Once upon a time, the Bengali New Year was Bijoya Dashami (Vijaya Dashami – the final day of Durga Puja). That New Year has faded away, but its associated social customs remain. The post-immersion traditions—seeking blessings, exchanging embraces, and sharing sweets—still seem to carry echoes of that long-lost New Year celebration.
During the Rigvedic period, a year was counted from one
autumn to the next. The year began with the season of autumn. In the wish for
long life, people would say, “Jīvem sharadaṁ śatam”— “May we live a hundred
autumns,” which later evolved into the modern blessing for a long life.
Bijoya Dashami was considered the first day of the autumnal
year—thus, the first day of the new year, the festival marking the beginning of
the year. It was customary to spend this day joyfully with family and friends,
sharing food and happiness. It was believed that if the first day of the year
went well, the rest of the year would follow suit. People prayed, “May everyone
be victorious in the new year.” Here we find one explanation for why the day
came to be known as Bijoya Dashami—the Day of Victory. The name likely
originated from this wish for victory and success.
The Noboborsho (New Year) in the month of Boishakh arose
later for economic and administrative reasons—to facilitate revenue collection
by landlords and estate owners.