The Hindu New Year
The First day of a year is beginning of a new year and as every one knows, we have different new years in our country. One of them is Nav Sawantsar Prtipada known as Vikrami Samvat, celebrated in Chaitra Month's full moon day that falls in the month of March or April according to western calendar.Vikrama Samvat founded by Vikramaditya the great when he won over Shaks. According to the Purans -
Chaitramasi Jagadbrahma Sasarj prathamaahani !
Shukrapaksh samagre tu sada suryodaye sadi !!
The couplet says that says that the creator of universe, Brahma considering this day as the best day of all created the universe on this very day. We can find such quotes in different religious books like Arthveda and Shatpath Brahman also. According to Shakta sect the beginning of Vasant Navratri also takes place this very same day that ends nine days later on Shri Ramnavami day. That also denotes the beginning of Basant or Vasant the spring, which adds to joys and happiness among the masses of this country.
The different methods of calculations of dates
According to Indian systems of calculation of dates and most of them based on moon as prime source having two fortnight better-known Krishna and Shukla fortnight. These two fortnights make a month consisting of twenty-nine and a half days. In southern parts of our country, people know them as Amant and Purnimant also. However, the beginning of the New Year brings happiness all around as this happens to be the season of crops that makes the occasion more worthy.
Beginning of festivals
The New Year marks the beginning of many festivals all over the Hindu world with festivals taking place on this particular day. People in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka celebrate this day as Yugadi that denotes the beginning of New Year, the Sindhi community celebrates it as the Birth Day of Jhulelal or Cheti Chand meaning happiness of Chaitra month. The Vikrami New Year known as one of the most celebrated festivals among the Kashmiri Hindus as Navreh the beginning of Lunar New Year.
The people in Maharastra celebrate the day as Gudi Padawa and Bihu in Assam. The erstwhile Hindu state of Nepal celebrates the day on official level and Vikrmi calendar is the official calendar of Nepal.
The Vikrami New Year is also part of life in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, part of Indonesia, Thailand and wherever Buddhist community with trust in Mahatma Buddha lives besides Kerala, Manipur, Tamilnadu, Odessa, Punjab etc. are other states where people celebrate this day with total joy. Most of the regions in India including East, North, west and south celebrate their New year in the same month of Baisakh according to Hindu Calendar although, the dates may differ. Most probably, Gujarat is only state where the Vikrmi calendar begins on fourth day after Diwali.
How to worship
As per the Hindu belief that trusts in worshiping for whatever the occasion so has the New Year a particular way to worship as per advised by the Pundits. The most common way to welcome the New Year is as follows-
On the first day of the New Year of the Nav Sawantsar one should chant the following mantra taking a few flowers of red color, water of river Ganges and scented sticks in hand sitting in front of properly set fire altar with sand and decorated with Sandal and turmeric. A flower of lotus is best flower for the occasion with statues of Gods especially, Laxmi and Ganesha made of gold properly set.
The mantra- Mum sakutumbasya Saparivarasya swajan Parijanasahitsya wa aurarogyeshwaryadisakal shubh faltrotra vradyartha, Brhmadisamvatsar devana Poojanamhn Karishye.
After chanting, this mantra for eleven times put the items present in your hands in front of the statues of gods and then prays to Brahma for your own and family’s welfare. Please keep it in mind that the best results are only available if you decorate your house with flowers and feast the Brahmins and sending them off with proper gifts. I am sure you are going to have a very happy New Year by following the above-mentioned procedure.