India is a land of cultural diversity. But somehow, these different religions and traditions sum up to make India much more beautiful than it already is! Different festivals are celebrated in different regions in India with pomp and show. The most diverse of these festivals is the New Year's Day celebrated in various states across India. Though the English calendar marks January 1st as the beginning of a New Year, we Indians also believe in celebrating New Year's Day according to our regional calendars.
Telugu New Year – Ugadi
Ugadi is celebrated in the state of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It marks the beginning of a New Year and usually falls in the month of April or May. A variety of South Indian delicacies are prepared in households and devoured on a platter of typical banana leafs. People also buy new clothes to celebrate this auspicious occasion.
Maharashtrian New Year – Gudi Padwa
Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra Month and marks the beginning of a new year for Marathis and Konkanis. You know you're standing outside a Marathi household is you find a bright, yellow cloth tied to a long bamboo stick with an inverted copper pot and a garland at the right side of the main door. Places like Mumbai, Pune and Nasik celebrate this festival in a grand way.
Punjabi New Year – Baisakhi
Baisakhi is the biggest harvest festival in the northern part of India, especially Punjab. It falls on either the 13th or 14th April and also marks the day of formation of the Sikh Khalsa along with the Punjabi New Year. The biggest celebration of Baisakhi can be seen in the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Gujrati New Year – Bestu Varas
Bestu Varas is celebrated by Gujratis with enthusiasm as it happens to be the beginning of the Gujrati New Year. It usually falls on the day after Diwali and is one of the most important festivals in Gujrat. Visit Gujrat during Bestu Varas and dig into some mouth-watering Gujrati dishes.
Tamil New Year – Puthandu
Puthandu falls anytime in April and is start of the Tamil New Year. People decorate their homes with intricate rangolis and wish each other. Mangai Pachadi is the primary food preparation used in the celebration of Puthandu.
Assamese New Year – Bihu
Bihu is one of the most important festivals in Assam. Apart from being the day which marks the start of a New Year, Bihu is also considered to be a harvest festival in the North-Eastern regions of India.
Bengali New Year – Poila Boishakh
As Bengalis fondly refer to ‘New Year' as ‘Nobo Borsho', they wish each other ‘Shubho Nobo Borsho' on Poila Boisakh, which marks the commencement of a New Year according to the Bengali calendar. It is celebrated with grandeur in West Bengal. Popular Bengali sweets are exchanged along with best wishes. Poila Boishakh is even considered an auspicious day to get married.
Malyalam New Year – Vishu
People in Kerala observe Vishu as the auspicious beginning of a New Year. An interesting event in Vishu is Vishukkani, the first object viewed in the morning. This traditional festival is begun with an auspicious puja, followed by a proper South Indian style meal.
Marwari New Year – Diwali
Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. The Marwaris of Rajasthan observe Diwali as the beginning of their holy New Year. While the rest of India is busy bursting crackers on that particular day, Marwaris begin their New Year with a traditional puja and some lip-smacking Diwali delicacies.
Different regions might be celebrating their New Year's Day separately, but the happiness which accompanies a festival is quite the same across India.
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