This difference comes from a blend of regional customs, astronomical systems, and historical reforms. Here’s a quick breakdown of why Bengali New Year starts in Boishakh:
Solar vs Lunar Calendar 🌞
The Hindu calendar used in many parts of India is lunisolar, meaning it’s based on both the moon phases and solar movements. That’s why the Hindu New Year often falls in Chaitra (चैत्र). The Bengali calendar, however, is more solar-based, especially after reforms under Mughal Emperor Akbar.
- Akbar’s Reform (Tarikh-e-Ilahi), In the late 16th century, Emperor Akbar introduced a calendar called Tarikh-e-Ilahi to make tax collection easier in Bengal. The Islamic calendar (lunar) didn’t align well with the agricultural seasons, so Akbar blended the solar Hindu calendar with the Islamic one. This reformed calendar fixed the New Year around mid-April, at the start of the harvest season — which became Boishakh.
Boishakh aligns with the harvest season in Bengal, which made it the ideal time for: Collecting taxes, Starting fresh business ledgers (called Haal Khata), It made economic and seasonal sense to start the year then.
Different parts of India celebrate New Year in different months
Here’s a breakdown of some of the major regional New Year celebrations across India
- Losar (Ladakh, parts of Himachal & Arunachal)
Month: Dec – Feb (depending on region), Calendar: Tibetan lunar calendar - Ugadi / Yugadi (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka)
Month: March – April, Calendar: Lunar calendar (Hindu lunisolar) - Cheti Chand (Sindhi Community)
Month: March – April - Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra, Goa)
Month: March – April, Calendar: Lunisolar - Navreh (Kashmiri Pandits)
Month: March – April, Calendar: Saptarshi calendar - Baisakhi (Punjab)
Month: April 13 or 14, Calendar: Solar calendar - Pohela Boishakh (West Bengal)
Month: April 14 or 15, Calendar: Bengali calendar (solar) - Vishu (Kerala)
Month: April 14, Calendar: Malayalam calendar - Puthandu (Tamil Nadu)
Month: April 14, Calendar: Tamil calendar - Bohag Bihu / Rongali Bihu (Assam)
Month: Mid – April, Calendar: Assamese calendar (solar)
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