Today is the first day of the new year for several communities in India, and celebrated in different manners across the country. For Malayalis, it is Vishu, while it is Pohela Boishakh for Bengalis. The Tamils are celebrating Puthandu and it is Rongali Bihu in Assam.
As the celebrations continue through the day — and for some, for the next month — here are some glimpses of the diverse festivities.
Revellers attend a rally in celebration of the Bengali New Year or Pohela Boishakh in Dhaka on April 14, 2015. The Bengali calendar or Bangla calendar is a traditional solar calendar and the year begins on Pohela Boishakh, which falls on April 14 in Bangladesh.
A Hindu priest marks a trader’s account book with holy symbols on Bengali New Year day in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Traders consider it auspicious to open their new account books on this day.
Indian Hindu businessmen offer prayers on new accounting ledger books in the presence of idols of Hindu gods Ganesha and Laxmi, during the Bengali New Year celebrations in Kolkata on April 15, 2015. The New Year also marks the beginning of business activities when traders purchase new accounting books, of which prayers are offered over the items before financial records are kept.
A Bangladeshi street vendor sells traditional trinkets near a rally in celebration of the Bengali New Year or Pohela Boishakh in Dhaka on April 14, 2015. The Bengali calendar or Bangla calendar is a traditional solar calendar and the year begins on Pohela Boishakh, which falls on April 14 in Bangladesh.
Devotees perform rituals and offer prayers at a temple of Hindu God Muruga on ‘Puthandu’ in Chennai, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Puthandu, or Tamil New Year, is celebrated by Tamils living across the world.
Indian children smear each others face with colored paint during Puthandu celebrations in Bangalore, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Puthandu or Tamil New Year is celebrated by Tamils living across the world.
A Garo tribal boy in traditional attire performs the Wangala dance during Rongali Bihu, a harvest festival, in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Rongali Bihu marks the onset of the Assamese New Year and the coming of spring.
Assamese people perform Bihu dance during Rongali Bihu, a harvest festival, in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Rongali Bihu marks the onset of the Assamese New Year and the coming of spring.
