Hindu New Year
Today in India, its the start of a new year for several communities. Its Gudi Padva (Maharashtrians), Baisakhi (Punjabis), Ugadi (Telugu and Kannada speaking Indians), Cheti Chand (Sindhis), Pohela Boishakh (Bengalis), Bihu (Assamese) and Navreh (Kashmiris) today. Some friends have also added Vishu and Tamil New Year wishes today, but both happen tomorrow.
South East Asia and Hinduism
The deep connection that Thailand has with India is seen as they celebrate the start of a new year today, Songkran. This connection with Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Korea is due to the mighty Chola empire that extended over these countries. Infact the Laotian language is based on Tamil. We saw several manuscripts written in Tamil when we visited Champasak in Laos, in 2016. Similarly Cambodia has Ramayana and Mahabharata stories etched on the walls of their temples, including the Angkor Wat. Do read about it on my page – Magical Cambodia.
Angkor Wat is a Vishnu temple. There are several temples dedicated to Shiva in Cambodia. The Korean language still has nearly 450 words that are Tamil words ! The world is a lot more connected to Hinduism and India than we choose to believe.
Chaitra Navratri
Today is also the start of the Chaitra Navratri vrat. Interestingly this Navratri vrat is observed in North India and some parts of Western India. I have never heard of it in South India. Chaitra or Chitra maasam (Tamil) is also the birth month of Bhagwan Ram. This year Rama Navami is on the 21st.
Read about the Chaitra Navratri 2021 here.
Our dear friend Dr. Jammi had posted this on his FB page. Sharing a screenshot about the Plava new year that has started from today.
As Dr. Jammi says, may this year ferry the world across the unbearable pandemic and bring us glory.
Happy Hindu New Year everyone 🙏🏿
Bindu – Wonderful and feeling positive to read your post on ‘ Plava’ year and the upcoming years. Definitely there is light at the end of the tunnel.
BTW – In S. India Chaithra navarathri is called Vasantha navarathri . It is very much in practice and a lot of women worship and perform puja
Didn’t know that Sowmya 👍. Thanks for this info. I only knew about the Navaratri before Deepavali.