THE HINDU NEW YEARS DAY

Every nation in the world has its New Years Day. A year is the time of the apparent revolution of the sun through the ecliptic, and a sidereal year is the time in which the sun departing from any fixed star returns to the same. The Hindu a astronomical year is sidereal. He calls it Samvatsara, the first day of the year or the Vishu-chitra vishu, the equinoctial points of Aries, into which the sun enters at the vernal equinox. This event generally falls on the 12 April and is considered by the Hindu a puny kala a holy occasion. So on the New years day the manes and gods are propitiated by offering of tarpana oblations of water and other allied ceremonies. In other respects, the new Year's day is a day featuring.

Though thus the astronomical Hindu year falls on the 12th April, the new year's day is observed on different days by different sects of the Hindus, according as they happen to follow the lunar, the luni solar or the solar calendar. The tamils follow the solar, and their year is thus the sidereal year. The Telugus and the canarese follow the chandramana reckoning, and their is the lunisolar, which begins earlier then the 12th April. The Malayalis follow the Tamils, though their Kollamandu which is more an agricultural year being about the middle of September, when the sun enters the autumnal equinox.

On the new year day the elderly people- males and females take a sacred bath in the holy rivers or the sea, whichever happens to be nearest. The males propitiate the manes and the deities, children appear in their holiday dress & jewels. The nearest temple is attended and the god in it is worshipped.  In same families children and other members receive new cloths. A sumptuous meal is cooked in every house and poor relations are always cordially invited to the feast. At evening time the panchanga or the calendar of the new year is read out and expounded by a holy Braman. Several people assemble to listen to this exposition. At the end of this ceremony, attar, pan supari, and dessert are distributed. Sometimes a short entertainment of music is also added to this ceremony. The whole day is spent more or less in mirth & festivity and a light supper closes the days proceedings.