Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Wishing you all the best on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada
or the New year by Hindu Calender, popularly known
in India as Vikrami Samvat.
Vikram Samvat (Bikram Sambat, Vikram Samvat or Vikram Samwat,
Devanagari:विक्रम संवत्, abbreviated "V.S.") is the calendar established by Indian emperor
Vikramaditya. It is a popularly used calendar in India and the official calendar of Nepal.
The Vikrama Samvat was founded by the emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain[1] following
his victory over the Sakas in 56 BCE, although it is popularly (and incorrectly) associated
with the subsequent king Chandragupta Vikramaditya. It is a lunar calendar based on
ancient Hindu tradition (see Hindu calendar and Vedic time keeping).
The Vikram Samvat calendar is 56.7 years ahead (in count) of the solar Gregorian calendar.
For example, the year 2056 BS began in CE 1999 and ended in CE 2000.
In Northern India the calendar starts with the first day after the new moon in the
month Chaitra, which usually falls in March/April in the Gregorian calendar. Again in
Western India the same era begins with the first day after the new moon in the month
of Kartika which usually falls in October and November in the Gregorian calendar.
In Nepal, it begins in mid-April and marks the start of the solar new year.
Multifarious religions are practiced in India and so are the celebrations of
various festivals. Hindu New Year is celebrated with gaiety and pomp all over India.
Verve of the festival can be seen mostly among the people of North India and Gujarat.
New Year in Southern India also emphasize the Hindu New Year but the date and
New Year traditions vary.
- Punjab : New year starts on Baisakhi 13th/14th April.
- Assam : New year starts on 14th or 15th of April.
- Bengal : New year starts on 14th or 15th April.
- Gujarat : New Year starts on Karthik Shukla Pratipada.
- Kerala : New year starts in the month of Medam
(on the day when the Sun enters in the constellation Leo). - Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka : New Year falls on Chaitra Shuddha Prathipade.
- Sikkim : New Year starts on 18th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar.
- Maharashtra : New Year starts in the month of Chaitra
- Tamil Nadu : New year starts on 13th or 14th of April.
People light oil lamps and decorate the house with auspicious flowers those
with the color like pink, red, purple or yellow. Rangoli design is also an attractive
part of New Year decorations. Indians get up early in the morning, take bath and
wear new clothes. They bring home deities of Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of wealth)
and Lord Ganesha. Prayers are offered and prasad is distributed among the family
members. At the time of New Year, gifts and sweets are exchangd with each other.
People consider this festival to be an auspicious time to begin New Year.
In India, Saka Calendar is officially used but interestingly in the Hindi version of
Preamble of The Constitution of India, the date of adoption of constitution 26 Nov 1950
is presented in Vikram Samvat (Margsheersh Shukla Saptami Samvat 2006 ).
Months | No. | Name | Nepali | Days |
| 1 | Baishākh | बैशाख | 30 / 31 |
| 2 | Jeṭha | जेष्ठ or जेठ | 31 / 32 |
| 3 | Asār | आषाढ़ or असार | 31 / 32 |
| 4 | Sāun | श्रावण or साउन | 31 / 32 |
| 5 | Bhadau | भाद्र or भदौ | 31 / 32 |
| 6 | Asoj | आश्विन or असोज/अगहन | 30 / 31 |
| 7 | Kartik | कार्तिक | 29 / 30 |
| 8 | Mangsir | मार्ग or मंसिर | 29 / 30 |
| 9 | Push | पौष or पुष/पूस | 29 / 30 |
| 10 | Magh | माघ | 29 / 30 |
| 11 | Falgun | फाल्गुन or फागुन | 29 / 30 |
| 12 | Chaitra | चैत्र or चैत | 30 / 31 |
History
This calendar derives its name from the original king Vikramaditya of Ujjain.
After the rise of the Rana oligarchs in Nepal, Vikram Sambat came into unofficial
use along with the official Shaka Sambat for quite some time. They discontinued
Shaka Sambat in its 1823rd year and replaced it with Vikram Samwat for official use
since then to date. Vikram Sambat came into official use in its 1958th year.
The calendar is widely in use in western India, where it is known as the Vikram Samvat.
For those interested in more of such details,
Click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikram_Samvat
When trees wear new leaves,Branches smile with bunch of flowers.
The Creator creates It's new creation every where,
Fragrence sprinkles in the air,
Fresh blood vibrates the veins system,
Stagnation gets the momentum,
Each sting of the mind tunes with Spring season,
Every one wants to dance without any reason,
Nature showers with riot of colours,
Convey its message of NEWNESS,
It is time to celebrate the newness of nature,
That always signs on the 1st day of Sukal-paksh-chetr,
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