Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) Calendar
Bestu Varas marks the beginning of the new Vikram Samvat year. It is celebrated the day after Diwali with Chopda Pujan (Account book worship) and by exchanging "Saal Mubarak" greetings.
Year:
Bestu Varas: Gujarati New Year
Celebrated globally by the Gujarati community, Bestu Varas falls on the day after Diwali (Kartik Shukla Pratipada). It marks the beginning of the new Hindu financial year according to the Vikram Samvat calendar.
Traditions
- Chopda Pujan: Business owners perform a special puja for their new account books (Chopda), seeking blessings from Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha for a profitable year.
- Saal Mubarak: People dress in new clothes and visit friends and family to exchange greetings of "Saal Mubarak" (Happy New Year) and "Nutan Varshabhinandan".
- Govardhan Puja: Many also observe Govardhan Puja on this day, offering a mountain of food (Annakut) to the deity.