The new year is an occasion of New beginnings, good times with friends and family, and of course a fresh new start to everything.
India is a diverse land and with the variety of people living here, there are various ways in which people celebrate New year. Most of these festivities are based on the Hindu calendar following the movement of the solar and lunar system, but mostly it is at the time of Harvesting the crops when people of various states celebrate their New year.
Here's how people celebrate New Year across the country.
● Ugadi
Also known as the Telugu new year, Ugadi is popularly celebrated In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Ugadi signifies the beginning of the new age and is celebrated in a grandeur way by some good food and new clothes for everyone.
● Gudi Padwa
Celebrated on the first day of Chaitra month, this festival is the new year for Maharashtrian and Konkanis. Gudi, which is a bright yellow cloth tied to the tip of a bamboo stick and with an inverted copper pot placed along with it with a sugar garland and is hanged on the right side of the main entrance of the houses.
● Bohag Bihu
As the name depicts, Bohag Bihu is celebrated as the beginning of the season of agriculture in April. This Assamese new year festival is the most important festival of Assam, celebrated by fun and abundance, faith and belief.
● Puthandu
Also known as the traditional Tamil new year, it starts in April on the first day of the Tamil month 'Chithirai'. People celebrate it with their family and loved ones wishing each other Puthandu Vazthukal” which means Happy New Year, the main delicacy which is enjoyed in this festival is Mango Pacchadi or the Mango pickle made up of raw mangoes, jaggery along with some neem flowers.
● Baisakhi
It is the most popular way of celebrating New Year's in the Northern states of the country. Being one of the biggest Harvest festivals this is celebrated with a lot of glories. Celebrated all over Punjab popularly, it marks the harvest of the crops and as a tribute to God, the festival is celebrated mainly at the birthplace of the Khalsa and Golden temple in Amritsar.
● Poila Boisakh
Nobo boho or Poila Boisakh is the New years for Bengalis. Celebrated in April, it is considered very auspicious and is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. With new clothes to wear and yummy delicacies to have, People in Bengal celebrate it with full grandeur.
Tribal people in hilly areas of Tripura also celebrate Poila Boisakh with grandeur.
● Bestu Varas
Bestu Varas marks the beginning of the harvest season in Gujrat and is observed with great significance, this festival comes just after Diwali along with many other traditional rituals.
● Hijri
Hijri, the Islamic new year is celebrated on the first day of Muharram. The Islamic calendar differs from the Georgian calendar and this festival follows the date from the lunar calendar.
The day is celebrated with long-standing customs, processions, and traditional rituals.
Every region in India celebrates New Year following different cultures, rituals, and traditions. Every State celebrates this festivities with a joyous and Gala Manner.