India is a land of diverse cultural practices and traditions, celebrated with much gusto and enthusiasm. One such significant tradition is the celebration of numerous festivals that mark the beginning of the traditional New Year in the spring season. These include ‘Chaitra Sukladi, Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Vaisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu, and Bohag Bihu’. The Vice President of India extends his warm wishes to the people on these auspicious occasions.
Chaitra Sukladi
Chaitra Sukladi indicates the onset of the new year according to the Vikram Samvat, also referred to as the Vedic or Hindu calendar. This calendar was formulated under the supervision of Emperor Vikramaditya after his victory over the Sakas and his subsequent invasion of Ujjain. The calendar is founded on the luni-solar system and is still prevalent in the northern parts of India. Chaitra Sukladi is observed on the first day of the waxing phase of the moon in the Chaitra month (the first month of the Hindu calendar).
Gudi Padwa and Ugadi
In the Deccan region, encompassing Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, the festivals of Gudi Padwa and Ugadi are celebrated with much fervor. One common element in these celebrations is the special sweet and bitter festive food. A popular dish served during these festivals is a mix of jaggery (sweet) and neem (bitter), signifying the contrasting aspects of life – happiness and sorrow. In Maharashtra, a doll, known as gudi, is prepared and placed prominently in the house or outside a window or door for all to see. On Ugadi, doors are decorated with mango leaves, known as toranalu or Torana in Kannada.
Cheti Chand
The Sindhis celebrate their New Year as Cheti Chand, with ‘Chet’ referring to the Chaitra month in Sindhi. The festival commemorates the birth anniversary of their patron saint, Uderolal or Jhulelal.
Navreh
Navreh is Kashmir’s lunar New Year. Derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Nav-Varsha’, it falls on the first day of the Chaitra Navratri. A unique tradition of this festival is the practice of looking at a bowl of rice as a symbol of prosperity and fertility.
Vaishakhi
Also known as Baisakhi, this festival is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs and marks the beginning of the Hindu Solar New Year. It is also significant for commemorating the formation of the Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Additionally, Baisakhi is remembered for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre executed by colonial British empire officials; an event that played a major role in India’s struggle against colonial rule.
Vishu
Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated primarily in Kerala, Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka, the Mahé district of Union Territory of Pondicherry, neighboring areas of Tamil Nadu, and their diaspora communities. Falling in mid-April, it marks the first day of Medam, the ninth month in Kerala’s solar calendar.
Puthandu
Known as Puthuvarudam or Tamil New Year, Puthandu marks the first day of the year on the Tamil calendar and is traditionally celebrated as a festival. It typically falls on or about 14th April each year on the Gregorian calendar.
Bohag Bihu
Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu or Xaat Bihu in Assam, marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year. Celebrated by the aboriginal ethnic groups in Assam and other northeastern regions, this festival typically takes place in the second week of April, signifying the harvest season.
