New Year in India: dates and traditions of celebration. Is there a New Year in India: all about ancient traditions New Year in India what date

India- an exotic country in which intertwined a large number of traditions and religions, rituals and class conventions.

Due to the abundance of many religious beliefs in the country New Year For a long time it was not considered a holiday, but it began to be celebrated not so long ago and under the influence of Western tradition. How is the New Year celebrated in India, and how many times are celebrations held?

Indian holidays - photo

New Year in India is celebrated more than once per year and has its own characteristics and traditional ways of celebrating.

When are they celebrated?

Some of the customs of Western culture have reached the exotic, including the celebration European New Year on the night of December 31 to January 1. This event is secular in nature, and its celebration is dominated by European influences.

Traditionally indian new year celebrated in the spring - depending on the state, the name of the holiday and the date may be different: March 22, April 13 or 14.

In Hinduism, there is no such holiday as the New Year, but there is Diwali - the festival of fire, the symbolic victory of good over evil. It is celebrated in October.

From January 13 to 14, a holiday is celebrated in North India Lori- something between the Russian Maslenitsa and the Old New Year.

Features of the New Year's kitchen: what does the table look like?

The traditional dish of the New Year's cuisine of India is coarsely chopped fruits and vegetables generously sprinkled with herbs and spices. Food is served on silver or gold saucers. It is also customary to eat the bitter leaves of the neem tree - it is believed that in this way a person will be able to attract good luck.

When and how is New Year 2020 celebrated in India? In this multinational and multicultural country, both secular and religious holidays are celebrated: Hindu, Muslim, Christian and others.

Various festivals are organized throughout the year, and the New Year is celebrated several times. In recent decades, a tradition has emerged to meet him on December 31, as in Europe, America and other countries.

And one of the main local holidays is the Indian New Year - Diwali (Deepavali), which is celebrated in late October - early November, for five days. It is he who in Russia is often called the "Indian New Year".

How is New Year celebrated in India?

Diwali is celebrated as the "Festival of Lights" and symbolizes the victory of good over evil, in honor of which candles and lanterns are lit, the streets are brightly decorated, and fireworks are arranged. Diwali is celebrated not only in India, but also in other countries where there are Hindu communities.

The celebration lasts for several days and is accompanied by various carnival processions, cheerful and noisy fairs.

Indians give gifts to relatives and friends New Year cards, exchange congratulations at the meeting.

When else is the New Year celebrated in India in 2020?

The traditional Indian Maratha and Konkani New Year, called Gudi Padwa, is celebrated at different times every year, depending on the lunar calendar. According to one of the sacred Hindu texts, on this day Brahma created the world.

According to the Gregorian calendar, the date of this popular holiday in India falls at the end of March - the beginning of April.

New Year according to the Gregorian calendar, on the night of December 31 to January 1, in this country began to be celebrated relatively recently.

It is celebrated mainly by Christians. On this day, bells ring in temples, and in port cities, steamboat whistles at midnight announce the new year.

Another Indian New Year is celebrated in the spring in the state of Punjab. This is one of the most beloved holidays of the Sikhs, which is called Waisaki - at the same time a religious holiday, a harvest festival, and New Year's Day.

It is celebrated on the first day of the first month of Vaisakh Nanakshahi of the solar calendar. At this time, magnificent celebrations take place in local temples.

How to celebrate New Year 2020 in India

Colorful festive processions are moving along the streets of cities and villages, in which thousands of people take part. They sing songs, dance, congratulate each other and wish happiness.

But this is not all Indian holidays. Vishu, or the Malayalam New Year, falls on the month of Mead and is celebrated from late March to April.

Indians also celebrate the spring New Year, which is known as Holi - the “Feast of Colors”. And the Zoroastrian New Year is celebrated here in August.

India is an ancient country that attracts tourists from all over the world. Everyone comes here hoping to find something of their own: someone dreams of the luxury of Bollywood, someone in search of spiritual balance studies ancient practices in ashvems, someone is attracted by nature's generous colors. But India always leaves a mark on the soul of everyone who was familiar with it. Most tourists come in the winter months - at this time it is the height of the season. To meet the New Year on the shores of the Indian Ocean is a real exotic. So what is he indian new year?

Let's begin with New Year in India it is celebrated more than once, but all because several calendars operate here at once: there are about ten official ones alone. And each of them has its own chronology, and therefore, a starting point.

So, Indians celebrate the new year in March, September, November. But don't worry: India was once a colony of the British, who introduced the Gregorian calendar. It is still in effect, so if you want to celebrate the New Year traditionally on December 31, you will meet it with all honors, albeit somewhat exotic ones.

Hindus love holidays no less than us and they are thoroughly preparing for the New Year. Be sure to dress up a cow, decorate your home with paper lanterns and homemade stars, and some even manage to find a miniature artificial Christmas tree - after all, it is a European holiday and some attributes are firmly entrenched here. Most best gift is a basket filled with fruits, sweets and nuts. Not a single feast passes without a national dish - beriane, similar to our pilaf.

The inhabitants of northern India adorn themselves with flowers - pink, red, purple or white. The streets in the central part of the country are full of orange flags, which are hung on almost every building. With the onset of darkness, lights are lit everywhere, and in new year's eve in the city square, local residents burn an effigy - thereby seeing off the outgoing year.

On March 21, on the day of the vernal equinox, Hindus celebrate another New Year - Vishu. The custom of giving gifts is interesting: the rich congratulate their poor relatives, and they, in turn, gratefully accept the gifts, giving nothing in return. Also on this day, it is customary to guess in the Ramayana - opening the pages at random, reading the verses that come across. Celebrations are noisy: Hindus take to the streets in new clothes, perform traditional songs and dances. In some villages, residents put on skirts made of banana leaves and masks, perform a ritual, thereby attracting good luck and expressing gratitude to God Krishna.

The classic for us New Year and Vishnu are the most popular options, but some populations have their own new year holidays. Thus, Punjabis celebrate the New Year in June, and Bengalis - in April. On the first day of the coming year, all the inhabitants of Bengal necessarily bathe in the river, washing away the sins accumulated over the previous period.

If you find yourself on New Year in India, be sure to visit the Taj Mahal - a mausoleum-mosque built by a descendant of Tamerlane in memory of his deceased wife. In addition, the Taj Mahal is included in the list of seven wonders of the world. No less interesting excursion to the holy city of Varanasi, located on the banks of the Ganges River. This is one of the oldest cities on earth, where you can see the mass bathing of pilgrims in the Ganges and the sunrise against the backdrop of centuries-old temples. You can also go to the village of Hampi in Goa, which is an important Hindu center and where there are many monuments of Hindu culture. The Ajanta caves will also amaze the imagination, they appeared in the second millennium BC and have been perfectly preserved to this day.

Christmas holidays spent in India will give a lot of vivid impressions and colorful photographs, will allow you to understand the ancient culture of the Indian people, imbued with its originality and philosophy. And for sure, India will again call you to itself, because, having let this country into your soul, you will never forget it.

16.12.2016

We respect the New Year very much, and allow ourselves to rest for a whole week for the sake of such a holiday. How is the New Year celebrated in India? A country with such a rich history certainly did not ignore the holiday, which symbolizes the transition from one year to another. The traditions of celebrating the New Year in India have deep roots. The event is celebrated in a very interesting way, but not at all like ours.

The history of the New Year celebration in ancient India

Actually, there is no single date for the meeting of a significant event in India. Each state has long been independent in deciding on the time of the "appointment" of the New Year. There is evidence that for the most part the New Year in India began in the spring - March 21.

At this time, the Indians began a new sowing season. The celebration was stormy: processions and masquerades were held, people danced in the streets and it was possible to watch whole parades of elephants.

New Year's Eve in modern India

Today, some Indians are slowly adopting European traditions and arranging a holiday on December 31st. But the old customs are still very strong. Let's see how the glorious date is celebrated in different states. Most of the festival takes place in the spring - from March to the end of April.

But in some places (for example, in the state of Kerala), residents have fun in July-August. And there is also the autumn "analogue" of the New Year. It is called Duvali, which means, among other things, the victory of good over evil in a global sense and is celebrated with colorful processions. Bright lights are burning everywhere.

North India loves flowers. In the New Year, its inhabitants try to decorate themselves with fresh flowers with a predominance of delicate white and purple hues. In South India, more practical decorations are preferred - fruits. After the holiday, they can be eaten.

And for Central India, New Year's celebrations are associated with red: houses are decorated with red and orange flags, lights and lanterns sparkle everywhere. Original dances, kite flying, carnivals - all this accompanies the nationwide fun.

Indian New Year's table

To endure a holiday lasting several days, of course, it is necessary to refresh yourself from time to time. There are many New Year's dishes in India. Here, both the adherent of traditional food and the vegetarian will find a lot of delicious things for themselves.

For example, these are berians (a variation of pilaf). There are rice, meat and a wide variety of seasonings. Some houses prepare a vegetarian beriane, consisting of rice, beans, potatoes and, again, seasonings. Murukka is also prepared - a special dish, which is dough twisted into spirals, salted and seasoned with spices.

You can also try sabji vegetable stew and dhal soup. To prepare the latter, beans and tomatoes, onions, garlic, curry peppers are required. Dessert, of course, is also not complete. His role can be performed by ladda - a special dish of flour with dried fruits and nuts.

In general, nuts can be seen on the New Year's table in almost every home. They fill a basket with them, decorating the top with flowers, and present such gifts to relatives and friends. An indispensable "guest" of the New Year's table is a huge plate of fruit, placed in the most prominent place.

New Year Traditions and Customs in India

Indians, like Europeans, decorate the New Year tree. True, they do not have a Christmas tree, but a mango tree. They hang fruits and sweets on it, as well as shiny tinsel, which is familiar to our eyes.

After sitting in a family circle, Indians take to the streets of cities. Here the festivities continue: the ceremony of burning an effigy begins, jumping over the fire. An obligatory element of the holiday is national dances.

And the Indians are very original way they honor the gods during the New Year festivities: they seat their statues on a swing and swing them, trying to please the deities. Somewhere they pour themselves with colored paints, somewhere they throw away and burn old clothes.

Indian children do not have to be left without gifts: mothers prepare a special tray the day before, on which sweets and small surprises are laid out. Children are brought to the tray so that they cannot see what lies there, after which they are allowed to open their eyes. Of course, the kids rejoice with might and main.

On the first day of the coming year, one should not quarrel, so as not to “transfer” troubles to a new, just arrived era. It is recommended to spend this day peacefully, laugh a lot, have fun.

Indian Santa Claus

There is no Santa Claus in India as such. In part, his role is played by the goddess Lakshmi, who willingly gives children pleasant little things and delicacies. Lakshmi is "responsible" for happiness and prosperity, so everyone dreams of earning her favor.

New Year in India is a colorful, many-sided and varied festival. Each state itself determines the time of entry into a new period. Therefore, if you want to extend your holiday, you can move from one state to another, traveling with the Indian New Year.

India is one of the few countries in the world where you can celebrate the New Year several times. Due to the fact that representatives of different cultures and religions live in the country, the New Year is celebrated three times. However, the date of the celebration may vary, depending on the state and province.

When is New Year celebrated in India?

In the northern part of the country, the main winter holiday is Lori, which falls on January 13-14. On the first day, Indians take to the streets and kindle bonfires, symbolizing farewell to the old year. After that, each resident walks around the fire several times. This ritual is called parikrama and has its roots in the distant past. Having completed the ceremony, you should definitely eat baked corn with rice. Such food brings well-being and prosperity next year. On January 14, children go from house to house, sing songs, and receive sweets in return. Outwardly, it resembles Russian carols arranged for Maslenitsa.

New Year is celebrated in March and April in India. lunar calendar. Among the people, such names of the holiday as Vishu, Ugadi and Vaisakhi are common. The date of the celebration is determined in advance and falls on the period from March 10 to April 20. At this time, carnival processions, theatrical performances and concert programs are organized on the streets. Residents of India give each other gifts throughout the New Year and honor their ancestors and gods. One day is allocated for religious ceremonies. For the most part, the holiday is associated with the onset of spring, the beginning of the agricultural cycle and the renewal of all living things.

In autumn (October), all of India celebrates another New Year or Diwali. This holiday is valued by the Hindus most of all, as it has religious roots. Every inhabitant of the country knows the legend about how Prince Rama defeated the demon Ravana, after which he took his wife Sita from him from captivity. The story tells that this event happened just on Diwali. As a sign of victory light forces over the dark Hindus light lamps, candles and lanterns. In big cities, you can also see colorful fireworks - a sign of a future happy life.

New Year according to the European calendar (December 21-January 1) is not celebrated everywhere in India. In remote villages, the holiday is sometimes simply forgotten and not considered so important. However, in the state, the New Year is celebrated in a big way. To this end, mass festivities on the coast, show programs and electronic music festivals with the participation of the best DJs are organized for tourists.

New Year's table in India

Experienced housewives pre-think the menu, including dishes of national cuisine. The ideal table for a holiday looks like this:

beriane (pilaf of calcined rice with meat and spices);
murukka (thin dough spirals sprinkled with spices);
sabji (vegetable stew);
dhal (soup with beans, tomatoes, curry, garlic and onions);
fret (patties stuffed with dried fruits and nuts);
pickles (fruits and vegetables marinated in mustard oil);
chapati (coarse flour flatbread);
rasagula (cottage cheese cake, sprinkled with sugar syrup).

In addition to the main dishes, it is customary to serve flat dishes to the table, on which are poured different types nuts and lined with cuttings of fruit. In some parts of India, there are a sufficient number of vegetarians who eat only plant foods for the New Year. Separately, it is worth noting the fact that for the Indians great importance have spices. The more of them, the richer life will be next year.

Indian New Year Traditions

Due to the fact that in the country for a long time there was a mixture of cultures and religions, new year customs originate from various sources. Among the most established are:

The custom of cleaning the house before the holiday and throwing old things out into the street. Touching such things is considered bad luck, so Hindus prefer to just burn them.
Meeting the holiday only in new clothes. This is especially true for children and the elderly.
Painting the skin of the arms and legs with symbolic tattoos. Henna is used as a coloring base. According to Hindus, drawings promote prosperity and health in the new year.
Decoration of clothes with colors of yellow, red, purple, pink and white flowers.
Installing a kind of Christmas tree in the center of the room, the role of which is played by a miniature mango tree.
After the onset of the New Year, in no case should you swear, take on debts, swear, envy or be angry with anyone for 3 days. This will bring a person failure and big problems in the future.
Children ask for gifts from the deity Lakshmi (Indian Santa Claus), reciting poems and guessing riddles.
On the first day of the holiday, all Hindus go to temples, where they pray to the gods for health and ask for blessings.

The central streets of cities during the New Year holidays look very interesting. This is especially true on December 31, when statues of flowers are installed everywhere, garlands are hung and colorful theater programs are organized for local residents.

New Year gifts

For Hindus, it is not so important to present an expensive present for the holiday. Parents prepare trays for children, on which sweets and fruits are laid out, framed by flowers. Each mother tries to make a flower drawing as beautiful and unusual as possible, since for Indian children this is the best reason to enjoy the New Year. Moreover, each fruit has a certain value. Mango is a symbol of health, banana is the personification of obedience, apple is happiness, and tangerines are harmony.

Souvenirs and pleasant trifles are bought for relatives, as well as household items are given. For example, dishes, home decorations or linens. First place among the most popular gifts in India fruit baskets and bouquets of flowers occupy.

The ritual of giving takes place before sitting down for New Year's table and continues the next day after the celebration. In general, gifts can be given all week, but Hindus prefer to do this at the height of the New Year.