Context: Recently, the auspicious festival of Ugadi, which represents the beginning of the New Year, was celebrated.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Ugadi; Traditional News Year Festivals.
About Ugadi festival
- Ugadi/Yugadi, also known as Samvatsaradi (beginning of the year), is New Year's Day.
- Celebrated in: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka.
- Locally known as Souramana Ugadi or Mesha Sankranti (by followers of Souramana calendar system) in Karnataka.
- Souramana (solar year) is a way of measuring time using the movement of the sun.
- Chandramana (lunar year) is a way of keeping track of the year with the moon's movement.
- It is observed in these regions on the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra (falling in late March or early April as per the Gregorian calendar).
- Traditions and rituals:
- Drawing colourful patterns on the floor called Muggulu.
- Mango leaf decorations on doors called Torana.
- Preparing and sharing a special food called Pachadi.
- It has been an historic festival of the Hindus, with medieval texts and inscriptions recording major charitable donations to Hindu temples on this day.
Traditional News Year Festivals in India
| S.NO. | Festival | Information |
| 1. | Puthandu | - Tamil Nadu - First day of year on the Tamil calendar - The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the solar Hindu calendar. References about the festival: - In Netunalvatai, by a Sangam period author, Nakkirar -Silappadikaaram by Illango Adigal - Manimekalai by Seethalai Satanar |
| 2. | Jude Sheetal/Maithili New Year | - Bihar; Jharkhand - Celebrated by the Maithilis in Bihar, Jharkhand and even Nepal. |
| 3. | Novruz | - Novruz is the Iranian New Year - In India, it is celebrated by the Parsi community. - In 2009, it was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. |
| 4. | Vishu | - Kerala - The festival starts with Vishu Kani: arranging harvest's fruits, vegetables and seasonal flowers in front of a mirror. -Devotees visit Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple and Guruvayur Krishna temple for prayers. |
| 5. | Navreh/Kashmiri New Year | - Celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits - Dedicated to their Goddess Sharika. - On the eve of the Navreh, the priest of the family provides a Nechipatra, a collection of the important events and a scroll, Kreel-Pach of the Goddess. |
| 6. | Gudi Padwa/Marathi New Year | - Maharashtra and parts of Goa. - People hoist Gudi dhwaja (a decorated flag to symbolise victory) outside their homes. - Some believe that the festival marks the victory of Shivaji over Mughal dominance in the Maharashtra region. |
| 7. | Shigmo/Shishirotsava | - By Konkani speaking communities in Goa and parts of Karnataka. - Two variants: Dhakto Shigmo (small Shigmo) and Vhadlo Shigmo (big Shigmo). - Dhakto Shigmo: celebrated by the farmers, labor class, and the rural population; - VhadloShigmo: celebrated on a major scale and everyone takes part. |
| 8. | Cheti Chand | - Celebrated by the Sindhi community. - Marks the arrival of spring and harvest - In the Sindhi community, it also marks the birth of Uderolal in 1007. He, as Jhulelal, became the saviour of the Sindhi Hindus. |
| 9. | Losoong | - Also known as Namsoong - Sikkimese New Year, also observed in Darjeeling (West Bengal) - Communities: Lepchas and Bhutias. - Several religious dances (known as Chaams) are performed mostly in the famous monasteries. |
| 10. | Ashadhi Beej | - Celebrated by the Kutchi community in Gujarat - Associated with the beginning of rains in the Kutch region. |
| 11. | Sajibu Cheiraoba/Nongma Panba | - Manipur - Celebrated by Meiteis, an ethnic group who follow Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion). - Observed on first day of Manipuri lunar month Shajibu (month of April every year) |
| 12. | Pana Sankranti/Vishuva Sankranti | - Celebrated in Odisha - An earthen pot is filled with a sweet drink which is known as Pana and hung over a Basil (Tulsi) tree. |