Celebration Day for the First Baishakh

For Hindus, the festival is their traditional solar new year. On the 13th/ 14th/ 15th date of April month in English calendar, the first Baishakh comes. These three days of celebration day for the first Baishakh is very special day for every persons, whether it is Hindus, Sikhs, Muslim and so on.

Because, On this day, you will get to see many festivals, all over India like Baisakhi, Bohag Bihu, Maha Vishuba Sankranti, Vishu, Poila Boishakh, Puthandu, Pana Sankranti, Jur Sital, New Year Celebration for so many states, Ramadan, etc.

Can you tell me what the things/rule behind to this type of celebration in these three days?

I am questioning this because it all happens on the day of Solar New Year.

So let\’s see how even today across the whole world and across all over in India, we celebrate this day.

Baisakhi

• Celebrations among Hindus in Punjab

Image Source: Times of India

The tradition of celebrating Baisakhi or Vaisakhi among Punjabi Hindus predates birth of Sikhism. The most spectacular gathering of Baisakhi fair is at Thakurdwara of Bhagwan Narainji at Pandori Mahatan village in Gurdaspur district of Punjab where the fair lasts for three days starting with 1st day of Baishakh month. The celebrations start in form of procession on morning of 1st Baisakha, carrying Mahant in a palanquin by Brahmacharis and devotees. After that Navgraha Puja is held and charities in money, grains and cows are done. At evening, Sankirtan is held in which Mahant delivers religious discourses and concludes it by distributing prasad.

• Vaisakhi in Haryana

Image Source: India GIS

Vaisakhi is celebrated with religious fervour in Haryana. In Kurukshetra district, Vaisakhi fair is held at Baan Ganga Tirtha, which is associated with Arjuna of Mahabharata. There is a Vaisakhi tradition of ritual bath at the sacred tank of Baan Ganga Tirtha in Village Dayalpur of Kurukshetra. A fair is held annually on Vaisakhi at this Hindu pilgrimage. 

• Vaisakhi in Himachal Pradesh

Image Source: Punjab Kesari

In Himachal Pradesh, Vaisakhi is an important festival of Hindus. People get up early in the morning and have a ritual bath. Two earthen lamps are lighted on this day one of Sangiya of oil and other one is Jyot of Ghee. These are kept in a large saucer along with water pot, blades of evergreen turf, Kusha, Incense, Sandal, Vermillion and Dakshina (money). With these things worship of household deities is performed. Alms are given in form of rice and pulses with small coins which are placed near Deity. This is called Nasrawan and is commonly to family priest. People are enjoy fairs which are organised for three days.

Read more: Best 20 Places To Visit In India In Summer

• Vaisakhi Celebrations in Jammu

Image Source: Travelwhitsle

Vaisakhi is an important festival among Dogra Hindus of Jammu region. On this day, people get up early in the morning, throng the rivers, canals, and ponds and take a ritual dip every year on this occasion. In Dogra households, a Puja is performed afterwards and part of food crop is offered to the deities. New fruit of the year is enjoyed on this day. A Ritual Bath at Tawi river during Vaisakhi is common in Jammu.

• Vaisakhi in Uttar Pradesh

Vaisakhi Sankranti is celebrated on first day of Vaisakha, as per Hindu Solar Calendar. This day is also known as Sattua or Satwahi, as Sattu is donated and consumed on this day. The common rites during this festival is bath in a river or pond and to eat Sattu and Gur.

Hindu Solar New Years

• Paila Baishakh

Image Source: Utsavpedia

This year Paila Baisakh or Pohela Boishakh will be celebrated on 15th April. This is organized in the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura. This celebration was listed in 2016 by the UNESCO as a cultural heritage of humanity. Nobo Barsho as it is the first day of the Bengali month.

• Maha Vishuba Sankranti

Image Source: New Indian Express

Pana Sankranti also known as Maha Vishuba Sankranti marks the Odia new year in Odisha. Celebrations include various types of folk and classical dances, such as the Shiva-related Chhau dance. On this day people hang pieces of Neem branches with leaves in front of their houses believed to have health benefits. They prepare a liquid mixture of bael fruit, jaggery, mango, pepper and other ingredients which is called Pana. An earthen pot with a small hole and a grass within the hole at the bottom is hung over the Tulasi. The pot is filled with water daily which acts as a drip to protect the sacred plant from the summer heat.

• Vishu

Image Source: Utsavpedia

Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated on the same day as Vaisakhi in the Indian state of Kerala, and falls on the first day of Malayali month called Medam. The festival is marked by family time, preparing colorful auspicious items and viewing these as the first thing on the Vishu day. In particular, Malayali Hindus seek to view the golden blossoms of the Indian laburnum, money or silver items, and rice. The day also attracts firework play by children, wearing new clothes and the eating a special meal called Sadya, which is a mix of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items. The Vishu arrangement typically includes an image of Vishnu, typically as Krishna. People also visit temples on the day.

• Bohag Bihu

Image Source: The Indian Express

Bohag Bihu or Rangali Bihu marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year on 14th April. It is celebrated for seven days Vishuva Sankranti (Mesha Sankranti) of the month of Vaisakh or locally \’Bohag\’ (Bhaskar Calendar). The three primary types of Bihu are Rongali Bihu, Kongali Bihu, and Bhogali Bihu. Each festival historically recognizes a different agricultural cycle of the paddy crops.

• Puthandu

Puthandu, also known as Puthuvarusham or Tamil New Year, is the first day of the month Chithirai on the Tamil calendar. The day is observed as a family time. Households clean up the house, prepare a tray with fruits, flowers and auspicious items, light up the family Puja altar and visit their local temples. People wear new clothes and youngster go to elders to pay respects and seek their blessings, then the family sits down to a vegetarian feast.

• Jur Sital

In the Mithila region of Bihar, the new year is celebrated as Jur Sital. It is traditional to use lotus leaves to serve sattu to the family members.

Ramadan

Image Source: Buffalo News

Ramadan starts on 13 April and ends with Eid al-Fitr. Celebrate Ramadan, a month of sacrifice and prayer, with the Muslims of Denver, Colorado. After the last day of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate its ending with Eid al-Fitr—the “festival of breaking the fast”—which begins with communal prayers at daybreak.

Things to Know

Wish you all the very best for this day\’s special events.