Looking Ahead: Reflections on the New Year 2020

The New Year is welcomed with new hopes, dreams, goals, ideas, and resolutions. How excited we are while talking about the upcoming New Year 2020 as it is a special occasion for everyone. New Year is commemorated on different days across the world. Even the new year starts at different times in different regions of India. However, according to the Gregorian calendar, the 1st of January is considered as the beginning of a New Year. People eagerly wait for this day and loves to celebrate it, be it children, youngsters or adults.

Consequently, this day is revered as a festival to mark the spirit of New Year. However, have you ever thought, why does the start of the new year carry such special symbolism? Let's explore the reasons behind this celebration.

The belief behind the new year celebration is, if the beginning of the year is observed with excitement and zest, then the whole year will be spent with the same thrill and joy.

As we have mentioned, the new year signifies a new beginning, hence we should always learn to progress from the older year and move forward with new hope and anticipation. Also, it elucidates to not think about what has passed and worried about the poor time spent in life. So, one should welcome the new opportunities coming their way in high spirits.

Everyone celebrates the day with full joy and gladness in their own way. The eyes are jammed at the clock on the night of 31st December (New Year's Eve). As soon as it strikes 12, the fireworks begin and illuminates the sky all over just like a Diwali night. People convey the best wishes of the day to their friends, relatives and neighbors, followed by exchange of gifts.

While, some people would like to start their New Year by remembering God and hold religious programs, others relish it by attending parties. These parties are organized at many places, that include dancing, singing along with delicious food and fun games.

In addition, there are different ways to celebrate the new year. Even in various parts of India, it is celebrated in different ways on distinct dates. As per the Hindu calendar, the new year does not begin from 1st January, rather it starts with Gudi Padwa. Still, celebrating New Year on 1st January contributes significantly to unity among all religions as everyone enjoys it together.

Festivals of the year 2020

Some of them are given below:

Gudi Padwa

Shukla Pratipada of Chaitra month is called Gudi Padwa. Gudi Padwa is observed on the first day of Hindu New Year by the people of Maharashtra.
Chaitra is one such month in which trees and fruits flourish. The day of Shukla Pratipada is considered as the first day of the moon art. The mainstay of life provides vegetation with the Samaras Moon. It has been called the king of medicines and flora. That is why this day is considered to be the beginning of the year.

Ugadi

Ugadi is known as the Kannada and Telugu New Year, which is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra Month. According to the Gregorian calendar, it generally falls in the month of March or April.

Cheti Chand

The new year of the Sindhi community is popularly known as the Cheti Chand. It is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Ishta Deva Uderolal, commonly known as Jhulelal, and also remarks as Jhulelal Jayanti. It falls on the same day when Gudi Padwa and Ugadi festival are celebrated.

Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi is celebrated as a new year for Sikh community and the biggest festival of Punjab and adjoining territories. It symbolizes the joy of ripening of the Rabi crop. Also, on 13th April 1699, the tenth guru of Sikh religion, Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Khalsa Panth. The Sikhs celebrate this festival as a Birth Anniversary of Khalsa Religion. The day is also spelled as "Baisakhi."

Rongali Bihu

In Assam, three Bihu's are celebrated in a year - falls in the months of Bohag (Baisakh, mid-April), Magha (mid-January), and Kati (Kartik, mid-October). Essential Bihu celebrations are colored in the Spring Festival "Bohag Bihu" or Rongali Bihu which is celebrated in the middle of April. Bohag Bihu is known as the Assamese New Year.

Pohela Boishakh

The Bengali new year is celebrated in the middle of April. During this, the Bengali people greet each other by saying 'Shubho Noboborsho' which means Happy New Year. In Bengal, it is called Pohela Boishakh, which is the first day of Baishakh month. Pohela means the first, and Boishakh is the first month of the Bengali calendar. The Bengali calendar is based on the Hindu Vedic solar month.

The new year greets new happiness, desires, joys, optimism, and enthusiasm in everyone's life. People celebrate this day with great ease and fun. It does not mean that we should only celebrate the first day of the year. However, it is the beginning of the day when we should eradicate negative feelings from ourselves and move towards a new life with new thinking.

On this day, we should also take a resolution to do great work in life and keep our determination throughout the year. This motivates to lead a happy and successful life ahead.

We really hope that the year 2020 be filled with happiness and full of new achievements for everyone. So, cheers to the new beginning!