Popular wisdom says that the very first day of the year predetermines all subsequent 364. Therefore, it is customary to meet a new cycle of reckoning with noisy festivities. Many do not spare money to celebrate the coming of the New Year at a richly decorated table. Well, what about traveling? Without a chiming clock, but also without snowdrifts outside the window, in some tropical countries on the shores of the warm sea? Sounds tempting. And although we have already missed the celebration of the World New Year 2015, not everything is lost. After all, there is such a country as India. In this wonderful region, a significant event occurs four times a year. And in some states and more often. Let's learn how to celebrate the New Year in India. Maybe we will guess and also take part in the enchanting fun?
Why are there so many New Year celebrations?
India is a multicultural country. Side by side with the Hindus, who make up the religious majority, people of different faiths live. These are Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. And all is not averse to celebrate. But what India does not celebrate at all is the Old New Year. But this only means that there are still very few Russian tourists in the country, and they did not inform the local population about such a wonderful opportunity to greet the parish on January 14th. The traditional New Year in India has been celebrated relatively recently. The festivities are held in the state of Goa - the recent colony of Portugal. There this event takes place in a bundle of Christmas and the Adoration of the Magi, that is, everything is permeated with Christian spirituality. But the Hindu calendar also lacks New Years. They are celebrated in February, April, May, and also in October.
Holi
The date of February 24th is also the New Year. In India, Holi is celebrated in all states. This is an official day off. Another name for Holi is the “Feast of Colors”. On this day, people of all ages sprinkle each other with colored powder from crushed Ayurvedic medicinal herbs. The cleaned houses are decorated with lamps and lights. Orange flags are posted. On this day, it is customary to wear pink, red, white and purple clothes. The culmination of the festival is the burning of a large effigy or a garlanded tree. Unlike Europeans, Indians conduct religious rituals in the New Year - pooja. In temples, as well as in houses, the goddess Lakshmi and the gods of love - Kama and Krishna are celebrated. Well, then they go on a visit or sit down at the festive table with the whole family.
Goody Padva
Another New Year in India is in the spring. He does not have an exact date, because he is attached to the lunar calendar, like our Easter. But for the Indians, with his arrival, the first month of the year begins - to the meads (mid-March - first half of April). It marks a new agricultural cycle. Goody Padwa (or the festival of Vishuvela) is especially vivid in Kerala. There are carnival processions. People dress up in skirts made from banana leaves, and they cover their faces with masks. The holiday lasts five days. In the first they make offerings to the sacred cows, in the second they give gifts to relatives. The third day - Gossein Bihu - is devoted to religious ceremonies. According to the results of carnival processions, the biha canvori is selected - the best dancer. The locals are very religious, and you need to remember this when you come to celebrate the New Year in India. Traditions prescribe not just having fun and letting fireworks fly into the sky, making and receiving gifts, but also honoring various deities. Since it was on this day that the next character of the Hindu Olympus defeated the demon on duty.
India for New Year: 2015 according to Shaka calendar
For a long time, the country lived according to its own calendar. The year began with the month of Chaitra, or rather, with the vernal equinox (March 22). To each region of India, this holiday is called in its own way: Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh, Panchanga Shravana in Andhra, Nadu in Tamil. But in the state of Kashmir this New Year is celebrated especially long. Celebrations begin on March 10 and continue until April. All this time in Kashmir, the fun, accompanied by fairs, has not abated.
Diwali, or Feast of Lights
This joyful event is celebrated in October. Hindus believe that on this day, Prince Rama defeated the evil demon Ravana and took back his abducted wife Sita. In honor of the victory of light over darkness, people light thousands of icon lamps. And the day after Diwali, the New Year comes. In India, traditions to consider this holiday an analogue of January 1 are not everywhere. Basically, the New Year in October is celebrated by the Gujarati people, while the rest of the Indians just celebrate Diwali. But after the Festival of Lights comes Bestu Varas (Varsa-pratipada). According to the Gujarati, once Krishna himself saved their people from destructive showers and gave them a bountiful harvest. Therefore, tradition prescribes to celebrate the New Year with a fruit tray. Well, in the evening the sky explodes from the noise of crackers and fireworks.
India, New year, tours
If you want to celebrate the holiday according to the European calendar, then it makes sense to do it in some tropical country. Recently, the night from December 31 to January 1 is considered a holiday everywhere. This is a joyful event that connects people of different faiths and atheists. Therefore, wherever you go, thousands of locals will celebrate the most important night of the year with you everywhere. But each country has its own characteristics to celebrate this date. For example, the state of Goa. The most Catholic region of the country, about which even local residents say that this is not quite India. Goa, the New Year in which always leaves a lot of the most joyful impressions, is good on weekdays. But during the Christmas period - this is something special! Therefore, tours go there. Disco on the shores of the warm sea, a light breeze and the radiance of lights. All celebrations are not devoid of certain European symbols - Christmas trees, Santa Clauses and reindeers. Since in Goa, winter is the peak of the season, it makes sense to book tours ahead of time. So you can save on early bookings.