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The Hindu New Year celebrations take place according to the Hindu Lunar calendar named Panchanga. Any way it is popularly known as Vikrama Samvat. As per the account stated in the Indian calendar, the beginning of the season takes place with the sun as the months follow the moon and days with both sun and moon. The era of Vikrama Samavat began in 57 BC. To tally with the solar calendar, 57 years are deducted from the Hindu Year. Based on such calculations, it is assumed that the New Year begins on the first of the month of Kartik after Deepawali Amaavasya.
Hindu New Year had an interesting beginning. It dates back to the legendary Hindu King Vikramaditya in 57 BC. In 12th century a nun named Saraswati, the sister of Kalakacharya, a Jain monk was abducted. The monk in a state of helplessness took the help of the Saka ruler in Sakasthana defeated Gardabhilla.The Saka King later on captured the poor monk who was however released. Gardabhilla went to the forest where a tiger killed him. Gardabhilla's son Vikramaditya attacked Ujjain and drove out the Sakas from that place. To commemorate the occasion, the era is still reminisced as Vikram Samvat.
There are different religious thoughts existing in India, on which we can draw some inferences about various Hindu New Year Celebrations. Each of the Hindu New Year's days is celebrated in a different manner. Most of the traditional Hindu New Year celebrations are noticeable in northern parts of the country. New Year celebrations in southern part of the country refer to the beginning of a New Year but the date and the manner of celebrations vary.
- Punjab: New year begins on April 13
- Assam: New Year begins on April 14 or on April 15
- West Bengal: New Year begins on April 14 or on April 15
- Gujarat: New Year begins on Kartik Shukla Pratipad
- Kerala: New Year begins in the month of Medam
- Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka: New Year falls on Chaitra Suddha Prathipade
- Sikkim: New Year begins on 18th day of 10th month of Tibetian Lunar Calendar
- Tamil Nadu: New Year begins on April 13 or April 14
To many the celebrations might be termed as the festival exclusively of Hindu religion, but broadly the Hindu New Year celebrations might be termed as the festival of universal brotherhood.
To know more about other Indian celebrations, please browse at .
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