In our country, India, festivals are very closely related to seasons and most New Year days coincide with the time of harvest. Although the difference lies in the following of the Lunar / Solar calendar by a particular region or community.
kFollowing is a detailed description and information regarding the various New Year days across the Indian States
Solar Calendar -
In this calendar, the dates indicate the Sun's position in relation to the stars and it corresponds to the Seasons. Its first month is Vaishakh and generally starts on 14 or 15 April as per the Gregorian calendar.
The following are the dates, regions that use the Solar calendar to celebrate their New Year.
13/14/15 April ( 1 to 13 )
Mesha Sankranti
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Jammu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana
Vishu - Kerala
Chingam - Kerala as per Kollam era Calendar
Puthandu - Tamil Nadu
Buisu - Tripura
Jur Sital - Mithila
Pohela Boishakh - West Bengal
Pana Sankranti - Odisha
Bohag Bihu - Assam
Sangken - Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam
Bizhu - Chakma
Bwisagu - Bodoland, Assam
Sajibu Cheiraoba - Manipur
Nowruz - Zoroastrians, 21 of March
Lunar Calendar
This calendar is widely used by the Hindus to calculate their festivals, harvest season etc. It is based on the cycles of the Moon, every month.
Its first month is Chaitra and the New Year is celebrated on the first day of this month
As per Gregorian Calendar, it coincides with the months of March or April.
The following are the New Year days and the States which celebrate their New Year as per the Lunar Calendar.
March / April ( 1 to 5 )
Gudi Padwa - Goa and Maharashtra
Ugadi - Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
Navreh - Kashmir
Chaitra Navratri - Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh
Cheti Chand - Sindhi Community ( Also the birthday of their Isht Dev, Jhulelal)
Ashadhi Bij - Kutch ( June / July ) second day of Shukla Paksha of Ashada month - when the rains arrive.
Losoong / Namsong - Sikkim, Bhutia and Lepcha ( December )
Losar- Arunachal Pradesh, Monpa ( February )
Tamu Lhosar - Sikkim, Gurung community ( December / January )
Gyalpo Losar - Sikkim, Sherpa community ( December / January )
Sonam Losar - Sikkim, Tamang and Hyolmo community ( January / February )
Nutan Varsh - Gujarat ( October / November ) The day after Diwali, on Shukla Paksha Pratipada in the Hindu month of Kartik.
Galdan Namchot - Ladakh ( December ) To commemorate the birth and the Buddhahood of Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419 AD), a famous Scholar / Teacher of Tibetan Buddhism whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.
No matter the State, the celebrations have much religious significance and the New Year day is celebrated with prayers, devotion and a deep gratitude towards Nature that provides for the survival of life on Earth.
