India celebrates Baisakhi, Bihu, Vishu Puthandu Festival

The spring festival/new year festivals Vaisakhi, Vishu, Bishub, Bahag Bihu, Poila Boishakh, Vaishakhadi, and Puthandu festivals are being celebrated in various parts of the country on 13/14 April 2024. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, greeted the countrymen on the occasion of these festivals.

Vaisakhi or Baisakhi 

• The Vaisakhi or Baisakhi festival is celebrated in North India, especially Punjab. In Jammu, it is also known as Basoa.
• In parts of North India, Vaishakhi marks the start of the Rabi harvesting season, especially for wheat crops, and the beginning of the solar new year, with Vaisakh as the first month.
• The festival also holds significance for the Sikh community.
• On Vaisakhi day (30 March) in 1699, the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singhji, founded the Khalsa Panth by baptising five Sikhs, also known as Panj Piare or the 'Beloved Five.' 
• In Punjab, men perform Bhangra, and women perform the Giddha dance to traditional folk songs and dhol. Men also perform the traditional martial dance, Gatka.

Vishu Festival 

• Vishu is celebrated in Kerala and parts of the Malayali-speaking area of Tamil Nadu.
• It is the first day of the Malayali New Year. According to the Malayalam calendar, the first month is Chingam, corresponding to the Gregorian calendar's August-September months.
• Vishu refers to the first day of the start of the Malyali astrological calendar. Vishnu falls on the first day of the Medam month, which occurs on either April 14 or 15 on the Gregorian calendar.
• Vishu means equal in Sanskrit. It celebrates the vernal equinox when the Sun is directly overhead the equator and days and nights are equal. 
• Astronomically, the vernal equinox falls in late March. The Vishu festival, which celebrates the vernal equinox, falls on the first day of the Medam month of the Malyali calendar.  
• In 2024, the Vishu festival will be observed on 14 April 2024.

Puthandu  Festival 

• Puthandu festival is celebrated as the Tamil New Year in Tamil Nadu and parts of Sri Lanka. It coincides with the vernal equinox and is observed on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai, which falls in the April month of the Gregorian calendar. 
• This year it will be celebrated on 14 April.
• The Tamil New Year is celebrated with feasts in Hindu homes and the houses' entrances are decorated elaborately with kolams.
• It is believed that on this day, Lord Shiva performed his cosmic dance, known as Tandava, marking the beginning of creation.

Poila Baishakh

• Poila Baishakh marks the first day of the Bengali New Year. This year, it will be observed on 14 April, the first day of the Boishakh month.
• The credit for Poila Baishakh is given to the Mughal emperor Akbar. Emperor Akbar introduced a new revenue system in Bengal called Fasli San. The taxes were to be collected from the farmers according to the solar calendar.
• Akbar declared Poila Baishakh the official Bengali New Year’s Day and the day on which taxes were to be collected from the farmers.
• Now, the day is celebrated as the symbol of a fresh start and optimism.

Bohag Bihu 

• Bihu is a festival of Assam which is celebrated thrice a year. 
• It is celebrated as Bohag Bihu in the month of ‘Bohag’ (Baisakh, the middle of April), Magh Bihu in the month of ‘Magh’ (the middle of January), and Kati Bihu in the month of ‘Kati’ (Kartik, the middle of October). 
• Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu, marks the arrival of the Assamese New Year and the onset of spring. 
• The first day of the Bohag Bihu is observed as Goru Bihu. On this day, people bathe their bulls and cows with turmeric and feed them gourds and brinjals.
• The second day of the Rongali Bihu festival is actually the first day of the Assamese New Year. It is called Manuh Bihu.
• On the occasion of Bohag Bihu people put on new clothes, and special dishes are prepared at every home for feasts. People gifts their relatives and friends hand-woven scarves called ‘Gamucha’ as an honorary felicitation.