Indian New Year
Puthandu
Puthandu, also known as Puthuvarudam, is celebrated by the Tamil community as the first day of the Tamil calendar. It usually falls on or around April 14th each year. Tamil people express their greetings to one another by saying “Iṉiya puthaandu nalvāazhthugal!” (இனிய புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்), which translates to “Happy New Year” on this day.
It begins with a thorough house cleaning, followed by decorating homes with vibrant and colourful kolams or Rangolis made with coloured rice powder to welcome the new year with positivity and freshness. Families adorn the Puja altar with light, fresh flowers, kumkum, vibuthi, mirror, betel leaves, arecanut and other auspicious items. They also prepare a tray featuring the three major fruits like mango, banana and jackfruit.
People dress up in new clothes and children seek blessings from their elders. They then visit nearby temples with family members and offer prayers. The day culminates in a vegetarian feast where family members come together to enjoy a meal.
Ugadi - Telugu New Year
Ugadi, also known as Yugadi, is a major festival celebrated in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh as the New Year. The term Ugadi is derived from two words, “Yuga” meaning age and “Adi” meaning beginning, signifying the start of a new age or period. It is celebrated to commemorate the day when Lord Brahma created the universe.
People buy new clothes, offer prayers in temples, clean their homes & decorate them with Rangolis, mango leaves & fresh flowers to welcome the New Year.
The festival of Ugadi is celebrated with great enthusiasm among both Kannadigas and Teluguites and is believed to bring prosperity, abundance, and happiness. It holds a significant place in the region as it marks the beginning of nature’s annual cycle and the onset of spring. It is also a sacred time for the farmers who prepare for the new season, hoping for plentiful produce. It is considered an auspicious time to undertake new ventures too. With its vibrant colours and traditional rituals, Ugadi brings joy and happiness to people’s lives, making it a much-awaited festival in the region.
Vishu - Malayalam New Year
Vishu is the Malayalam New Year celebrated in Kerala, on the first day of Medam month. The festival’s name comes from the Sanskrit word Viṣuvam, which means “equal.” On this day, people wear new clothes and partake in a feast called Sadhya. The feast includes a variety of vegetarian dishes, such as sambar, aviyal, thoran, and payasam.
Vishukkani, which means “that which is seen first on Vishu,” is a tray of auspicious items that Malayalis prepare the day before the festival. This tray includes rice, golden lemon, golden cucumber, coconut, jackfruit, Kanmashi, betel leaves, arecanut, Aranmula kannadi, golden-colored Konna flowers, a nilavilakku, an idol of Vishnu, and other auspicious items. The mirror in the Vishukkani represents seeing oneself as a part of the abundance in the form of Pani. On the day of Vishu, people wake up and walk to the Vishukkani with their eyes closed to see it as the first scene of the year.
Another unique tradition associated with Vishu is the giving of “Vishukkaineetam”, where elders of the family give money to the younger members as a token of blessings and good fortune.
Gudi Padwa- Marathi New Year
Gudi Padwa, the Marathi New Year, gets its name from ‘gudi’ meaning flag or emblem of Lord Brahma, and ‘padwa’ meaning the first day of the phase of the moon. On this day, people wake up early, clean their homes, and decorate them with Rangolis.
Gudi arrangements are seen in every household – a bright-colored silk scarf-like cloth tied at the top of a long bamboo with neem and mango leaves attached, along with a garland of flowers, and capped with a silver, bronze, or copper pot symbolizing victory or achievement. The flag is held high as a symbol of Lord Rama’s victory and happiness after slaying Ravana.
Maharashtrian families celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm, preparing festive dishes like Shrikhand, Poori, or Puran Poli. Interestingly, in Mumbai, the tallest Gudi is hoisted every year in the Girgaon area. The competition among the residents to hoist the tallest Gudi has become a tradition in itself. Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of a new year and a new cycle, symbolizing hope, prosperity, and happiness.
Baisakhi - Punjabi New Year
Baisakhi is a vibrant festival celebrated in the northern state of Punjab, marking the Punjabi New Year. The festival is traditionally celebrated to welcome the harvest season and as a commemoration of the formation of Khalsa Panth, a warrior community formed by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
On this day, people visit gurdwaras, the Sikh place of worship, and participate in processions and prayers. The atmosphere is filled with the sound of dhol and bhangra, and people dress up in their traditional Punjabi attire. The festival is also known for its delicious food, including sarson ka saag, makki ki roti, and lassi.
One unique tradition associated with Baisakhi is the Nagarkirtan, a procession in which people carry the Sikh flag and march through the streets, singing hymns and performing martial arts. The festival is a symbol of unity, prosperity, and joy, celebrating the start of a new year and the abundance of the harvest season.
Pohela Boishakh - Bengali New Year
Pohela Boishakh, also known as the Bengali New Year, is celebrated on the first day of the Bengali calendar in Bangladesh, West Bengal. This festival is the time for family gatherings, cultural events, and traditional foods. The streets are decorated with colorful designs, and people wear traditional clothes.
The most important part of Pohela Boishakh is the Mangal Shobhajatra, a colorful procession with large masks and figures made of bamboo and papier-mache. It is a symbol of the struggle for freedom and the triumph of good over evil. People also celebrate Pohela Boishakh by visiting temples, offering prayers, and eating traditional foods such as Panta bhat, Hilsa fish, and sweets like Rosogolla and Sandesh.
Another interesting aspect of Pohela Boishakh is the tradition of exchanging “Pohela Boishakh greetings” or “Shubho Noboborsho” messages among friends and family. Finally, Pohela Boishakh is also a time for reflection and introspection. It is a time to let go of the past and embrace the new beginnings that the new year brings.
Bestu Varas - Gujarati New Year
Bestu Varas, also known as Gujarati New Year, is celebrated on the day following Diwali, the festival of lights. The day is celebrated with much enthusiasm and joy by the Gujarati community all over the world. Bestu Varas is considered an auspicious day and marks the beginning of a new year in the Vikram Samvat, a calendar system that originated in ancient India.
On Bestu Varas, people clean their homes, dress in new clothes and decorate their houses with traditional Rangolis. They also offer prayers and seek blessings from their elders. People exchange sweets and gifts with friends and family, and feast on traditional Gujarati dishes such as Dhokla, Fafda, and Undhiyu.
Interestingly, the Gujarati community celebrates two New Year’s: Bestu Varas and Uttarayan, which falls on January 14th. Uttarayan marks the beginning of the sun’s northward journey, and is celebrated with kite flying, feasting, and merrymaking. Together, these two New Year’s celebrations represent the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the vibrant Gujarati community.