The new year 2026 was welcomed all over the world. Call it the influence of the market or the worldwide recognition of the new year starting from January 1, people from every religious community have been participating in this celebration of the new year in some form or the other. New Year celebrations were visible from hotels to malls and restaurants. Talking from a religious point of view, the New Year from January 1 can be called important or mandatory only for the Christian community. Not for all other religions.
Amidst the noise of the New Year being celebrated on January 1, the discussion is about when do people of different religions believe and celebrate the New Year? Which calendar do people of which religion follow? Why and how is the New Year special for all religions? Let us know.
Hindus celebrate not just one but many new years.
In Hindu tradition, not just one but many new years are considered. Mainly Vikram Samvat, Shaka Samvat and various regional calendars (starting from Chaitra or Kartik) are prevalent. In North India, Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is often considered as New Year (Vikram Samvat), while in some areas, traders celebrate the New Year from the next day of Diwali.
In South India, the new year starts with names like Ugadi, Vishu, Puttandu. At this time, people clean their houses, prepare special dishes, perform pujas, make resolutions and make donations. People of the Hindu community associate the New Year with religion, change of seasons and auspicious position of planets and stars. It is considered an occasion for gratitude towards God, new resolutions, self-control and beginning of good deeds.
Islam: Hijri or Islamic lunar calendar important
The official religious calendar in Islam is the Hijri or Islamic lunar calendar, which begins with the Hijrat (journey from Mecca to Medina) of Prophet Muhammad. The new year of this calendar starts from the month of Muharram, and 1 Muharram is considered the Islamic new year. This day is mostly a time for introspection, prayer and seeking mercy and guidance from Allah, and not for fun or material celebration. In Shia tradition, Muharram, especially 10 Muharram (Ashura), is associated with martyrdom and mourning.
In many Muslim societies, on the Hijri New Year, prayers are offered in mosques, the Quran is recited and intentions of good deeds are made by repenting for the mistakes of the past year.
Sikh: Guru Parva and Baisakhi are the days of new beginning.
In the Sikh tradition, there is no tradition like a separate New Year party, but the feeling of new beginning through festivals like Guru Parva and Baisakhi is prominent. Sikhs often refer to the Nanak Shahi calendar, which is a reformed calendar related to the birth year of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, while the Gregorian calendar is also in practice at the national level in India.
Baisakhi (around April) is celebrated as a harvest festival and the founding day of the Khalsa Panth, as well as the beginning of a new agricultural year and prosperity. In the new year, through kirtan, ardas, langar and service in Gurudwaras, a resolution is taken to live a life full of devotion, charity and courage.
Christians: Celebrate from the night of 31st December
The Christian community mainly follows the Gregorian calendar, which is the solar calendar prevalent globally today and in which the New Year begins on January 1. Most Christians start the New Year with prayer meetings, special worship in the church, singing hymns and praying for grace and guidance from Jesus Christ. In many places, there is a Watch Night Service or Crossover Service on the night of 31 December, where prayers are held till midnight to give thanks for the past year and seek blessings for the new year. Also, reunions, good wishes, resolutions and service to the needy at the level of family and society are considered special parts of the New Year.
Jain: Celebrate New Year from the next day of Diwali
In Jainism, the traditional new year is usually considered to begin the day after Diwali. It is believed that this is the same time when after the Nirvana of Lord Mahavir, his disciple Gautam Ganadhar attained enlightenment. Therefore, the Jain New Year symbolizes a new chapter of spiritual awakening and self-cultivation. On this day, the Jain community does special worship, self-study, worshiping the Lord and reciting crisis-relieving stotras. On this occasion, many people resolve to give up old evils, enmity and anger and walk afresh on the path of non-violence, restraint, truth and forgiveness. In the Jain New Year, more emphasis is given to penance, meditation, charity and religious contemplation rather than enjoyment.
Parsi: This community considers Navroz as New Year
The Parsi community mainly follows the Shahanshahi or Kadmi type of Zoroastrian calendar, based on which Navroz is considered the New Year. In India, Parsi Nowruz is usually celebrated around August 16–17 (depending on calendar variations), while internationally Vasant Nowruz is also celebrated around March 21. On the day of Navroz, Parsi people celebrate with home decoration, cleaning, fragrant incense sticks, flowers and traditional dishes. People go to Agiyari (fire temple) and pray to strengthen the power of good and protect them from evil. This festival is a symbol of light, purity, new beginnings, renewal of nature and family reunion.
Buddhist: Spring season important for New Year
In the Buddhist community, New Year is celebrated on different dates according to different countries and traditions. In countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, etc., the Buddhist New Year is celebrated in the spring (around April) according to the local lunisolar calendar, while in some Mahayana traditions the Chinese or Tibetan New Year (Losar) holds special significance. The Buddhist New Year emphasizes reverence for the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, meditation, worship, charity and the practice of compassion.
People visit temples, light lamps, pray, offer food to monks and do charity to show compassion towards living beings. The new year is considered an opportunity to increase harmony, peace and knowledge by reducing the impurities of the mind.
Jewish: New Year is called Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish community follows the Hebrew (Jewish) lunisolar calendar. Their religious New Year is called Rosh Hashanah, which means head of the year or beginning of the year. It generally falls between September-October. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for two days and is seen as a time of introspection, repentance and asking for forgiveness from God.
Special prayers take place in the synagogue. People eat symbolic foods like pomegranate, apple, honey, which symbolize wishes for a sweet and prosperous year. During this period, man takes stock of his deeds, asks for forgiveness from others and takes new resolutions of moral life.
Also read: Once the calendar started from March, how did January-February come into it? 12 months have passed