Today, April 15 marks celebrations of New Year beginnings in different communities. The Malayali New Year of Vishu, Pohela Baisakh of Bengalis and Bohag Bihu of Assamese is marked today. Each of this festival marks a new beginning and celebrated as harvest season. Vishu generally falls on 14 or 15 April of the Gregorian calendar.  The name “Vishu” comes from the Sanskrit word “Vishuvam,” which means equal day and night. Meanwhile, Pohela Boishakh is the first day of Bengali Calendar and therefore people celebrate the new beginning with new clothes, great food, and new accounting balance in the business. Bangla Nobobarsho is a festival celebrated with great fervour in Bengal.

Bihu which is the Assamese New Year is being celebrated today. Also known as Bohag Bihu, it is the harvest festival of Assam. Bohag Bihu is also called as Rongali Bihu, which usually falls in the month of April. On this day, there is a shift in the Sun’s solstice.  It is a time of fun and merriment for people in the community.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top politicians of the country wished people of all the communities on their new year.

President Ram Nath Kovind extended his wishes to the nation on the occasion of Pohela Baisakh, Bhag Bihu and Vishu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Assamese, Bengalis and Malayalis on their respective new year.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi also wished the Malayali community a happy new year on the occasion of Vishu.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley also extended his wishes to Assamese on the occasion of Bohag Bihu.

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor also wished people on Vishu.

Meanwhile, on April 14, the Indian state of Punjab celebrated Vaisakhi, which marks the Sikh New Year (Khalsa Era) or Punjabi New Year. Vaisakhi also spelt as Baisakhi is a major festival in Sikhism, holding both religious and historical significance. People celebrate Vaisakhi with much pride, enthusiasm and fervour. The day is also celebrated as the harvest festival. This marks the time for the harvest of Rabi crops.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 15, 2019 10:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).