Ahmedabad: As Gujaratis across the world prepare to welcome Vikram Samvat 2083 on Tuesday, New Year celebrations rooted in age-old traditions will mark the beginning of a fresh year in the Gujarati calendar. From the ritual of offering Sabras to Govardhan Puja and Annakut, the day holds deep cultural and religious significance.The city celebrated Diwali with enthusiasm on Sunday, with Lakshmi Puja in the evening followed by firecracker displays across several localities that continued into the early hours of Monday. The festive weekend also saw many residents opting for short getaways or spending time with family, leaving city roads relatively deserted during the day.Hetal Gajjar, a resident of Relief Road, recalled how New Year celebrations were observed during his childhood. “We would wake up early and offer a small lump of unrefined salt as Sabras for good luck. Elders would give us money, and we would compare how much each of us had collected. Eating at home on New Year Day and Bhai Dooj was rare because we would spend the day enjoying festive delicacies such as ghughra, mathiya, chakri and magas. Visiting a temple was also an essential part of the celebration,” he said.Experts say Gujarat’s New Year is distinct from many other regional new year festivals in India, which are largely linked to harvest cycles. Prof Ramji Savaliya, former director of BJ Institute of Learning and Research, said the tradition evolved from commercial and religious practices.“Diwali was historically the time when traders closed their account books and began a new business cycle. The influence of Jainism in the region and Vir Samvat, which coincides with the nirvan of Lord Mahavir on Diwali, also contributed to the association of the festival with the beginning of a new year,” he said.He added that the traditional greeting “Saal Mubarak” is closely linked to Gujarat’s maritime history and trading culture.Temples across the state are set to celebrate the New Year with special prayers and Annakut offerings on Tuesday. Shrines including Jagannathji Temple and Hare Krishna Temple in Bhadaj will organise Annakut and Govardhan Puja ceremonies, while several other temples will hold special prayers seeking peace, prosperity and a blessed year ahead.
