Ashadhi Bij

• 24 Jun 2020

Why in News

The Prime Minister has greeted the people on the special occasion of Ashadhi Bij, the Kutchi New Year.

Key Points

• Ashadhi Bij falls on the second day of Shukla paksha of Ashada month of Hindu calendar.
• The festival is associated with the beginning of rains in the Kutch region of Gujarat.
• During Ashadhi Bij, the moisture in the atmosphere is checked to predict which crop would do best in the coming monsoon.

Traditional New Year Festivals in India
Name	Features
Chaitra Shukla Pratipada	It marks the beginning of the new year of the Vikram Samvat also known as the Vedic (Hindu) calendar. Vikram Samvat is based on the day when the emperor Vikramaditya defeated Sakas, invaded Ujjain and called for a new era.
Gudi Padwa and Ugadi	Celebrated in the month of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada as per the Hindu Lunar Calendar. Deccan region including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Navreh	It is the lunar New Year that is celebrated in Kashmir. It falls on the very first day of the Chaitra Navratras.
Sajibu Cheiraoba	It is celebrated by Meiteis (an ethnic group in Manipur) which is observed on the first day of Manipur lunar month Shajibu, which falls in the month of April every year.
Cheti Chand	It is celebrated by Sindhi community. Chaitra month is called 'Chet' in Sindhi. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Ishta Deva Uderolal/Jhulelal, the patron saint of Sindhis.
Bihu	It is celebrated three times a year. Rongali or Bohag Bihu is observed in April. Kongali or Kati Bihu observed in October and Bhogali or Magh Bihu observed in January. Rongali or Bohag Bihu is the Assamese new year and spring festival. The Rongali Bihu coincides with Sikh New Year- Baisakhi.
Baisakhi	It is celebrated as the Indian thanksgiving day by farmers. It also has religious significance for the Sikhs community as the foundation of the Khalsa Panth was laid on this day by Guru Gobind Singh.
Losoong	Losoong also known as Namsoong is the Sikkimese New Year. It is usually the time when the farmers rejoice and celebrate their harvest. It is mostly celebrated in the month of December every year with traditional gaiety and colour both by the Lepchas and Bhutias.

Source: PIB