Kashmiri Navreh Omanand Koul |
Kashmiri Pundit New Year’s Day Navreh-the Kashmiri New Year’s Day falls this year on the 4th. of April. An odd day to celebrate the New Year’s! Interestingly though, before the common Gregorian civil calendar was formalized, the New Year’s Day in Europe was also celebrated at or around the vernal equinox. Kashmiris follow a lunisolar calendar: a combination of the lunar and solar calendars. For lunar calendar we follow the Indian Vikrami calendar that divides the year into twelve months-- each with two parts: a lunar bright fortnight and a dark fortnight. The first month of the year in this reckoning is called Chaitra. Navreh-the Kashmiri New year’s day- falls on the first day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra when the moon enters the constellation Mesha (Aries). We believe this day coincides with the first day of year on the Saptarishi calendar also used by the Kashmiri Hindus. Although we celebrate Navreh this time of the year, it is distinct from Navroz, the Zoroastrian New Year’s day. Kashmiri Pundit Rituals of Navreh: On the morning of Navreh, the Kashmiri tradition calls for the ritual viewing (Darshan) of a plate (usually bronze or steel thali) filled with various items and paraphernalia for good omen. The thali is prepared on the eve of the festival (called Thaal Bharun). The thali is kept covered over with a towel overnight (instead of the traditional wicker basket). The thali is presented early next morning individually to all the family members by a younger female or an elderly lady. In return for this service she is compensated with ritual offering of money-for zang-good omen. In the US we have found it easier to leave the thali on the kitchen table and let individuals do their own viewing, fee optional. The thali usually contains:
The rice and coins represent our daily bread and wealth, the pen and paper a reminder of the quest for learning, the mirror represents retrospection. |
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*Omanand Koul is a Kashmiri from Anantnag, a graduate of the Banaras Hindu University, and a professor at the University Of Massachusetts, Worcester(USA). |
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