Every culture, religion, and community has its own calendar that starts on a different day of the year.
Hindus, Jains, Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists, all have their own calendars and different "New Year's Day".
According to the Hindu calendar, New Year starts on the first day of Chaitra Shukla, the first month of the Hindu lunar year.
There are two most popular Indian calendars in India - Vikrami Samvat and Shaka Samvat.
The first day of Chaitra - 57 BC (57 years before the Western calendar) is considered the beginning of Vikrami Samvat - and Saka Samvat 78 years after the western calendar.
However, the Gregorian or commonly known as the western or Christian calendar is the most acknowledged international calendar and is used all over the world.
One of the reasons why the Western or Christian calendar became more prevalent is that most of the world, including India, was once ruled and controlled by European and Christian rulers.
All ruled countries and colonies had to use the Gregorian calendar.
But for convenience, India and almost all countries continued to use this calendar even after gaining independence from British rule.
Secondly - January 1st as New Year's Day has been heavily commercialized by the media and merchants - by selling cards and souvenirs - by advertising and organizing meetings, parties, etc.
Media and advertising have a big hand in making any day, festival, or product popular and reaching the masses.
That is why January 1st is considered the beginning of the new year internationally.
However, many people - Indians, Chinese, Nepalese, and Egyptians - Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Muslim communities have not forgotten their traditional New Year's Day. Many people still celebrate it traditionally - though it may be small or only at a family level.
Whereas the New Year’s Day of the Christian era (January 1st) is celebrated by eating, drinking, and dancing joyfully at parties and exchanging fancy gifts, the traditional Hindu way of celebrating New Year’s Day is quite different.
Traditionally, the tender but bitter leaves of the Neem tree mixed with sweet Jaggery * (Gurh) are distributed as Prasaadam (gift) on this occasion, which has a great symbolic meaning.
First, the Neem-Jaggery blend is offered to Ishwar (God) as Naivedya.
Then it is distributed among the family and friends as Prasaad (Gift).
This is one of the highest philosophical attitudes taught by the ancient Hindu spiritual masters.
The Neem, extremely bitter in taste, and Jaggery* sweet and delicious, signify the two conflicting aspects of human life —Joy and sorrow, success and failure, ecstasy and agony.
It is a reminder that life is not always ‘Bitter’ or ‘Sweet’ all the time. It is a combination of the two, and so might be the coming New Year - a mixture of joy and sorrow.
Although, Wishing "a happy new year" to all friends and families is a very positive thinking and a wishful gesture, however, this Indian tradition conveys more practical advice to loved ones - and a reminder to ourselves as well.
First offering this bitter-sweet blend to God and then accepting it as Prasaad, also has a symbolic meaning - of preparing ourselves to face, and, by the grace of God, accept whatever may happen in the future as 'Prasaad' (Blessings).
By exchanging the gift of this ‘bitter-sweet blend’ with friends and loved ones, we acknowledge that the relationships may also have some sweet and bitter moments - that by God’s grace can be accepted as part of life, and solved mutually.
Usually, We tend to disregard the old traditions as ‘out of date’ or even nonsense, but if we try to understand them, we will find that these traditions have deep and meaningful hidden messages. By understanding the real meaning and reason behind them, we can appreciate and celebrate the old traditional festivals with open and broad-mindedness -
with love and respect for all people and their cultures and traditions.
May God bless us all.
' Rajan Sachdeva '
Note :
According to the Indian system, each day is considered from sunrise till the next morning sunrise.
*jaggery or Gurh ….. Chunks of raw sugar - made from sugarcane.
