Hindu New Year 2012 date

Hindu New Year 2012 date is 12th April. The Hindu's astronomical year is sidereal. It is called Saiuvatsaradi—the first day of the year or the Vishu-chaitravishu, the equinoctial point of Aries, into which the sun enters at the vernal equinox. This event generally falls on the 12th April and is considered by the Hindu a punyakala, holy occasion. So on New Year's Day the Manes and gods are propitiated by offerings of tarpana —oblations of water—and other allied ceremonies. In other respects, New Year's Day is a day of feasting.

Though thus the astronomical Hindu year falls on the 12th April, New Year's Day is observed on different days by different sects of Hindus, according as they happen to follow the lunar, the luni-solar or solar calendar. The Tamils follow the solar, and their year is thus the sidereal year. The Telugus and Canarese follow the Chandramana reckoning, and their year is luni-solar, which begins earlier than 12th April. The Malayalis follow the Tamils, though their Koollam andu—which is more an agricultural year—begins about the middle of September, when the sun enters the autumnal equinox.
On New Year's Day the elderly people takes sacred bath in holy rivers or the sea, whichever happens to be nearest. The males propitiate the Manes and the deities; children appear in their holiday dress and jewels. The nearest temple is attended and the god in it is worshipped. In some families children and other members receive new cloths. A sumptuous meal is cooked in every house, and poor relations are always cordially invited to the feast. At evening time the Panchunya, or the Calendar of the New Year, is read out arid expounded by a holy Brahmin. Several people assemble to listen to this exposition. At the end of this ceremony, attar, pansupari, and dessert are distributed. Sometimes a short entertainment of music is also added to this ceremony. The whole day is spent more or less in mirth and festivity, and a light supper closes the day's proceedings.

In Malabar, the New Year's Day festivities are observed on a very grand scale. On New Year's Eve all the gold coin available in the house, all gold jewels, all kinds of auspicious fruits and flowers and everything considered to be good to look at are placed in the room set apart; for the worship of the family god. The Karnavan, who is the head of the family, first opens this room between 4 and 5 on New Year's morn and worships with a lighted lamp in his hand all these articles. Then every member of the house, one after the other, goes to the front of the room with his or her eyes shut and opens thorn when arrived at the proper spot to take a sight of the auspicious articles collected. The Karnavan presents each with something or other,coins, jewels, flowers, fruits, etc. This is the chief difference between the Malayalis and other Hindus as regards the observance of New Year's festivities. And every Hindu takes care to see an auspicious, sight on the New Year's morn, whether he is a Malayali or other Hindu.