Celebrate New Year as per Hindu Calendar instead of 31st December
1. What is New Year?
The arrival of New Year is celebrated on a very large scale all over the world. These days it is a trend to have parties, fireworks, drinking, eating and enjoying on the eve of New Year. The New Year is just after the Christmas holidays and hence people combine these two celebrations. 1st January became the first day of the year as per the Roman Julian Calendar, although, these days many countries have started following the Gregorian calendar.
In India, New Year is celebrated according to Hindu Calendar and varies as per regions, some celebrate it in October-November, some in March, etc.
New Year in different regions of India according to Hindu Calender
| Solar or Lunar calendar | Date | Festival name | Religion / Regions (Hindu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunar | varies, Mar/Apr | Ugadi | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka |
| Lunar | varies, Mar/Apr | Bighu | Jharkhand |
| Lunar | varies, Mar/Apr | Holi | Uttar Pradesh |
| Lunar | varies, Mar/Apr | Bikhu | Uttarakhand |
| Lunar | varies, Mar/Apr | Gudhi Padwa / Samsaar Padwo | Maharashtra, Goa, Konkan |
| Lunar | varies, Mar/Apr | Cheiraoba | Manipur |
| Lunar | varies, Mar/Apr | Navreh | Kashmir |
| – | – | Navratra | Jammu |
| Lunar | varies, Mar/Apr | Cheti Chand | Sindh |
| Solar | fixed, April 13/14/15 | Vaisakhi | Punjab |
| Solar | fixed, April 13/14/15 | Rongali Bihu | Assam |
| Solar | fixed, April 13/14/15 | Tamil puthandu | Tamil Nadu |
| Solar | fixed, April 13/14/15 | Vishu | Kerala |
| Solar | fixed, April 13/14/15 | Bishuva Sankranti | Odisha |
| Solar | fixed, April 14/15 | Poila Boishakh | Bengal |
| Solar | fixed, April 13/14/15 | Jud Sheetal | Mithila, part of Bihar |
| Lunar | varies, Oct/Nov | Nav Varas | Gujarat |
2. Is it necessary to celebrate on 31st December?
December 31 is the last day of the year. As the clock ticks towards midnight, people anxiously wait for it to strike 00:00 hours or 12:00 AM. At that very moment, people happily wish each other happy new year and a wave of joy spreads around, fireworks light up the sky and the party continues on full swing with intake of large amount of alcohol, loud music with dancing and eating. This continues till wee hours in the morning and when the Sun rises in the sky, most of the party goers are just going to bed. The state of some of these party goers is bad as they are inebriated and some others to such an extent that they have passed out due to the consumption of alcohol.
In fact, there is no logical reasoning why December 31 is considered to be the last day of the year or January 1 to be the first day of New Year. In spite of this most people across the globe take a rest on the very first day of their New Year!
3. Spiritual impact of celebrating New Year with current trend
In this Universe, everything is made of the subtle components, Sattva-Raja-Tama. Depending on the proportion of these subtle components, the individual and the environment get affected. A high quantity of the Sattva component attracts positive energies or the Divine principle and a high quantity of the Raja and Tama components attracts negative energies.
Western influence on Hindus
The British had ruled India in the 18th and 19th centuries, due to which many aspects of Hindu Dharma have either got distorted or have disappeared completely. In the last few decades, TV and other media have increased the Western influence on Hindus. As a result, a large number of Hindus have adopted a Western way of living, abandoning the rich Dharma heritage inherited from their ancestors. The celebration of the New Year is one such example, which indicates that the majority of Hindus could be on the verge of adopting Western values in the guise of ‘being modern’ or ‘keeping pace with the world’, thereby losing their Dharmik values.
Spiritual impact during New Year celebration
a. December 31 is a favorite day of negative energies; because they can store large amounts of distressing energy, release it on individuals as well as in the environment and exchange it with other negative energies very easily.
b. Consuming alcohol, eating meat, dancing erotically, etc. at parties, clubs and bars through the night during New Year celebrations is very common. After sunset, the influence and presence of negative energies in the environment starts to increase and reaches its peak at midnight. At the same time, high amounts of the subtle Raja-Tama components are also present in the environment. As a result, the negative energies derive demonic bliss from it because –
i. They can release and exchange large amounts of distressing energy without much effort. It is because of these activities, that the environment becomes conducive for the negative energies.
ii. The negative energies take control of the mind and intellect of people participating in the Raja-Tama predominant celebrations. Later, the negative energies can get anything done from these people. Unfortunately, people are not even aware of who they are and what they are doing! In fact, the negative energies use these people and satisfy their own cravings for alcohol and meat.
iii. On the New Year’s Eve, many TV channels telecast many entertaining programs and live New Year celebrations. When the clock approaches midnight, one can hear loud noises of firecrackers, people screaming ‘Happy New Year’, etc.TV channels show vulgar shows, seductive music/songs and dances, etc. which awakens sexual feelings. One can see artificial lighting everywhere. This kind of environment is most conducive for negative energies, as they get attracted to such places very easily. They exchange distressing energy through the medium of sight and touch. As a result, people can experience physical and psychological distresses.
iv. In hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs, etc. one can see people wearing sexy clothes. Many of them get drunk and are not even aware of it. This kind of environment generates Raja-Tama components, thus making it very conducive for the negative energies to attack people.
c. Just as people plan parties and events on the New Year’s Eve, the negative energies too plan for New Year’s Eve well in advance so that they can cause maximum distress to the people.
4. What should be the New Year ?
When a child is born, that day is considered to be his birthday. The day, month and the year becomes the child’s birth date. Then onwards every year the same day and month becomes that child’s birthday and a reason for celebrations. If we apply a similar logic, then the Universe was not created on January 1; hence, New Year celebrations on 31 December / January 1 are akin to celebrating a child’s birthday on any random day.
There is nothing wrong in welcoming the New Year; however it should be done on the correct day in such a way that it will be beneficial for us. The true New Year Day is the day when this Universe was created. Please refer to our article ‘When actually should we celebrate New Year?’ given ahead.
When actually should we celebrate New Year?
There are many theories regarding the creation of the Universe, such as the Big Bang theory, the Proto-universe theory, the Inflationary theory, the Bubble Universe theory, etc. Out of these the Big Bang theory is most widely accepted by the scientific community. According to this theory, the big bang occurred almost 13.8 billion years ago and the Universe came into existence.
Creation of the Universe
In a Hindu Scripture, the ‘Chandogyupanishad’, it is said that the Supreme God (Parameshwar) made a sankalpa (resolve) ‘I am one, I will manifest in several forms’, and the Universe was created.
The calculation of the number of years since the creation of the Universe as well as the number of years till the dissolution of the Universe has been done by the Sages in India. Sage Vasishtha has mentioned that the creation of the Universe happened 34.5 billion years ago.
The creation of the Universe happened on the Hindu Calendar Date (tithi) of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Thus, the Hindu calendar begins on the sunrise of this tithi. This date usually falls on any day from late March to mid-April on the Gregorian calendar.
Time span of the creation of the Universe
India is the spiritual guide of the world; hence the Sages have the Divine capability to calculate the time span since the beginning of the Universe. Just as one year is divided into 12 months, each month is divided into 30 or 31 days, each day is divided into 24 hours and so on, similarly, the Sages have calculated the time span since the creation of the Universe using Their spiritual strength as follows –
The time span has been divided into thousands of years, called as Yugas. There are four Yugas in total.
1. Satyayuga : 1,728,000 years
2. Tretayug : 1,296,000 years
3. Dwaparyug : 864,000 years
4. Kaliyuga : 432,000 years
Total : 4,320,000 years
The total number of years of all these four Yugas is known as a Mahayuga.
1 Mahayuga = 4,320,000 years
When a Mahayuga is multiplied by 1000, it is known as 1 kalpa.
A kalpa is one day in the life of Deity Brahma. One night in the life Deity Brahma is also as long as 1 kalpa
1 kalpa (One Day of Deity Brahma)
4,320,000 x 1000
4,320,000,000 years
1 kalpa (One Night of Deity Brahma)
4,320,000 x 1000
4,320,000,000 years
At the end of each kalpa, the Bhulok (Earth region), Bhuvarloka (Nether plane) and Swargaloka (Heaven) are dissolved and new creation begins.
1 day + 1 night of Deity Brahma
4,320,000,000 + 4,320,000,000
8,640,000,000 years
1 year of Deity Brahma
360 days + 360 nights
4,320,000,000 x 360 + 4,320,000,000 x 360
1,555,200,000,000 + 1,555,200,000,000
3,110,400,000,000 years
The lifespan of Deity Brahma is 100 years
3,110,400,000,000 x 100
311,040,000,000,000 years
When Deity Brahma’s lifespan culminates, there is complete dissolution of all creation and new creation begins. Currently, 50 years of Deity Brahma have passed and we are in the 51st year of Deity Brahma’s lifespan.
A. Right now, the first day of the 51st year (Shwetavaraha Kalpa) is going on.
B. Manvantars of this kalpa have been completed while the 7th (Vaivasvat) is taking place.
C. The Vaivaswat Manvantar comprises of 71 mahayugas of which 27 have been completed. The Satyayuga Tretayuga and Dwaparyuga of the 28th Mahayuga have been completed, and we are in the Kaliyuga.
D. The first part of kaliyuga comprising 5116 years has passed and this Gudipadwa / Yugadi will signal the start of the 5117th year.
E. To specifically calculate the year that starts on this Gudipadwa / Yugadi.
First Parardha = [6 Manvantars x 71 x Mayugas] = [27 mahayugas x 43,20,000] + 3 yugas (Satyayuga, Tretayuga+ Dwaparyuga] + 5117
F. That would be,
15,55,20,00,00,00,000 + 1,84,03,20,000 + 11,66,40,000 + 38,88,000,+ 5117
= 15,55,21,96,08,53,117
So celebrate your 15,55,21,96,08,53,117th new year on 21st of March, 2015 !
Conclusion
The above information highlights the greatness of Hindu Dharma. Indian Sages have calculated the exact time span since the creation of the Universe and have also studied when the dissolution of this creation will occur. They have also told us the exact day when the creation of the Universe happened.
This is just one example of the greatness of Hindu Dharma; like this, there are many examples where we can learn about the greatness of Hindu Dharma. Being a follower of Hindu Dharma, naturally this will make us proud of our Hindu Dharma.
If we compare the above with the history of December 31 or January 1; it will be clear that Hindu Dharma’s information has been derived after in-depth study by the Sages. Hence, celebrations of December 31 or January 1 have no spiritual significance. Therefore, let us celebrate New Year on the tithi (Hindu Calendar Date) Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, instead of celebrating December 31 as New Year’s eve and January 1 as the New Year.:
