Celebrating regional new years across India (1).

Today many parts of India celebrate the new year and wishes have been pouring from many corners. Let's get a fair idea of the celebrations and the regions that are celebrating the commencement of the regional new years.

1. Baisakhi

Celebrated today, 13 Apr. Marks the beginning of the solar year. People of north India, particularly Punjab, thank god for the good harvest. Visits to Gurudwaras, Baisakhi processions and traditional performances were the highlight of the day.

2. Chaitra Pratipada/Chaitra Navratri

Is also known as Basant Navratri. Starts today, 13 Apr and ends on 21 Apr. Each day is celebrated in special ways or the puja vidhi is different and prayers are offered to different avatars of Navdurga or Shakti. Hindu devotees invoke Goddess Durga for happiness, abundance, protection and victory. Chaitra Navaratri is popular in north India. 

3. Cheirouba

Celebrated today, 13 Apr. Is the Manipuri new year based on the solar calendar. People clean and decorate their houses and prepare special festive dishes which are first offered to various deities. My friends, the Koijams - Amrit and Padma - sent me the snaps of their offerings to the deities, Laindhou and Leimaren.  

4. Gudhi Padwa

Celebrated today, 13 Apr. Is a spring time festival that marks the traditional new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. It is celebrated in and near Maharashtra and Goa on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the new year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar.

5. Navreh

Celebrated today, 13 Apr. First day of the Kashmiri new year celebrated by the Hindus there. Blessings, prayers are indulged in and sweets are passed around. It's the first day of Chaitra, Shukla Paksh.

6. Ugadi/Yugadi

Celebrated today, 13 Apr. Also known as 'Samvatsaradi', it is the new year's day for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. It is the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra.

This, in essence, is the unity in diversity prevalent in this great country.

Tailpiece.

Got up half an hour late compared to our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Suma did a thorough cleaning of the house with Lekha giving the finer tips and helping her where needed. Gave Suma the Vishukkaineettam before she left our place, in the evening.

Plucked the Labernum flowers from the tree in our courtyard and handed over a few clutches each to Suma and the Warriath amma, for their Vishukkani.

We set our 'Vishukkani' between the auspicious time of 2200 and 2256 hrs.