Last updated: October 26, 2022, 05:05 AM IST
Gujarati New Year 2022: As Bestu Varas coincides with Govardhan Puja, which is considered very auspicious, people follow the timing. (Representative Image: Shutterstock)
Gujarati New Year 2022: This year due to the solar eclipse on October 25, Vikram Samvat 2079 or Gujarati New Year 2022 starts on Wednesday, October 26
GUJARATI NEW YEAR 2022: Gujarati New Year or Bestu Varas is celebrated a day after Diwali, which falls on Shukla Paksha Pratipada of the Kartik month. It is also called Varsha-Pratipada or Padwa. This year, due to the solar eclipse on October 25, Vikram Samvat 2079, or Gujarati New Year 2022, will begin on Wednesday, October 26. The day is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the state of Gujarat.
GUJARATI NEW YEAR 2022: DATE
Bestu Varas is celebrated all day long and there is no specific time to perform the puja. But because it coincides with Govardhan Puja, which is considered very auspicious, people follow the timing.
BESTU VARAS DATE: October 26, 2022
PRATIPADA TITHI BEGINS: 18:48 on October 25
PRATIPADA TITHI ENDS: 17:12 on October 26
HOW IS BESTU VARAS CELEBRATED?
- On this auspicious day, businessmen and merchants start their new accounts books after closing the old ones. In Gujarati culture, it is called Chopda.
- Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in Chopda Puja with the belief that it would help make the New Year more prosperous and profitable. Devi Saraswati, the goddess of learning, is also worshiped during the day
- During the ritual, ‘Shubh’ and ‘Labh’ are written in the new bills, meaning ‘auspicious’ and ‘benefit’ respectively.
- A swastika is also made at the beginning.
- After a prosperous year praying to the gods, devotees take part in the celebrations.
GUJARATI NEW YEAR 2022: MEANING AND TRADITION
Gujarati New Year or Bestu Varas coincides with Govardhan Puja. According to legends, it is believed that Lord Krishna convinced the people of Gokul not to make lavish sacrifices to Lord Indra. He taught the people, who were mainly farmers and herders, that their true ‘dharma’ lay in the direction of the hills and the livestock that provided them with supplies and resources. The people then began to pray to Govardhan Hill and the cows.
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Lord Indra did not take this well and unleashed his wrath on the people. He flooded Gokul with incessant rains that lasted seven days and seven nights. After this, Krishna lifted the Govardhan Parvat with his little finger to provide shelter and protection to the people and livestock. Indra then realized his mistake and apologized. The tradition of performing Govardhan Puja is believed to have continued and is celebrated to this day.
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