Just like Navratri—the festival of nine nights, is rejoiced simultaneously all over India, similarly, the Hindu New Year is celebrated with equal pomp and enthusiasm. The significance of Hindu New Year festival lies to the underlying fact that, it marks the departure of chilly winters and the arrival of spring. A season where nature is all in its vibrancy, with fragrant flowers, early chirping of the birds, the fresh fruits of harvest and lush greens all enveloped around.
For the Hindus, it symbolizes the dawn of another cycle and a period of a new agricultural cycle. It marks the new beginnings filled with high expectations, apprehensions, hope and joy. Hindu New Year celebrations across the country with different customs and traditions are based on the theme of new beginnings and a commencement of harvest festival. It normally celebrated from April 13 to 15 every year, depending on the calendar of different communities.
VISHU:Kerala
For Malayalees, Vishu marks the beginning of their New Year. It is celebrated around April-May, during the first day of Malayalam month of Medam. Malyalees offers prayers to divine ‘Vishnu Kanni’. A night before to Vishu, women decorate their puja room with auspicious puja items in a typical bell metal called uruli. This offering consists of raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, metal mirror, yellow flowers (konna) and a holy text and coins.
As a custom, as soon as they wake up, they go to the prayer room blindfolded. They open their eyes first at Vishukanni and offer prayers. Thereafter, it is celebration time, where people are dressed in kodi vastram. The elders of the family distribute tokens of money called ‘vishukkaineetam’ to the children, servants and tenants. They feast together with special items like ‘Veppampoorasam’ (a bitter preparation of neem) and ‘Mampazhapachadi’ (a sour mango soup).
Naba Barsha:West Bengal
For Bengalis, it is the celebration of Bengali New Year. It marks the beginning of Baisakh, the first month of Bengali calendar year. It makes the beginning of all business activities. They greet each other in Bengali ‘Shubho Nabo Barsho’.
At dawn, Bengalis take out processions known as ‘Prabhat Pheries’ During this procession, the ladies are clad in a Bengali sari, (white sari with red border), while, men wear dhoti kurta. The day is spent in feasting and participating in cultural activities. On this day, women decorate their homes with elaborate rangolis with flour. In the center, placed is the earthenware pot decorated with auspicious ’swastika’. The pot is filled with holy water and mango leaves to symbolize prosperity in the forthcoming year. They offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi.
NAVREH:Jammu and Kashmir
For Kashmiri Pundits, Navreh is the lunar New Year. It falls on the bright fortnight of Chaitra. They greet other by saying ‘Navreh Mubarak’, followed by Kashmiri dishes and dances. A day prior to the festival, the Kashmiri Pandits visit the sacred spring of Vichar Nag for a holy dip to wash off all impurities. After the holy dip, they take prasad consisting of wye (round herbs) and homemade rice powder cakes.
On this day, the pandit family’s ‘Kulguru’ gives a new Kashmiri almanac known as Nechi (Nakshatra) Patri. A scroll called ‘Creel pach’ which has a photo of Goddess Sharika is also given. In the evening, the housewife of the family prepares a big “Thali”. The objects in the thali signify the prayer for food, knowledge and wealth in the coming year. On top are arranged the new almanac, rice, paddy, kreel pach, dry flowers, fresh flowers, mirror, shelled and unshelled walnut, wye herb, spouted grass, curds, pen, inkpot, cooked rice, roti, salt, gold and silver coins. This thali is covered by another plate and is kept aside till next morning. The son or daughter uncovers this lid. He or she takes the thali on his head and shows to every member of the family.
RONGALI BIHU:Assam
For Assamese, Rongali Bihu marks the agricultural New Year at the advent of seeding time. It falls in the first month of the Assamese calendar called Bohag. On this day, young boys and girls are attired in traditional dhoti, gamosa and saadar mekhela. They cheer and sing together folk songs in Bihu with traditional musical instruments like dhol, pépa (buffalo hornpipe) and gagana. They feast on special cake known as the pitha.
PUTHANDU:Tamilnadu
Puthandu marks the Tamil New Year’s Day. It is celebrated in the beginning of Chithirai - the first month in the Tamil Calendar year. On this day, womenfolk adorn the entrance of their house with colorful Kolam patterns. In the center, is placed a lamp called ‘kuthuvillakku’ to dispel darkness. On this day, they pray and read the Panchangam. They exchange greetings with each other by saying ‘Puthandu Vazthukal’ in their traditional jewellery and clothes. They relish ‘Maanga Pachadi’, a sweet, sour and bitter dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers to signify different aspects of life.
UGADI:Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
For Telegus and Kannads, it marks the beginning of their calendar year, which is based on the Salivahana era. This day falls on the first day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Chaitra. They begin their day with ritual showers followed by prayers. They relish a traditional “Ugadi Pachhadi’ or ‘Beva Bella’ mixture consisting of neem buds/jaggery, raw mango and tamarind juice. This symbolize that life is a mixture of pleasure and pain, which should be accepted together.
Ugadi celebrations are marked by literary discussions and recognition of authors of literary works through awards and cultural programmes. On this day, recitals of classical carnatic music and dance are held in the evenings. Special dishes like ‘pulihora’ and ‘bobbatlu’ are relished. In Karnataka, they make similar preparations called ‘Puliogure’ and ‘holige’.
GUDI PADWA:Maharashtra
For Maharashtrians, Gudi Padwa marks the auspicious beginning of the New Year. It falls on the first day ’shuddha pratipada’ of Chaitra. It is auspicious time for building or entering a new house, putting a child to school, or starting a business. On this day, Maharashtrians hang ‘Gudis’ outside the windows of their homes. They signify the victory of Marathas War fought by Chattrapati Shivaji. They are displayed to thwart off evils.
Maharashtrians welcome the New Year by worshipping Gudi. They distribute ‘Prasad’ comprising of tender neem leaves, tamarind, Ajwain, gram-pulse and jaggery. They wear new clothes and relish special Maharashtrian delicacies like soonth panak and chana usal.
BAISAKHI:Punjab
For Punjabis and Sikhs, Baisakhi is perhaps one of the most vibrant and joyful festivals. It is also known as ‘Punjabi New Year’ or ‘Vaisakhi’. It falls during the first month of Punjab calendar ‘Vaisakh’, according to Nanakshahi—the Sikh Calendar. For the Sikh community, it is the birthday of their tenth Guru—Guru Gobind Singh.
For the farmers, Baisakhi is the harvest time for rabi crops. On this day, farmers thank god for the bountiful crop and pray for good times ahead. Punjabis are attired in their colorful best with salwar kameezes and colorful lungis and turbans. People make merry by singing, dancing and enjoying the best of festive food. They enjoy themselves to the fullest by dancing in a true “Bhangra’ and ‘Gidda’ step to express their joy and happiness. Cries of “Jatta aai Baisakhi” rent the skies with the beating of drums and dhols.
Punjabi delicacies like ’sarson ka saag’ and makki ki roti are savored to the fullest.
0 comments:
Post a Comment