With the Sun’s transit into the Aries, a new year begins as per the solar calendar, which usually coincides with April 14 or 15 of the Georgian Calendar. The solar new year is celebrated by various linguistic communities across India along with festivities marking the harvesting season.
The middle of April is an auspicious day for Bengalis, Ahomiyas, Malayalis, and Tamils, who usher the new year by exchanging pleasantries, holding cultural programmes, arranging family gatherings, dishing out savoury traditional dishes, and the like.
The Tamil New Year or Putthandu also known as Puthuvarasham is celebrated by Tamilians across the globe on April 14. It brings with it the hope for newer opportunities and peace and prosperity, and the community prays to the almighty on this day to bless them with good health for the year ahead.
The Bengalis also celebrate their new year on this day. It is known as Poila Boishakh and literally translates to the first day of the month of Boishakh (first month of the Bengali calendar). Apart from greeting fellow members of the community, sweetmeats are exchanged between families on this day.
Vishu Kani or Vishu – a festival typical to Kerala -- marks the beginning of the Malayali new year. This also falls on either April 14 or 15 and is celebrated by wearing new clothes and praying to an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Rongali Bihu or Bohaag Bihu celebrates both the beginning of a new year and the harvesting season. It is usually celebrated with much fanfare by the Ahomiyas (natives of Assam). They seek the blessings of the almighty for a prosperous year while farmers extend gratitude for a good harvest.
Several politicians and statesmen cutting across party lines took to Twitter on April 14 to wish and greet the different communities celebrating their new year.
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