Diwali in Gujarat marks the commencement of the Gujarati New Year which is aka the Bestu Varas among locals. Gujarati New Year is celebrated with immense joy, happiness and enthusiasm in the entire state of Gujarat. Gujarati New Year coincides with Govardhan Puja or Annakut Puja.
Gujarati New Year is synonymous with sudekum of the Kartik month – it is the first month of the Gujarati calendar. Following the Hindu calendar, it falls on Shukla Paksha Pratipada of the Kartik month. Since it is the first month as per the Gujarati calendar it marks the beginning of their new fiscal year.
***
Gujarati New Year Celebrations are marked by people donning new clothes, visiting temples and exchanging greetings with family and friends. It is the day to forget the past, clear out all the misunderstandings and welcome the new beginning on an auspicious note.
Celebrations include bursting fireworks, decorating homes with lighting and creating beautiful Rangoli which invites vibes of happiness and festivities all around. The Gujarati New Year is the beginning of new and fruitful ventures which may be in personal or professional relationships.
***
Vikram Samvat is an Indian calendar that dates to 57 BC. The Vikram Samvat calendar/ Panchang 2082 starts half a century before the Gregorian calendar and works on an Indian calendar cycle. The Vikram Samvat calendar system is used by several communities in the Indian subcontinent, especially the Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh communities. It is based on the solar sidereal years and lunar months.
The traditional Gujarati calendar follows the Vikram Samvat Calendar 2082 system. Therefore, instead of Chaitra Sukhladi, the Gujarati people celebrate the day after Diwali as Gujarati New Year. Thus, the Vikram Samvat 2081 considers Kartik as the first month on the Gujarati calendar and not Chaitra, unlike several other Indian states.
***
Diwali in Gujarat marks the advent of the New Year. Gujarati New Year is celebrated with immense joy, happiness and enthusiasm in the entire state of Gujarat. This festival of lights marks the beginning of Bestu Varas, i.e. Gujarathi New Year as it is celebrated a day after Diwali. As per the Hindu Calendar, it falls on Shukla Paksha Pratipada in the Hindu month of Kartik. As per the Indian Calendar based on Lunar Cycle, Kartik is the first month of the year and the New Year in Gujarat falls on the first bright day of Kartik (Ekam). So, this day marks the beginning of their new fiscal year. In some parts of India, New Year Celebrations begin around Spring.
It is believed that when Lord Krishna saw annual offerings and preparation for the prayers offered to Lord Indra, he convinced the people of Gokul that as farmers and shepherds, their true ‘Dharma’ was to do farming and to protect the cattle to the best of their abilities. They should not pray and conduct offerings for a deity and wait for a natural phenomenon. The people of Gokul were convinced, and they stopped worshipping Lord Indra.
They were worshipping Govardhan Hill and the cows on the advice of Lord Krishna. This made Indra, God of rain and thunder, angry, and the people of Gokul had to face the wrath of Indra. Lord Indra flooded the village of Gokul for seven days and seven nights. Lord Krishna lifted the mount Govardhan just on his small finger; and provided shelter and safety to the people, crops, and the cattle. Later, Lord Indra realised his mistake and soon apologised to Lord Krishna.
Since then, it has become a tradition to worship Govardhan Hills and celebrate this day as New Year by Gujarati people. Customs and rituals of Govardhan Puja are performed to welcome ‘Gujarati Navu Varsh’ and bid farewell to the year passed by.
***
Gujarati New Year is more than a date. It is a festival of joy, prosperity, renewal and family togetherness. new Varas 2025 brings with it hope, ancient rituals, warm greetings of “saal mubarak”, festive foods and shared laughter. It is a day that begins new stories, new blessings.
***