FESTIVALS

Usher in the New Year

Although the Indian National Calendar is the official calendar for the Indians, regional variants still prevail. As a result, we have a host of new year festivities that are unique to the particular regions on this vast country.
Characteristic of the Indian cultural mélange, People in various states of India celebrate the new year in their own ways. And not all of these fall on the same day! The people of Kerala in the south of India celebrate their new year ? Vishu in mid April. Andhra Pradesh, the southeastern part of India begins its new year ? Ugadi in the March-April. During the same time, the Bengalis usher in the new year with the Poila Baishakh celebrations, the Maharashtrians with Gudi Padwa, and the Assamese in the northeast with the Bihu festivals. Hindus in Punjab get agog with Baisakhi, the springtime festival marking the beginning of a new year.

Wish You a Happy Vishu!

Vishu is the first day in the first month of Medam in Kerala, the beautiful coastal state in southern India. The people of this state ? the Malayalees ? begin the day early in the morning by visiting the temple and seeing any auspicious sight, which they call "Vishukani." The day is full of the elaborate traditional rituals with tokens called "Vishukaineetam", usually in form of coins, being distributed among the downtrodden. People wear new clothes ? "Kodi vastram" ? and celebrate the day by bursting firecrackers and enjoying a variety of delicacies at an elaborate lunch called the "sadya" with family and friends. The afternoon and evening is spent in the "Vishuwela" ? the new year fair.

Shubho Naba Barsha on Poila Baishakh!

The first day of the Bengali new year falls on the 13th or 14th of April every year. Called "Poila Baishakh," it's a state holiday in the eastern state of West Bengal and a national holiday in Bangladesh. To welcome the new year or "Naba Barsha", people clean and decorate their houses and invoke Goddess Lakshmi, the bestower of wealth and prosperity. All new enterprises begin on this auspicious day, as businessmen open their fresh ledgers with "Haal Khata"? a ceremomy in which Lord Ganesha is summoned and customers are invited to settle all their old dues and offered free refreshments. The people of Bengal spend the day feasting and participating in cultural activities.

It's Ugadi in Andhra!

The Telegu New Year falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra (March-April). People in Andhra Pradesh, the southeastern Indian coastal state believe that Lord Brahma began the creation of the universe on this auspicious day of Ugadi. People prepare for the new year by cleaning and washing their houses and buying new clothes. On the Ugadi day they decorate their houses with mango leaves and "rangoli" designs, and pray for a prosperous new year, and visit the temples to listen to the yearly calendar ? "Panchangasravanam" as priests make predictions for the coming year. Ugadi is also an auspicious day to embark on any new endeavor.

Bring in the Goodies on Gudi Padwa!

In Maharashtra, the new year is celebrated as Gudi Padwa ? a festival that heralds the advent of spring. Early on the morning of the first day of the Chaitra month, people finish their ablutions, wear new clothes and decorate their houses with colorful "rangoli" patterns. A silk banner is raised and worshipped, and greetings and sweets are exchanged. People hang "gudis" on their windows on this day to celebrate Mother Nature's bounty. A "gudi" is a decorated pole with a brass or a silver vessel placed on it.

The Bright & Boisterous Bohaag Bihu

The northeastern state of Assam ushers in the new year with the spring festival of Bohaag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, which marks the onset of a new agricultural cycle. Fairs are organized where people revel in gay games. The celebrations go on for days together, and it's a good time for young people to find a companion of their own choice! Young belles in traditional attire sing "Bihugeets" and dance the traditional "Mukoli Bihu". The festive food of the occasion is the "pitha" or rice cakes. People visit each other's houses, exchange gifts and sweets and, greet each other a Happy New Year!