Pohela Boishakh : Shubho Nabo Barsho!

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended greetings on the special occasion of ShubhoNaboBarsha and wished everyone happiness and good health.Pohela Boishakh

India is a diverse country with many cultures and religions, and as such, there are several different days celebrated as New Year in India. Here are some of the most significant ones:

1. Baisakhi – Punjab

Baisakhi is the biggest harvest festival celebrated across the entire North India. Baisakhi holds a special place in the land of Five Rivers, Punjab. Commemorating the first day of the Vaisakh month, the Sikh community of Punjab also celebrates this day as the formation of the Sikh Khalsa. It is celebrated mainly at the birthplace of the Khalsa and the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

2. Jude Sheetal – Bihar, Jharkhand

Also known as Maithili New Year, it is celebrated by the Maithili in Bihar, Jharkhand, and even Nepal. Maithili New Year is usually celebrated on the 14th of April according to the Gregorian calendar.

3. Bohag Bihu – North Eastern States

Also known as Rangali Bihu, Bohag Bihu also falls on the day of Baisakhi and Puthandu in Assam. Celebrating the new harvest with lots of sweets, shared among the family and friends with the exchange of more gifts. Bohag Bihu is celebrated for three days straight with many different traditions. Bihu dance is a form of celebration for the people

4. GudiPadwa – Maharashtra

GudiPadwa is the first day of Chaitra month and is marked as the New Year in Maharashtra. A ‘Gudi’, a beautiful arrangement of silk saree or cloth tied to stick with a ‘Lota’ on the top and then decorated with sweets and garlands made of neem and mango. The day symbolizes the victory of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj over his enemies and Shalivahan’s victory over the Sakas.

5. Ugadi – Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh

Ugadi or Yugadi is the New Year celebration of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. It is observed in these regions on the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra. Traditional sweets and ‘Pachadi’ (sweet syrup) – made with raw mangoes and neem leaves – are served with the Ugadi meal. Ugadi is the festival of new beginnings, so people buy new clothes and eat lots of good food with friends and family.

6. Jamshedi Navroz

Novruz is the Iranian New Year, celebrated by many ethnolinguistic groups all over the world. In India, on the next day of Pateti, Parsis celebrate Navroz.

7. Vishu – Kerala

Vishu festival marks the beginning of harvest in the bountiful land of Kerala. It is a festival full of lights and fireworks. The day starts with arranging the harvest’s fruits, vegetables, and seasonal flowers in front of a mirror. This arrangement is called the Vishu Kani. On this day, devotees also visit Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple and Guruvayur Krishna Temple for prayers.

8. PohelaBoishakh – West Bengal

Another state that celebrates a different New Year in West Bengal. The Poila or PohelaBoishakh is the first day of the Vaisakh, which is the Bengali New Year. You will witness cultural celebrations all over the state, with Bengalis going on crazy shopping sprees and musical shows. Santiniketan is well known for its Noboborsho (New Year) festivals.

9. Islamic New Year

The Islamic New Year starts on the first day of Muharram, which is the first month of the lunar Hijri calendar that is followed by Islam. The day also marks the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD, and the journey was called Hijrah or Hijri, and hence the name ‘Hijri calendar’. The New Year is celebrated by sharing meals and prayers with the family.

Pohela Boishakh, Pohela Boishakh