Spring is here and with the advent of spring, comes the abundance of New Year days only we Indian celebrate. These New Year traditions celebrated in different regions of India has its own mythological and religious significance. Generally, New Year is celebrated in different states of India at the time of harvesting of crops, only the name differs according to the region. These traditions not only include rituals and traditional values but of course delicious food. Food without festivals and festivals without food is incomplete for us. Every region has its own way of celebrating New Year and the delicacies are always on top priority.
Keeping this in mind, here are some interesting rituals and cuisines of New Year.
Poila Baishakh: Joyful and culturally rich people of Bengal celebrate New Year in the name of Poila Biashakh. This means the first day of the Baishakh month in the Bengali calendar. To welcome the New Year, people make elaborate Rongalis and Alpana in front of their house to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. Businessmen and traders purchase new accounting books and start new account known as “Haalkhata”. At some places, people arrange for dance and singing shows. These include the traditional, “Rabindra Sangeet” and poems. But amongst all that preparation, eating traditional Bengali food is the prime focus.
Cuisines of Poila Baisakh
Festivals in Bengal are incomplete without good food. The Bengal affinity for gourmet food comes best through Poila Baisakh. Kitchens exude the aroma of freshly prepared Bengali delicacies especially sweet dishes like Rosogollas, Payesh, Sandesh, Kalakand and Rasmalai. The New Year cuisine for lunch, of course, has preparations of Rice and fish.
Rongali Bihu in Assam: Rongali Bihu marks the advent of seeding time in Assam and is celebrated as the Festival of Merriment. On this occasion, people wear new clothes and exchanges pleasantries amongst family and friends. Cattle are washed well and are worshipped with raw turmeric and adorned with twigs of Dighalati and Makhiyal. Young boys and girls wear their traditional attire and sing Bihu songs while worshipping the cattle.
Cuisines of Rongali Bihu
Celebrations of Bihu are incomplete without the mouth-watering delicacies. The people of Assam prepare many food items on the occasion of Bihu. Traditional festive food of Rongali Bihu is a special cake known as “Chira” and “Pitha” and the leafy vegetables to mark the successful harvest and the abundance of crops. Other dishes which are prepared during the feast include the Masor Tenga, Omita Khar, Chicken dishes and mutton dishes with a number of dishes for the feast held overnight.
Puthandu in Tamil Nadu: In Tamil Nadu people strictly follow the rituals of Pathandu for the well-being of their family. The most popular tradition of the festival is to view the Kanni at dawn with the hope to bring good luck. The tamil people start their day by watching some of the auspicious items like gold and silver jewellery, betal leaves, raw rice and coconuts. After that, they take a bath and wear new attires and visit the temple to seek the blessings of God. In many parts of the city, people get their houses painted to mark the renewal of life. Ladies adorn their houses with fresh mango leaves and Kolam designs are made in front of the houses.
Cuisines of Puthandu
New Year day is the gala time for the people of Tamil Nadu. The main dish that is prepared during this time of the year is known as “Maanga Pachadi”. It is the main dish of the festival. It is a special dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery, neem flowers. This special dish has a special meaning which depicts the ups and downs of our life. Puran Poli, Rava Payasam, Akkaravadisal are the other delicacies made in the households during the festival.
Vishu in Kerala: Vishu is the call of New Year, according to the Malayalam calendar, this day is celebrated with much ceremonial splendour among all family members. This day is marked with the following rituals of feasting and burning of fire crackers. People start their day with early morning prayers at dawn. The mother of the families arranges Visukkani which comprises of cucumber, rice, betel leaves , gold ornaments, new clothes, mangoes, jackfruit and metal mirrors. A special flower called Konna is a must in the Kani. People also recite the holy text of Ramayana in their homes on this day.
Cuisines of Vishu
The festival of Vishu comes with elaborate cuisines and a lavish meal. People celebrate the festival with a lot of delicious cuisines. The special feast is known as “Sadya” and is prepared to keep in mind all the flavours that should be equally present in the meal. The meal usually consists of rice, sambhar, chips, pickle, aviyal, rasam and various types of sweets and payasam. A special type of rice is also prepared during the festival which is known as Kanji. It is prepared with high-quality rice, coconut milk and condiment spices.
Hindu New year is the best way to welcome the beautiful season of spring with festivals and food. Keeping this in mind Robin Williams once quoted: Spring is Nature’s best way of saying, “Lets Party”. And we Indians took it too seriously.
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