Celebrating Springtime

It's almost Gudi Padwa and as we get closer to this auspicious occasion, the other parts of the country, gear up for their regional new year's. The Bengalis get ready for their Poila Baishakh, the Assamese for their Bihu and Hindus in Punjab make arrangements for Vaisakhi. Most of the lunar-sidereal calendars and sidereal calendars are used in Hinduism. Hence, the difference in the dates is found.

The first day of the Bengali new year falls between 13th and 15th of April every year. It is called Poila Baishakh and it's a holiday in West Bengal and a national holiday in Bangladesh. To welcome the new year or Naba Barsha, people clean and deck up their houses and invoke Goddess Lakshmi, the god of wealth and prosperity.

Assam welcomes the new year with the spring festival of Rongali Bihu, which marks the onset of a new agricultural cycle. Fairs are organized where people celebrate by playing games. The celebrations go on for days together, and it's a good time for young people to find a companion of their own choice.

Vishu is the first day of the first month of Medam in Kerala. Malayalees begin the day by visiting the temple early in the morning and seeing any auspicious sight, which they call Vishukani. The day is full of rituals. Tokens known as Vishukaineetam, are distributed among the downtrodden, it is usually money. They wear new clothes - Kodi vastram and celebrate the day by bursting firecrackers and enjoying a variety of delicacies at an elaborate lunch called the "sadya" with loved ones. The afternoon and evening are spent in the Vishuwela.

Tamils celebrate Varsha Pirappu or Puthandu Vazthukal in mid-April. It is the first day of Chithirai, the first month of the traditional Tamil calendar. The day dawns by observing Kanni or viewing auspicious things such as gold, silver, jewellery, new clothes, new calendar, mirror, rice, coconuts, fruits, vegetables, betel leaves, and other fresh farm products. This ritual is believed to bring in good fortune. It is followed by a holy bath and worship called Panchanga Puja.