People from Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are celebrating their new year today with fervour and gaiety. In Assam, the day is celebrated as Rongali Bihu also known as the ‘Bohaag Bihu’ as it marks the beginning of the Assamese month-Bohaag. The celebration will last for a week. The festival marks the beginning of New Year at the advent of seeding time.
Today cattle’s and buffaloes are being taken to pond or river for a ceremonial bath, garlanded with different vegetables and prayers held for their well beings. Our Correspondent reports nearly thousand bihu functions have been organized across the state including Guwahati. Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal and state BJP President Ranjeet Kumar Dass greeted people on this occasion.
The Tamil New year Puthandu is also being celebrated with traditional fervor and gaiety today. Tamil New Year is celebrated today on the first of Chithirai Month. Womenfolk make decorated kolam rangoli in front of their house and entrances will be decorated by mango leaves. Special prayers are being held today at Samayapuram Mariamman temple, Srirangam Ranganathar temple, Rockfort Manickavinayagar Temple, Palani Dandayuthapani temple as part of new year. In the afternoon grand feast arusuvai unavu will be held with mango pachadi.
In Odisha on the occasion of Maha Vishuba Sankranti, also known as Pana Sankranti, devotees are visiting temples on the occassion of the beginning of the Odia New Year. The festival is observed widely in some form or other in the State as as Jhamu Yatra, Hingula Yatra, Danda Yatra, which originated as ritualistic observance of Chaitra Parba culminate in the Bisuba Sankaranti and make grand finale of the of the celebration.
In Kerala devotees throng Krishna temples for pre-dawn auspicious Vishukani darshan on Vishu. Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayoor and Aiyappa temple in Sabrimalla are also being visited by large number of devotees.
