Happy New Year

[Guest guest]

Namaskar,

 

"Happy New Year!" That greeting will be said and heard for at least

the first couple of weeks as a new year gets under way. But the day

celebrated as New Year's Day in modern world was not always January

1.

 

The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It

was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the

years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first

New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal

Equinox (first day of spring).

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After

all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of

blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor

agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

 

The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day

had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say

that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.

 

The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March, but

their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so

that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun.

 

In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC,

declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But

tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what

has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established

January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar

with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445

days.

 

HINDU NEW YEAR:

 

The Hindu New Year's Day commences on the first day of the month

called Chaitra or Chithirai. It is also called Chaitra Vishu for

this reason. The occasion is said to be an auspicious one because,

at this time, the sun enters the sign Aries of· the Zodiac. The

people call the occasion Chaitra Vishu Punyakalam or, the sacred

occasion.

 

It is also said that the Chaitra Vishu day or the opening day of the

first fortnight of the waxing moon was the occasion chosen by Brahma

to create this world. Hence this day is also known as yugadhi or the

beginning of a yuga. This festive day is said to have acquired

further importance by the fact that Sri Ramachandra, the hero of the

epic Ramayana, had his triumphal entry into Ayodhya after the

destruction of the rakshasas, and was crowned there on this day.

 

WISHING ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR