Hindu New Year 2022: Celebrations in different Indian states
The month of April is all about celebrating various religious festivals with gusto and fervor. During this time, different states in India celebrate the Hindu New Year to mark the beginning of the Chaitra month with festivities like Chaitra Navratri, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, and Jhulelal Jayanti. This year, the Hindu New Year celebrations will start on April 2, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar.
The festival of Ugadi marks the Hindu New Year celebrations for the South Indian community. The festivities start on April 2 and are mostly celebrated in Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. According to legends, the Universe was created by Lord Brahma on this day. The rituals begin with taking an oil bath and eating neem leaves. People also decorate their houses with mango leaves.
Observed on the first day of the Chaitra month, Gudi Padwa or Marathi New Year is widely celebrated in Goa and Maharashtra. It marks the arrival of the spring season. According to legends, people hoisted the Gudi or flag on this day to commemorate Lord Rama's victory over Ravana. Devotees, on this day, take an oil bath, hoist Gudi flags, and prepare rangolis.
The Hindu New Year or the first month of Chaitra is celebrated as Jhulelal Jayanti in Sindhi society. It marks the birth anniversary of the Sindhi patron saint Jhulelal or Ishtadev Uderolal who was believed to be born in the 10th century in Sindh. On this day, Sindhis worship water and take the Baharana Sahib (representation of Jhulelal) to a nearby lake.
A popular nine-day festival among the Hindu communities, Chaitra Navratri will start on April 2 and end on April 11 this year. It also marks the beginning of the Chaitra month. The auspicious occasion is observed to celebrate the valor of nine different avatars of Goddess Durga and the triumph of good over evil. Devotees usually observe a fast for nine days.
