It’s almost 2023, and we’re celebrating its arrival by exploring New Year’s Eve traditions from Novica regions around the globe.
Today, we set our sights on India, a land rich with cultural diversity. And that diversity is evident when it comes to New Year’s celebrations, which are as varied as the regions that make up this incredible country. In fact, there is no one single New Year’s date, but several, depending on where you live and what religion you follow.
For those who observe the Hindu calendar, which follows the trajectory of the moon, the month of Chaitra, between March and April, kicks off the New Year. In Gujarat, New Year’s is celebrated the day after Diwali, a festival of lights that celebrates the goddess Lakshmi. Elsewhere, the solar calendar reigns supreme, and New Year’s often falls in the middle of April.
With an increasingly connected world, however, the Gregorian calendar also stakes its claim in India, where you’ll find celebrations at nightclubs, parties, and gatherings of all sizes. While January 1 is not an official holiday in India, it’s widely celebrated. Whether or not residents go big or stay in to watch prime time TV coverage of celebrations around the world, most dive into New Year’s resolutions with the same high hopes and intentions as those in the western world. |
