There is more than one Indian New Year
India does not have a single New Year. Different regions, religions and calendars each mark the start of a year at different times, and each has its own foods. Some follow lunar or lunisolar calendars, others a solar one. The Gregorian 1 January is also widely observed in cities.
The dishes below are common examples. Households vary, so treat them as typical rather than universal.
Which date is Hindu New Year?
There is no one date. Many Hindu communities mark the new year around the month of Chaitra, which usually falls in March or April, and the festival is called by different names depending on the region. Other communities start the year at Diwali, particularly in parts of Gujarat and among some business communities. Because the dates depend on the lunar calendar, they change from year to year, so check a current calendar.
Ugadi (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka)
Ugadi is the new year festival for Telugu and Kannada communities. Its signature food is ugadi pachadi (called bevu bella in Karnataka), a mixture that brings together six tastes:
- Sweet (jaggery)
- Sour (tamarind)
- Salty (salt)
- Bitter (neem flowers)
- Hot (chilli)
- Tangy (raw mango)
The mix is usually understood as a reminder that the year will bring a blend of experiences. Other dishes include bobbatlu or holige, a sweet stuffed flatbread.
Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra)
Gudi Padwa marks the new year in Maharashtra and parts of Goa. A decorated gudi, a pole topped with cloth, a pot and mango leaves, is raised outside the home. Festive foods often include puran poli, a flatbread stuffed with chana dal and jaggery, and shrikhand, a sweetened strained yogurt flavoured with cardamom and saffron. Neem leaves with jaggery are sometimes eaten as a symbolic taste of bitter and sweet.
Tamil Puthandu and Vishu
Tamil New Year (Puthandu) usually falls in mid-April. A common dish is mango pachadi, which has a similar sweet-sour-bitter idea to ugadi pachadi. Households also prepare a festive meal with payasam.
In Kerala, Vishu is celebrated with the Vishukkani, an arrangement of auspicious items seen first thing in the morning, and the Vishu sadya, a vegetarian feast on a banana leaf. It typically includes dishes such as sambar, avial and payasam, among many others.
Poila Boishakh, Baisakhi and Bihu
- Poila Boishakh (Bengal): The Bengali new year, in mid-April. Families and shops hold special meals that often feature fish, vegetable dishes and sweets such as sandesh and rasgulla.
- Baisakhi (Punjab): A harvest festival and the traditional start of the new year in Punjab. Sarson da saag with makki di roti is a classic meal.
- Bohag Bihu (Assam): The Assamese new year, celebrated with rice-based sweets such as pitha and larus.
Diwali as a new year
In some communities, notably in Gujarat, the day after Diwali is treated as the start of the new year. Homes are cleaned, people visit relatives and exchange sweets. Our Diwali dinner recipes and menu covers the foods that usually go with that celebration.
Winter and harvest beginnings
Not all new beginnings fall in spring. In January, harvest festivals mark a seasonal turning point:
- Pongal and Makar Sankranti: Sakkarai pongal (rice, moong dal, jaggery and ghee) in Tamil Nadu, and sesame-jaggery sweets such as tilgul elsewhere. In Gujarat, undhiyu is a winter vegetable dish.
- Lohri: Celebrated in Punjab with gajar halwa, makki di roti, sarson da saag and sesame sweets.
For more on these, see our overview of Indian festivals and their traditional foods.
Parsi Navroz and Navreh
Parsis in India celebrate Navroz with dishes such as sev (see our sev recipes), ravo and a festive pulao with dal, though practices vary by family. In Kashmir, Navreh is the lunar new year (for everyday Kashmiri cooking, see Jammu and Kashmir food habits). Sheer chai, a pink salted tea, and saffron rice are among the foods associated with it.
Curd and sugar for good luck
A common custom across much of India is to eat a spoonful of curd (yogurt) with sugar before starting something important, such as an exam, a journey or a new venture. Many families do the same at the start of a new year. It is a custom rather than a rule, and the reasons given are mostly cultural and symbolic.
New Year’s Eve food in India
On 31 December, restaurants and hotels in larger cities host buffets and parties, and home gatherings often feature snacks such as kebabs, biryani, chaat and sweets. There is no single traditional New Year’s Eve dish in the way there is for the regional festivals above. For a different kind of dinner party, take a look at our Indian Thanksgiving dinner menu ideas.
Questions
What are some popular dishes in Indian cuisine? Biryani, dal, paneer dishes, samosas, butter chicken and dosa are among those most commonly named, though the cuisine varies enormously by region.
What are lucky New Year foods in India? Examples include ugadi pachadi for its mix of tastes, sweets such as puran poli and payasam, and curd with sugar. These are cultural symbols, not guarantees of anything.