Nav Varsh Samvat 2065 – Hindi New Year in 2008

The New Year in the traditional Hindu calendars followed in North India – especially in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh is celebrated on Chaitra Shukala Pratipadha (March – April). In 2008, the Nav Samvat begins on April 7. In some regional calendars, the year begins on April 6.

Update: The New Year in Gujarati Calendar begins the day after Diwali it is also Samvat 2065

This calculation of New Year is based on the Luni-Solar calendar. The calendar followed mainly in North India is based on the Amanta and Purnimanta system. Amanta calendar is calculated from New moon to New moon. Purnimanta is calculated from Full moon to Full moon.

The Amanta Lunar calendar starts with Chaitra month. Amanta is used fix all the major Hindu festivals in North India. Even those communities that prefer the Purnimata calendar use Amanta calendar for fixing festivals.

It must be noted here that Gujarat follows an entirely different calendar system and there the New Year falls on the day after Diwali.

Similarly, the official Government of India calendar has its New Year on March 21st or March 22nd (Saka Era). The first month in this calendar is also Chaitra.

Nav Samvat is not widely celebrated. But the day holds great significance as some of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar are calculated based on this calendar system.



1 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice synopsis and very accurate. Great job! Many do not realize that there are actually two lunar Vikram Samvat new year days:

1. Chaitradi Vikram Samvat beginning in Chaitra on the first day of Chaitra (Vasant) Navratras. This is the calendrical lunar new year day throughout North India (and also South India where the Shaka Samvat begins on the very same day). This is a day of quiet observance and mostly not a day of celebration, especially in North India.

2. Kartikadi Vikram Samvat beginning in Kartik on the day after Diwali. This is the calendrical lunar new year day in Gujarat only and no where else. Elsewhere, it is the fiscal/financial new year.

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