Vaisakhi, Vishu, Bishub, Bahag Bihu, Poila Boishakh, Vaishakhadi and Puthandu, Meshadi, Naba Barsha

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Context

• The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu in her message on the eve of Vaisakhi, Vishu, Bishub, Bahag Bihu, Poila Boishakh, Vaishakhadi and Puthandu, which are being celebrated.

Vaisakhi:

• Celebrated primarily by Sikhs and Hindus, especially in Punjab and parts of North India.
• Marks the Sikh New Year and commemorates the formation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.
• In Punjab, it's also a harvest festival and a time for community fairs, music, and traditional dances like Bhangra and Gidda.

Vishu:

• Celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala and by Malayali communities worldwide.
• Marks the Malayalam New Year and the beginning of the Malayalam calendar.
• Families wake up to see 'Vishukkani,' an arrangement of auspicious items, as the first sight of the year, believed to bring prosperity.

Bahag Bihu:

• Celebrated in the Indian state of Assam, primarily by the Assamese people.
• Marks the Assamese New Year and the beginning of the agricultural season.
• Celebrated with traditional music, dances like Bihu, feasting, and community gatherings.

Poila Boishakh:

• Celebrated mainly in West Bengal and among Bengali communities.
• Marks the Bengali New Year and is a time for cultural festivities, including music, dance, and poetry recitations.
• People dress in traditional attire, visit temples, and enjoy special dishes like panta bhat (fermented rice).

Vaishakhadi:

• Celebrated in the Indian state of Maharashtra, particularly by the Marathi-speaking population.
• Marks the beginning of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Vaishakh.
• Celebrated with prayers, rituals, and cultural events, often involving traditional folk dances and music.

Puthandu:

• Celebrated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and among Tamil communities worldwide.
• Marks the Tamil New Year and the beginning of the Tamil calendar year.
• Celebrated with rituals at temples, traditional foods like mango pachadi, and cultural events showcasing Tamil heritage.

TRIVIA

Regional New Year	Area of Celebration
Vaisakhi	Punjab
Vishu	Kerala
Bishub	West Bengal
Bahag Bihu	Assam
Poila Boishakh	West Bengal, Bangladesh
Vaishakhadi	Maharashtra
Puthandu	Tamil Nadu
Ugadi	Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka
Gudi Padwa	Maharashtra
Navreh	Kashmir
Pana Sankranti	Odisha
Cheti Chand	Sindh
Sajibu Cheiraoba	Manipur
Maha Vishuba Sankranti	Odisha
Pohela Boishakh	Bangladesh
Sankranti	Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
Himachal Pradesh New Year	Different regions of Himachal Pradesh
Puthari	Kodagu region of Karnataka
Saurashtra New Year	Parts of Gujarat
Nyokum	Arunachal Pradesh
Chaitra Navratri	Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan
Tulu New Year	Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Match the following regional New Year festivals with their respective states or regions: 1.Ugadi - Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka 2.Gudi Padwa - Maharashtra 3.Navreh - Kashmir 4.Pana Sankranti - Odisha Options: A) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D B) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D C) 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C D) 1-A, 2-B, 3-D, 4-C Correct Answer: B) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D