Festivals and holidays keep a man going and help him to bond with his near and dear ones. Come April, and it’s the time of annual examinations and starting of new academic session for many students. For parents and all other elders, it is the beginning of a new financial year and according to Hindu almanac it is the auspicious beginning of a new year too. Unlike the West, when New Year is ushered on January 1, in India, the New Year is ushered in the month of Chaitra, which falls in March/April. This day is based on the new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the orbit of the moon.

This year, the Hindu New Year would be ushered in on April 4, 2011 and would be called Khara. This day is celebrated as Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Gudi Padva in Maharashtra, Cheti Chand by Sindhis, Sajibu Cheiraoba by the Manipuris. However, the people of Punjab usher in Baisakhi on April 13 and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu on April 14. Even Bengalis celebrate New Year on April 14.

According to ancient lore, it is believed that creator Lord Brahma began his shrishti (creation) on Ugadi day, which falls on Chaitra suddha padhyami. Lunar calendars have a 60 year cycle and starts the New Year on Yugadi. Even Mathematician Bhaskaracharya’s calculations said that sunrise on Ugadi day marked the beginning of the New Year. On Ugadi day, people are up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after applying oil to the body. They then decorate the entrance of their houses with rangoli and fresh mango leaves, which signifies a good crop and general well-being. Mythology states that Kartikeyan and Ganesha, sons of Lord Shiva and Parvathi were very fond of mangoes and Kartikikeyan encouraged people to tie green mango leaves to the entrances for good omen.

On this day, people pray to god and seek his blessings on the beginning of the New Year. They pray for health, wealth, prosperity and success in all walks of life. Many start a new business on this auspicious day. Some devouts visit temples to hear the panchangasravanam (Yearly prediction of the things to come in zodiac signs and the country). In short, it prepares one for the year ahead. Preparations for this day begin a week in advance when houses are whitewashed. Many shop for new clothes and other essential items. It is customary to eat Ugadi Pachchadi on this day, which is a mixture of new jaggery, raw mango pieces and neem flowers and new tamarind and reflects the life’s flavours of sweat, toil and victory in sweet, sour and bitter taste mixture!

Many houses make special dishes for Ugadi. Some are made well in advance and others are made on this day. In every house, undoubtedly ‘pulihora’ (Lemon rice), ‘bobbatlu’ (sweet roti), kheer and raw mangoes too are used in cooking. In Karnataka and Maharashtra, similar preparations too are made, which are called ‘puliogure’ and ‘holige’ and ‘puran poli’ respectively.
So get ready to greet people by ‘Ugadi Shubhakankshalu’ or ‘Noothana Samvatsara Shubhakankshalu’ if you speak Telugu or ‘Yugadi Habbada Shubhashayagalu’ in Kannada and ‘Navin varsache shubhashyay, Samvatsar padvyachi shubheccha’ in Konkani. In the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra it is an official holiday. This day also marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri where Lord Ram is worshipped by many, while others worship Goddess Durga, and culminates on Ramnavami day, a holiday in the length and breadth of the country.

Ramnavami is considered to be the birthday of Lord Ram and many perform his kalyanam (marriage) on this day. Many consider it an auspicious occasion to get married too. Lord Ram, divine ruler of Ayodhya, popularly called Raja Ram, is the human incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is said to have been born after the performance of special prayers to Raja Dashrath and Rani Kaushalya. Lores state that Ram was close to Rani Kakeyi, but due to greed to see her own son Bharath anointed as king, Ram is banished into the forests and is followed by his wife Sita, brother Lakshman. During his exile, he meets Hanuman and takes his help to free Devi Sita, who has been kidnapped by Lanka king Ravan. On this day, all the four are remembered and chariots are drawn placing the decorated deity.

There is large gathering in Ayodhya and Pondicherry, the two places where Lord Ram has lot of relevance – one is the place where he was born and the other where he made preparations to go to Lanka. Currently, there is a demand to construct a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Many gather on the banks of River Sarayu to take a dip and some observe fast on this day. Others keep day-long fast on all the nine days for the devi. This year Ramnavami falls on April 12. There is a popular saying in Hindi ‘Raghukula rithi sada chale ayei, pran jaye par vachchan na jaye’, which means that even if you lose your life, you must stand on your word as Lord Ram. Another navratri is celebrated in the months of Ashwij, which culminates in the victory of good over evil on Vijay Dashmi. During this time Lord Ram and Devi Durga are offered prayers. 

Mahatma Gandhi was so much impressed by Lord Ram that he wanted Ram Rajya in India after Independence and always sang ‘Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, patite pavan Seeta Ram …’ in his evening prayers at Birla Mandir.

Ramnavami is followed by Hanuman Jayanthi, which is celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Purnima (Full Moon Day of the Hindu Calendar Month of Chaitra) and this year it falls on April 18. Though this is not a national holiday, many devouts pray to Hanuman, who is the son of Kesari and Anjana and is popularly called ‘Kesarinandan’ or ‘Anjaneya’.  Ramayana is not complete without Hanuman’s devotion to Lord Ram. Mythology states Hanuman is the son of ‘Vayu’ (the wind) and was imparted the knowledge of Vedas and shastras by the Sun, who is omniscient on planet earth. Hanuman is immortal, and ‘Sundara Kanda’, a part of Ramayana, focuses on his adventures. Some of them celebrate Hanuman Jayanthi on Vaisakha Purnima, which falls on May 17 and people distribute jaggery water and soaked moong dal.

Come April 13 and it is Baisakhi, the harvest festival celebrated in Punjab and Haryana. Ancient texts reveal that on Baisakhi day in 1699, tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji laid the foundation of Panth Khalsa. On this day,farmers thank god for the rich produce and pray for bountiful produce for the next year. This year, Baisakhi would be celebrated on April 14 as once in 36 years, it falls on April 14.

April 14 is celebrated as New Year among Bengalis and other people living in the east. Tamilians and Malayalis also celebrate New Year on this day, which also marks the birth anniversary of architect of India’s Constitution and messiah of the downtrodden, Babasaheb Ambedkar. Many functions are held on this day in the memory of Ambedkar.

Another festival, which falls this month on April 17, is Mahavir Jayanthi and is the biggest festival of Jains and is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm in Gujarat and Rajasthan. It is believed that Lord Mahavira was born to King Siddhartha and Queen Trisala after being conceived by Brahmin Rishabhdeva and his wife Devananda, and Gods transferred the embryo to Trishala’s womb. The mother to be had auspicious dreams and astrologers interpreted it as the birth of a mighty emperor or the 24th Tirthankar. It is said that Lord Mahavira was born at 4 am when peace reigns.

On this day, Jains worship Teerthankars and visit shrines at Girnar and Palitana in Calcutta, the Parasnath temple and at Pawapuri in Bihar.

Good Friday too falls in the month of April and this year it would be observed on April 22. According to the Christian year, Easter falls on the first Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon, which is based on vernal equinox of March 21. Christians across the globe observe this day to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during the Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday before Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover.

Easter, the greatest festival is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to tradition, there are Easter eggs, which are painted in bright colours to mark the advent of spring. Easter too marks the end of Lenten season, which covers a 46-day period that begins on Ash Wednesday. Many devouts wear black during Lent and abstain from meat and many fast on Good Friday. It is festivity on Easter Sunday and many have a treat of chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, and coloured eggs. Special prayers and services are held in all churches across the world.

However, the moment it is April 1, many think of playing pranks on the other as it denotes April Fools Day. Many newspapers run unbelievable stories and at the end mention that it was a prank. Well, have a Happy April!

April Festivals
4 Monday Ugadi, Kharanama Samvat 
12 Tuesday Ram Navmi
14 Thursday Baisakhi, Tamil New Year
17 Sunday Mahavir Jayanthi
18 Monday Hanuman Jayanthi
22 Friday Good Friday
24 Sunday Easter