Hindu New Year started on 2 April 2022. As per Hindu calendar, this year is known as Vikram Samvat 2079. It is the first day of the month Chaitra as per Hindu calendar. This year, the day coincides with first day of Navratra.
As India is a diverse land, different regions have different names for ushering in New Year celebrations as per the Hindu calendar. Let’s have look at these names.
Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra
This day is celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra. People welcome the New Year by placing a Gudi outside their door or window. People decorate their doorsteps with Rangoli and a toran made of mango leaves. Prayers and flowers are offered to the Gudi after placing it on the window or door. Following this, people perform the Aarti and put Akshat on the Gudi.
Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka
The day is celebrated as Ugadi as per the Hindu calendar in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. On this day, dressed in their best fineries, men, women and children decorate their homes and indulge in grand festivities. Family members, friends and neighbours get together to celebrate by greeting each other and exchanging sweets and Prasadam. People also visit temples to offer their prayers to the almighty and seek blessings on the auspicious occasion.
One of the most important preparations on this day is the Ugadi Pachchadi (made of jaggery, raw mango and neem leaves/ flowers) that tastes sweet, sour and bitter. This special recipe is prepared at home to remind people that they need to embrace agony and ecstasy with grace because life is a blend of both joyful and sad moments.
Navreh in Jammu and Kashmir
The first day of Chaitra month is celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir as Navreh. It is widely celebrated by the Kashmiri Pandits community where people greet everyone they meet with a warm 'Navreh Mubarak'. Navreh is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nava-Varsha', meaning New Year.
Cheti Chand in Sindh
It is known as the Sindhi New Year and is mainly celebrated by Sindhi Hindus in India and Pakistan. The festival coincides with the second day of the Chaitra Shukla Paksha in the Hindu calendar. And since on this day, the moon first appears after a no moon day, it is called Cheti Chand.
Hindu Month names
- Chaitra
- Vaisakha
- Jyaistha
- Asadha
- Shravana
- Bhadra
- Asvina
- Kartika
- Agrahayana
- Pausa
- Magha
- Phalguna
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