celebrated with the preparation of a special dish called “Ugadi Pachadi,” which is a distinctive blend of neem flowers, jaggery, tamarind, raw mango, and chilli.
  • Additionally, cultural events, traditional rites, and social gatherings mark the festivities, which bring together families and strengthen communal bonds.
• For Ugadi, doors in homes are adorned with mango leaf decorations called toranalu or Torana in Kannada.

• It is a Hindu festival that marks the beginning of the new year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar. 
• The word Gudi Padwa is made of two words – Gudi refers to the flag (garlanded with flowers, mango, and neem leaves, topped with upturned silver or copper vessel) and padwa or padava or padavo comes from the Sanskrit word pratipada which refers to the first day of a lunar fortnight. 
• It is celebrated in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, and parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• It is celebrated with colorful floor decorations called rangoli, a special Gudi flag, street processions, dancing, and festive foods.
• Mythological & Historical Significance:
  • It is believed to be the day when Lord Brahma created the universe.
  • It also marks the day when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. 
  • It is also believed to be the day when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was crowned as the king of the Maratha Empire.

• Cheti Chand is celebrated as Jhulelal Jayanti by the Sindhi community to commemorate the birth anniversary of Uderolal/Jhulelal, the patron saint of Sindhis.
• This marks the beginning of the Sindhi New Year. As per the Hindu calendar, it is primarily observed on the second day of Chaitra Shukla Paksha. Chaitra month is called ‘Chet’ in Sindhi.
• Significance: The day is significant for Sindhis since it is believed that Varun Dev emerged as Jhulelal on this day to save the Sindhi community from a king who wanted to destroy Sindhi culture. 

• Navreh is derived from Nav-varsh of Sanskrit. It is the lunar new year that is celebrated in Kashmir.
• It falls on the first day of the Chaitra Navratri.
• The day is dedicated to their Goddess Sharika and they pay homage to her on that day.
• On this day, Kashmiri pandits look at a bowl of rice which is considered as a symbol of riches and fertility.
• The festival is associated with the onset of spring and the blossoming of flowers. 

• It is the Manipuri New Year festival of Meiteis (an ethnic group in Manipur) which is observed on the first day of Manipur lunar month Shajibu.
• On the day of the festival, people arrange a joint family feast in which traditional cuisines are offered to local deities at the entrance gates of the houses.
• The festival marks the beginning of a new agricultural cycle.
• It is celebrated with the preparation of a special dish called “Chak-Hao,” made from fermented soybean. 
• People also perform traditional dances and offer prayers to the deities for a prosperous year ahead.