New Year Festivals Across India

• 13 Apr 2024

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, traditional Hindu New Year festivals like Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh, and Sajibu Cheiraoba were celebrated across India, fostering cultural unity and appreciation.

What are the Major Traditional Indian New Year Festivals?

• Chaitra Sukladi:
  • Celebrated in North India, marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year.
    • The Hindu New Year Vikram Samvat begins with the new moon of the month of Chaitra.
  • According to popular tradition, King Vikramaditya of Ujjain established the Vikrama Samvat era after defeating the Sakas.
    • The earliest known inscription which calls the era "Vikrama" is from 842 CE.
• Ugadi:
  • Ugadi marks the commencement of the Hindu New Year and is observed in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.
    • The terms Yugadi or Ugadi stem from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and adi (beginning), denoting the start of a new age.
  • Panchanga Sravanam, the reading of the almanac for the new year, is an important ritual.
• Gudi Padwa:
  • Gudi Padwa, also known as Samvatsar Padvo, is observed in Maharashtra and Goa.
  • It marks the beginning of Marathi New Year and is also observed as the first day of Chaitra Month.
  • Marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and the Marathi New Year.
• Cheti Chand:
  • Celebrated by the Sindhi community.
  • Marks the beginning of the Sindhi New Year.
  • The festival of Cheti Chand is observed by Sindhis to commemorate the birth of Jhulelal, also called Uderolal, who is considered their patron saint.
• Navreh:
  • Celebrated by the Kashmiri Pandit community.
  • Navreh is derived from Sanskrit Nava Varsha, meaning the new year.
  • Kashmiri Pandits dedicate the Navreh festival to their Goddess Sharika and pay homage to her during the festival.
• Sajibu Cheiraoba:
  • Sajibu Cheiraoba, also known as Meitei Cheiraoba, is a traditional festival celebrated in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.
  • It marks the beginning of the Manipuri lunar calendar year and is observed by the Meitei community, who are the majority ethnic group in Manipur.