The article begins with, “The Parsi community in India marked the celebration of Navroj on 16th August 2020. Despite being globally celebrated on 21st March, Navroz gets recognized on 16th August in India. This deviation occurs due to the Shahenshahi calendar followed by the Parsis in India, which disregards leap years.”
Understanding Navroz
Navroz, also referred to as the Parsi New Year, derives its name from Persian words where “Nav” means new and “Roz” signifies the day – effectively translating to ‘new day’. This festive event marks the onset of the Iranian (Persian) calendar and witnesses a worldwide observance, majorly by Iranians and the Parsi community.
In India, Navroz goes by another moniker – Jamshed-i-Navroz, named after Persian King, Jamshed, who developed the Shahenshahi calendar. A notable fact is that Navroz holds a spot in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list for India.
Traditional New Year Festivals in India
India, known for its diversity, hosts several other New Year celebrations unique to different communities. For instance, the Hindu calendar (Vikram Samvat) begins its new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. This date marks Emperor Vikramaditya’s triumph over Sakas, his subsequent invasion of Ujjain, and the proclamation of a new era.
Gudi Padwa and Ugadi also get observed in the month of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, according to the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Deccan region, comprising Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra hosts these celebrations.
In Kashmir, people commemorate the lunar New Year, also known as Navreh, on the first day of the Chaitra Navratras.
The Meiteis, an ethnic group in Manipur, hold their annual festivities, known as Sajibu Cheiraoba, on the inaugural day of the Manipur lunar month Shajibu, usually falling in April.
Cheti Chand is a festival observed by the Sindhi community, marking the birthday of Ishta Deva Uderolal/Jhulelal, the community’s patron saint. This celebration takes place in the Sindhi month ‘Chet,’ which corresponds to the month of Chaitra.
Festivities Across the Calendar Year
Bihu, an Assamese festival, gets celebrated thrice a year, in January (Bhogali or Magh Bihu), April (Rongali or Bohag Bihu), and October (Kongali or Kati Bihu). The April Bihu doubles as the Assamese New Year and a spring festival, coinciding with the Sikh New Year, Baisakhi.
Celebrated by farmers as an Indian thanksgiving day, Baisakhi also holds religious importance for the Sikhs due to its association with the formation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh.
Losoong, or Namsoong as it’s also known, marks the Sikkimese New Year where farmers celebrate their harvest. Mostly celebrated in December every year, it’s a vibrant occasion for the Lepchas and Bhutias.
Thus, the multitude of New Year celebrations in India highlights its rich cultural diversity and unique traditions observed by different communities.