Navreh 2023: The Ugadi Festival That Kashmiri Pandits Celebrate

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The Navreh festival is traditionally celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits as their new year day which arrives on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada tithi. Kashmiri Hindus are the native inhabitants of the Kashmir Valley of India amongst whom Kashmiri Pandits occupy the major chunk in their population grid.

Navreh when translated into English means Nav varsha, which is new year. This surprisingly is the same day as Ugadi which is celebrated by the rest of South Indians. Navreh usually falls on Amavasya and hence the Kashmiris ready their thalis that contain Rice, a cup of curds, a bread, cooked rice, walnuts, inkpot, pen, silver coin and the new year panchanga which should be the first thing that should catch their eye when they get up on the New year day at Brahmi Muhurta. Nechi Patri or Nakshatra patri is an almanac or panchang is kept at home for referring it whenever there is an upcoming social or religious event as per tithis marked in the almanac.

Navreh 2023: Date

This year, Navreh will start on Wednesday, 22 March 2023.

Sapta Rishi Calendar is what the Kashmiris adhere to as the Saptarshi era of Kashmiri Hindus began on the occasion of Navreh about 5000 years back. This date coincides exactly with the fading of the Dwaparayuga and advent of the Kaliyuga as per scriptures. When Moon enters Aries the Kashmiri New Year would officially begin. Probably a branch of Vedic brahmins might have settled in the Valley of Kashmir.
Navreh 2023: Goddess Sharika

They have a Goddess namely Sharika, who is a form of Goddess Durga. As the legend goes, it was on the day of Navreh, around 5000 years back, Saptarshis gathered at the sharika parvat to honour her. The evening of Kashmiri new year always coincides with Amavasya.

Navreh 2023: Significance Of The Navreh Thali

As the Navreh day approaches in the wee hours of the next day, the family unveils the thali at the right tithi. Pen indicates quest for learning, the bread and rice reflect wealth, mirror shows retrospection. Education was the foremost priority for Kashmiri Pandits as they never learnt to invest their hard earned wealth into channels of business barring a few exceptions here and there.

Education was never a means of wealth but it was a means of knowledge that helped them evolve. After unveiling each family member must consume the walnut on the plate, and a bitter wye herb to acclimatize themselves again to the harsh realities of the new year as well as the pleasant tidings that are likely to follow the bitter events of life.

The families also visit Goddess Sharika at the temple and offer her rice and turmeric mixed with ghee to avail her divine blessings. With a little difference in the customs and traditions, Ugadi is celebrated under different names as per cultural preferences and puja, fasting and feasting are a few common aspects for the Ugadi celebrations being conducted all over India.

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