Happy Tamil New Year..Happy Vishnu...Happy Vaisakhi.. Happy Poila Baisakh .. Happy Assamese New Year

Indians - there are many different ethnic/language groups of India, and many of them have their own calendar, and their own New Years. In Malaysia, we also have persons from the various different Indian ethnic groups, whereby the Tamils are the largest of these ethnic groups. Other ethnic groups found in Malaysia include the Malayalees (from the State of Kerala), Telugus, Punjabis, Gujeratis, Goanese, Assamese, Bengalis, .... 

Let us also not forget the Sri Lankans - and the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Happy Tamil New Year (April 14, 2010)

Varusha Pirappu, or Puthandu or Chithirai Vishu, is the Tamil New Year celebrated all around the world by Tamil people. In 2010, Varusha Pirappu or Puthandu date is April 14, 2010. This is the first day in Tamil month of Chithirai masam in Vikrudhi year. As per Hinduism (Tamil beliefs), Chithirai Vishu is the day during which Lord Brahma started the creation. Many temples host special pujas during Puthandu in Tamil Nadu.-  Varusha Pirappu 2010 – Puthandu or Tamil New Year 2010

Happy Vaisakhi (April 14, 2010)

Vaisakhi (Punjabi: ਵਿਸਾਖੀ, Hindi: बैसाखी vaisākhī, also known as Baisakhi or Vasakhi) is an ancient harvest festival in the Punjab region, which also marks beginning of a new solar year, and new harvest season. Baisakhi is a Sikh religious festival. It falls on the first day of the BaisakhNanakshahi calendar, which corresponds to April 14 in the Gregorian calendar. In Sikhism, it is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar, commemorating the establishment of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1699, by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. month in the solar

This day is also observed as the beginning of the Hindu solar new year celebrated by the people of Nepal and India in Kerala, Orissa, West Bengal and some other regions of India. The particular significance attached to the occasion shows regional variation outside of Punjab too. In Himachal Pradesh, the Hindu Goddess Jwalamukhi is worshipped on Vaisakhi, while in Bihar, the Sun-god Surya is honoured. The festival is celebrated as Rongali Bihu in Assam, Naba Barsha or Pohela Boishakh in Bengal, Assam and Tripura, Puthandu (Tamil New Year) in Tamil Nadu, Vishu (or Vaishakhi) in Kerala, Maha Vishuba Sankranti (or Pana Sankranti) in Orissa, and the Sinhala and Tamil new year festival in Sri Lanka. Besides Punjab, Baisakhi is widely celebrated as traditional harvest festival in many northern states of India, such as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In many places the day is marked by ritualistic bathing in sacred rivers like the Ganges. - Wikipedia

 Happy Vishu (April 15, 2010) - Malayalee New Year

Vishu is the harvest festival of Kerala observed on the first day of the Medam month (April – May) of Malayalam Panchang. It is the first day in Malayalam calendar. Vishu 2010 date is April 15. This festival is also celebrated in Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In some places Vishu is known as Bisu. Vishu festival also marks the day of Mesha Sankranti or Mesha Sankraman during which Sun transits to the first zodiac – Mesha Rashi or Aries zodiac. Literally, Vishu means equal and signifies one of the equinox. Malayalam calendar is also known as Kollavarsham.

Vishu festival or the first day of Medam month is considered as the astrological New Year day whereas the official Malayalam New Year starts in Chingam month (August – September).- Vishu 2010 – Vishu Festival date in 2010 or Malayalam New Year 2010

Happy Poila Baisakh (April 15, 2010) - Bengali New Year

Poila Baisakh or Pohela Boishakh or Poela Boishakh, also known as Naba Barsha, is the traditional Bengali New Year Day celebrated in West Bengal, Bangladesh, and Bengali communities in Assam and Tripura. Poila Baisakh 2010 or Naba Barsha 2010 date is April 15. Poila Baisakh gets all Bengalis together irrespective of their religions, regions, traditionas, and cultures. In traditional Bengali calendar, 2010 – 2011 is Bengali Year 1462.

In Bengal, Poila Baisakh and the whole month of Boishakh is considered as auspicious time for marriages. ‘Probhat Pheri’, processions in the morning, is widely celebrated all over Bengal to welcome the New Year in a traditional way. Bengalis consider Pohela Boishakh very auspicious to start any new venture, business, or house constructions.Poila Baisakh 2010 or Pohela Boishakh 2010 – Bengali New Year in 2010

Happy Assamese New Year (April 15, 2010)

Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu, is the Assamese New Year Day celebrated in mid April every year. This is the first day of Bohag month in traditional Assam calendar which follows the solar calendar. Bohag Bihu 2010 or Rongali Bihu 2010 date is April 15. This festival is celebrated for three days. Goru Bihu, Manu Bihu or Manuh Bihu, and Gosain Bihu are the three days of Bihu festival in April 2010.

Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu is the collective name of Bihu festivals celebrated during the Assam New Year. Goru Bihu is the last day of previous year which is dedicated to cattle worship. Assam New Year day is known as Manu Bihu or Manuh Bihu. The next day of Manu Bihu is known as Gosain Bihu. There is no particular ritual associated with Gosain Bihu.

• Goru Bihu 2010 date – April 14 (Last day of 2009-10 Assam Year)
• Manu Bihu 2010 or Rongali or Bohag Bihu 2010 – April 15 (Assam New Year Day)
• Gosain Bihu 2010 date – April 16 (Third day of Assam New year celebrations)- Bohag Bihu 2010 – Rongali Bihu in 2010 or Assamese New Year 2010

Telugu New Year (March 16, 2010)

Ugadi is the New Year (Lunar New Year) for Telugu and Kannada speaking people and it ushers in the spring season. In 2010, the date of Ugadi is March 16. Ugadi (yuga and adi) means beginning of an astronomical cycle. It is also the first day of Chaitra, the first month of the traditional Hindu calendar followed in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Ugadi is also known as Chadramana Ugadi or Chandramana Varsha Thodaku or Vatsara Arambha.

For the Telugu and Kannada speaking people, Ugadi day begins with an extensive oil bath. Rangolis or Kolams are drawn in front of homes and doors and windows are decorated with a 'thorana' - mango leaves strung together. Then, it is time for the preparation of the famous ‘Ugadi Pachadi’ in Andhra Pradesh. In Karnataka, it is the ‘Bevu Bella.’

A major event on the day is “Panchanga Sravanam” – predictions for the year. It is organized at temples and by cultural and social organizations. 

Ugadi Pachadi which is distributed on the day is a unique dish with a mixture of six tastes ranging from sweet to bitter. It comprises of jaggery, raw mango, tamarind, neem flowers, salt and green chilli. This is the first dish that people have on Ugadi day.

Ugadi Pachadi has an important symbolic meaning that life brings different experiences ranging from sweet to bitter. Therefore each individual should learn to take the different experiences in one's stride and move ahead.

Instead of the Ugadi Pachadi, in some places people serve jaggery mixed with neem leaves. The bitter taste of neem leaves and the sweet of jaggery symbolize joy and sorrow in life. This is more popular with Kannadigas. Ugadi in 2010 – Yugadi – Telugu and Kannada New Year