Ashadhi Bij Festival: Significance for UPSC Current Affairs

Description

Ashadhi Bij

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Context

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the special occasion of Ashadhi Bij, the Kutchi New Year.

About Ashadi Beej:

Ashadi Beej is observed on the second day of the Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of the moon in the Ashada month.
It marks the Kutchi New Year celebrated primarily in the Kutch region of Gujarat.
The festival is a significant celebration of the arrival of monsoon rains, crucial for agricultural prosperity.
Farmers traditionally gauge atmospheric moisture during Ashadi Beej to predict suitable crops for the upcoming monsoon season.

List of New Year Festivals in India:

Festival Name	Region / Communities / Religion	Calendar
Ugadi	Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka	Lunar
Gudhi Padwa	Maharashtra, Goa	Lunar
Navreh	Kashmir	Lunar
Ashadhi Bij	Kutch	Lunar
Balipratipada	Gujarat, Rajasthan	Lunar
Cheti Chand	Sindhi	Lunar
Chaitra Navaratri	North and Central India	Lunar
Mesha Sankranti	North India	Solar
Vaisakhi	Punjab, Haryana, Jammu, etc.	Solar
Puthandu	Tamil Nadu	Solar
Bisu Parba	Tulu Nadu	Solar
Sajibu Cheiraoba	Manipur	Lunar
Buisu	Tripura	Solar
Bwisagu	Bodoland	Solar
Bohag Bihu	Assam	Solar
Pana Sankranti	Odisha	Solar
Pahela Baishakh	West Bengal and wider Bengal region	Solar
Jur Sital	Mithila	Solar
Losoong/Namsoong	Sikkim (Bhutia, Lepcha)	Lunar
Galdan Namchot	Ladakh	Lunar
Losar	Arunachal Pradesh (Monpa)	Lunar
Gyalpo Lhosar	Sikkim (Sherpa)	Lunar
Tamu Lhosar	Sikkim (Gurung)	Lunar
Sonam Lhosar	Sikkim (Tamang)	Lunar
Sangken	Arunachal Pradesh, Assam	Solar
Bizhu	Chakma	Solar
Pateti	Parsis	Solar
Nowruz	Zoroastrians	Solar

Conclusion

Ashadi Beej stands out as a cultural and agricultural milestone in the Kutch region, emphasizing the significance of monsoon rains and new beginnings in the agricultural calendar.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. What is Ashadi Beej, often observed in the Kutch region of Gujarat?