City, melting pot of cultures, set to soak in festive spirit
The second week of April is full of religious celebrations. Several communities will observe their new years this week, starting with Gudi Padwa and Ugadi today and ending with the Bengali new year, Pohela Boisakh, next Monday. April coincides with a long list of new years celebrated by different communities across the country, including the Hindu New Year, celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and some parts of Goa. People observe the day by decorating their homes with rangoli and mango leaf torans, doing charity, visiting temples and feasting on pachadi, a festive dish.
On Wednesday, the Sindhi community will celebrate Cheti Chand, marking their new year and the birth of their deity Jhulelal. The community observes the festival with great zeal by lighting lamps representing Bairana Sahib in their homes and Jhulelal temples and distributing Taheri ka prasad consisting of sweet rice made with jaggery and chana. “The celebrations of Cheti Chand start two days before the new year. We indulge in satsangs, and bhandaras are organised at various places. On the day of Cheti Chand, we immerse the idol of lord Jhulelal as a symbol of the beginning of the new year,” said Muskaan Chandani, a resident of Chembur. Wednesday will also bring the celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr. Although the festival does not mark the new year, it is celebrated with the same enthusiasm by offering prayers, meeting relatives and enjoying delicacies.
The North Indian communities, especially the Punjabis, will celebrate Baisakhi on Saturday to mark the onset of spring. The Sikh community celebrates the birth of the Khalsa order. The Assamese community will also celebrate Bohag Bihu on Saturday, marking the Assamese new year.
Vishu and Puthandu, the Malayali and Tamil new years, are also on the long list of the upcoming festivals.