Ahmedabad: It’s the biggest festival of Gujarati people during the year. It’s a new year day as per Gujarati Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar.

While Vikram Samvat calendar is also used by people in several north Indian states and it is also the national calendar of neighbouring country Nepal, the Gujarati Vikram Samvat calendar is different from others. The new year in Gujarati calendar is celebrated a day after Diwali.

One can see footfalls in temples 10-fold on new year day which is popularly called ‘Bestu Varsh’ in Gujarati. People clean their houses and decorate them with Rangoli art for Bestu Varsh.

Relatives, friends visit places of one another to convey greetings of ‘Happy New Year’ or ‘Saal Mubarak’ or ‘Nutan Varsha Abhinandan’.

While in other states, Diwali festival is celebrated for one day, in Gujarat the festivities continue for at least five days and even more. It starts with Dhan Teras and ends at Bhai Beej(Bhai Duj).

The markets are mostly closed during this period. They reopen on Labh Pancham day, the fifth day of Gujarati new year calendar day. Gujarati tourists can be spotted at all major tourist destinations across the world during this period.

The new Gujarati Vikram Samvat calendar year 2075 will be full of lot of new developments for Gujarat. The year will see heightened political activities in connection with upcoming general elections for Lok Sabha and decide son of soil Narendra Modi’s political fate ahead. The year will see start of Metro rail service operation on a small stretch in Ahmedabad. This will be the first Metro rail service anywhere in Gujarat. The year will see another edition of Vibrant Gujarat summit. Reconstructed Gandhinagar railway station with a hotel and mall like facilities will be dedicated this year. Ro-pax ferry service between Ghogha in Saurashtra and Hazira (which is Surat) in South Gujarat is likely to commence this year. The city of Ahmedabad will get new 18-storey Sardar Patel hospital at VS hospital campus. The city may also get a beautiful foot over bridge across river Sabarmati. Works for a barrage cum east-west river bridge may kick off this year.

Wishing you all very happy, healthy, successful, prosperous Gujarati new year. Sal Mubarak, Happy New Year, Nutan Varsh na Abhinandan on Bestu varsh.

DeshGujarat