In mid-April (April 13-14), Hindus celebrate Baisakhi in Punjab, Poila Baishakh in Bengal, Bohag Bihu in Assam, Vishu in Kerala and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu to welcome the new year. Catch the many regional celebrations and don't forget to wish your friends and family a happy new year, yet again!
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When Sun apparently appears to enter the first constellation(Hindus say Aswini)of the first Hindu Zodaic-Mesham(European Zodaic is different)–precise date,hour,minute and second–the Solar new year starts for Hindus.In many parts of India like Andra,Karnataka etc Hindus follow Lunar new year(Ugaadhi)–there calculation is different–i do not want this to be very elaborate.
Thanks, Dr Rajagopalan. Very useful information. Can you define which are the solar and which are the lunar new year celebrations out of the festivals in this list: http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/extra/bl-alm.htm
In mid-April (April 13-14), Hindus celebrate Baisakhi in Punjab, Poila Baishakh in Bengal, Bohag Bihu in Assam, Vishu in Kerala and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu to welcome the new year.
In Kerala,Tamilnadu,Bengal & Assam (i do not know in Orissa also)people celeberate Soura(Solar) Maana(Unit of month) new year.In Andra,karnataka and many other North Indian States Chanra(Lunar)Maana New year is celeberated. When Chandra(Moon)is apparently appears to enter on Poornima(Fullmoon)day Constellation(Nakshatiram)of Chitra,the minute,second the Lunar Year(first month Chaitram)is celeberated in these States.I use the phrase “apparently appears to be”,because Sun,moon and Constellations(Stars) are NOT co-planar>But from earth when we see in two dimensions,they appear to be in the same plane.If full moon is in Chitra>>Chaitram–In Visaakam >>Vaisaaki.In Sanskrit “Va”-”Bha” exchange(Parivardhanam)is allowed.So vaisaaki,becomes Bhaisaaki–but I do not know how punjabis celeberate Bhaisaaki as first month of lunar calendar.