Ahmedabad: From Sunday to Tuesday, various city-based communities are celebrating their New Year. While Baisakhi was celebrated on Sunday by Punjabis in Ahmedabad, Monday marks the Malayali New Year Vishu, Tamil New Year Puthandu, Odia New Year Maha Vishubha Sankranti, and Assamese New Year Bohag Bihu. The Bengali New Year Poila Boishakh will be celebrated on Tuesday.
The majority of these festivals, such as Baisakhi, coincide with the harvest, and thus hold significance for communities to ensure a good and fulfilling year, said city-based experts. Rajan Nair, a Vastrapur resident, said that Vishu is the festival celebrating the new harvest, and yellow holds particular significance. Flowers are arranged along with fruits and vegetables, and prayers are made for a happy and prosperous year.
Odia and Bengali communities have organised cultural events complete with traditional food on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Several city and Gandhinagar-based educational institutes have organised traditional feasts for communities and friends to give them a taste of India’s vibrant culture.