A first day of year, celebrated in many places in INDIA

Prathama or Pratipada प्रतिपदा, the Sanskrit word for “first”, and is the first day in the lunar fortnight (Paksha) of the Hindu calendar. Each month has two Prathama days, being the first day of the “bright” (Shukla) and of the “dark” (Krishna) fortnights respectively. Prathama occurs on the first and the sixteenth day of each month.

In Hinduism, the new year Vikram Samvat is welcomed on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada Tithi, the first day of Chaitra Navratri.

Gudi Padwa and Ugadi These festivals are celebrated by the people in the Deccan region including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Cheti Chand, Sindhis celebrate the new year as Cheti Chand. Chaitra month is called ‘Chet’ in Sindhi.

Navreh, It is the lunar new year that is celebrated in Kashmir. It is the sanskrit word ‘Nav-Varsha’ from where the word ‘Navreh’ has been derived.

Sajibu Cheiraobai it is a ritual festival of Meiteis which is observed on the first day of Manipur lunar month Shajibu, which falls in March/April every year.

 It is the first day during the waxing phase (in which the visible side of moon is getting bigger every night) of the moon in the Chaitra (first month of Hindu calendar).

About Vikram Samvat

Several ancient inscriptions used the Vikram Samvat. Although it was named after the legendary king Vikramaditya of Ujjain, the association of the era beginning in 57 BCE with the ruling time of Vikramaditya.

It remarks the starting of the new year of the Vikram Samvat as the Hindu Vedic Calendar. Vikram Samvat is based on the day when the emperor Vikramaditya defeated Sakas, invaded Ujjain and called for a new era.

Under his supervision, astronomers formed a new calendar based on the luni-solar system that is still followed in the northern regions of India.

Vikram Samvat, also known as the Vikrami calendar, which historically used in the Indian subcontinent and still used in several states. It is a solar calendar, using twelve to thirteen lunar months each solar sidereal year.

Like the Hebrew and Chinese calendars, the Vikram Samvat is lunisolar, based on both lunar and solar cycles. In a lunisolar calendar, months are determined by the phases of the moon, while years are determined by the position of the Earth relative to the sun. This combination allows for the synchronization of lunar months with the solar Year.

It is also believed that on this date Brahmaji started the creation, hence Chaitra became the first month of the Hindu New Year.

In the Hindu calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar, months are referred to as “mas” (मास) in Hindi, these months follow the lunar phases and are used for determining various Hindu festivals.

• चैत्र (Chaitra)
• वैशाख (Vaishakh)
• ज्येष्ठ (Jyeshtha)
• आषाढ़ (Ashadha)
• श्रावण (Shravan)
• भाद्रपद (Bhadrapada)
• आश्विन (Ashwin)
• कार्तिक (Kartik)
• मार्गशीर्ष (Margashirsha)
• पौष (Paush)
• माघ (Magh)
• फाल्गुन (Phalgun)

NAVRATRI

Navratri is a Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga and her various forms. The word “Navratri” translates to “nine nights” in Sanskrit, and the festival lasts for nine days and nights.

Chaitra Navratri is a festival that comes in the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra, in March or April in the Gregorian calendar. Normally during the waxing phase of the moon (Shukla Paksha) which culminates on the ninth day with Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama, which is on the ninth day of the Chaitra month.

During Navratri, worship various forms of the goddess Durga, known as Navadurga. Each day of Navratri is associated with a different form of Durga.

1. Shailaputri – Day 1: She is depicted as the daughter of the mountains (Shaila) and is symbolic of purity and strength.
2. Brahmacharini – Day 2: This form represents the unmarried form of the goddess, who is depicted as walking barefoot with a rosary in her hand.
3. Chandraghanta – Day 3: This form is depicted with a half-moon shaped like a bell on her forehead, hence the name Chandraghanta. She is believed to signify bravery and grace.
4. Kushmanda – Day 4: Kushmanda is depicted as seated on a lion and is believed to have created the universe with her smile.
5. Skandamata – Day 5: Skandamata is the mother of Skanda (Lord Kartikeya) and is depicted holding her son on her lap.
6. Katyayani – Day 6: This form of Durga is associated with the legend of Sage Katyayana and is believed to embody the fierce aspect of the goddess.
7. Kaalratri – Day 7: Kaalratri is the fierce form of Durga, often depicted with a dark complexion and a fearless posture. She is believed to ward off evil spirits and protect her devotees.
8. Mahagauri – Day 8: Mahagauri symbolizes purity and tranquility. She is depicted as fair-complexioned and dressed in white.
9. Siddhidatri – Day 9: Siddhidatri is believed to possess and bestow supernatural powers (Siddhis) upon her devotees. She is worshipped as the bestower of success and fulfillment.

These nine forms of Durga are worshipped with devotion during Navratri, symbolizing the vijay of good over evil.

Jai Mata Di

#teamanswerwala

Source:- Various webpages on open internet and managed by expert team.

Give your views on feedback@answerwala.com.