Hindu Nav Varsh

The Hindu New Year 2071 or Vikram Nav Varsh Samvant in the traditional lunar Hindu calendars followed in North India – especially in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh is celebrated on Chaitra Shukala Pratipada (March – April). In 2014, the Nav Samvat begins on March 31. The New Year is first day after the Amavasi (No moon) in the month of Chaitra. The current year is known as Plavang Samvatsar

According to the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India this is year Vikram Samvat 2071. This calculation of Hindu New Year is based on the Luni-Solar calendar. A month in the calendar is calculated from full moon to full moon (Purnima to Purnima). This is known as Purnimanta system.

The calendars followed mainly in North India are based on the Amanta and Purnimanta system. Amanta calendar is calculated from New moon to New moon. Purnimanta is calculated from Full moon to Full moon. Amanta is used in some places for calculating festivals and other auspicious days.

The Amanta Lunar calendar starts with Chaitra month. Amanta is used fix all the major Hindu festivals in North India. Even those communities that prefer the Purnimata calendar use Amanta calendar for fixing festivals.

It must be noted here that Gujarat follows a different calendar system and there the New Year falls on the day after Diwali – the calendar is popularly known as Vikram Samvat – the current year in Gujarati calendar is Vikram Samvat 2071 (from October 24, 2014).

Similarly, the official Government of India calendar, the Saka Calendar, has its New Year in Chaitra month but it falls on March 21st or March 22nd.