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Kashmir celebrates New Year in the form of Navreh. Kahmiris follow the lunar Hindu calendar and then accordingly observe the festivity of Navreh. The festival falls in the month of chaitra mash, on the first day of the Chaitra Navratras. In fact, Sapath Rishi Samvat begins on this auspicious day. At celebrationsonnet.com, let us unfurl the mystery of customs of Navreh; know about Navreh celebrations, Navreh historical background and different rituals associated with Navreh.
Kashmiri New Year, like any other Hindu New Year is celebrated with gaiety, vigor and lot of fun. Though, it is a religious observance as the puja of ‘Nau Durga’ commences on this day. Yet, people welcome the upcoming year with open heart and arms. The puja of Nav Durga is held for nine days and the ninth day is celebrated as the day of Ramnavami.It is during these nine days that the states of Jammu and Kashmir witness thousands of pilgrims walking up and down the popular Vaishno Devi temple. Besides, they also visit varied other shrines of Goddess Durga. Observing fast for nine days is the most popular and famous activities of the devout Hindus. They sow barley and worship it. Finally, they eat on the ninth day.
The word ‘navreh’ itself means New Year, hence, the festival was named as ‘navreh’ in Kashmir. Generally, it is the Kahmiri pandit who performs pujas on this day. Therefore, the previous day, they take a dip into the sacred Vichar Nag to wash off all the drosses and sins. As a part of the ritual, the Kulguru, head of the pandit’s family makes a new Kashmiri almanac. This is known as Nechi Patra or Nakshatra Patri that focuses on auspicious dates and times and other festival dates. They also give a scroll called the ‘kreel pach’, which contains a snap of Goddess Sharika.
Preparing of a ‘thali’ is a big event in the evening in every family. Housewives take the initiative to fill the plate or ‘thali’ with rice or paddy. They also arrange kreel pack, dry flowers, fresh flowers, mirror, shelled and unshelled walnut, Wye herb, spouted grass, curd, pen, inkpot, cooked rice, roti, salt, gold and silver coins. This thali is covered by another plate and is kept aside till Kashmir’s New Year morning. These items are symbols for offering prayer to the Almighty, wealth, good luck and happiness. Yellow rice is also offered to God and the rest portion of rice is distributed as ‘prasad’.
In the evening of the New Year, people wear new dresses and wish each other ‘Navreh Mubarak’. It is a great say for children and youngsters as they receive numerous gifts from elders. Sometimes, people also go out for picnic on this day.
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