National New Year Celebrated by Bharat Vikas Parishad
Bhubaneswar, 09.04.24 (Singhari Alok Khuntia): The National New Year was celebrated by Bharat Vikas Parishad, Odisha East Prant at Jayadev Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.
The event began on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, marking the regional-level National New Year celebrations, with Vedic invocations, Veda chanting, Maha Aarti, and kirtan. Prant President Satyabadi Das welcomed the guests, while Prant General Secretary Soumendra Das conducted the proceedings.
Puranchandra Khuntia, Regional General Secretary of Bharat Vikas Parishad (Eastern Region), congratulated everyone on the occasion and spoke in detail about the mythological, historical, scientific, and philosophical significance of starting the New Year from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada in Indian tradition. He mentioned that the current Shwetavaraha Kalpa is believed to have reached 1,97,29,49,125 years since the creation of the universe by Brahma. He emphasized that Indian chronologists have maintained the time calculation system from microseconds to yugas, mahayugas, manus, and kalpas, using precise mathematical symbols.
He also elaborated that Bharat Vikas Parishad is a non-political, social, and cultural service organization, continuously working towards the holistic development of India through value-based living practices, rooted in India’s ancient cultural stream. Through its members, the organization serves underprivileged sections of society and seeks societal transformation by nurturing patriotic values among the youth.
Sri Srinibas Ji, Regional Organizer of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, joined as the chief speaker and explained that the creation of the universe began on this very day by Lord Brahma, which marks the beginning of the cosmic New Year. He asserted that Western calendar systems are not aligned with India’s environment, culture, history, or emotions. He further highlighted that historic events such as the coronation of Lord Rama, Yudhishthira, and King Parikshit—grandson of Arjuna—took place on this day. 3044 years into Kaliyuga, and 57 years before Christ, the great King Vikramaditya began a new calendar era called Vikram Samvat after clearing all debts of his subjects. That calendar is still widely followed in North India (currently Vikram Samvat 2081). 135 years later, King Shalivahana introduced another calendar (Shalivahana Samvat), popular in South India.
He also noted that seasonal changes, academic transitions for students, financial year shifts, and the beginning of new harvests all align with Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, making it the ideal time to begin the National New Year. Indian traditions tie most auspicious ceremonies—marriages, vows, birth rites, ancestral offerings, and worship rituals—to this period, hence the call to observe this day as the National New Year.
The speaker emphasized that Chaitra month begins with Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) meant for ancestors and deities, while Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) is dedicated to human endeavors, making it spiritually suitable for celebrating the New Year.
Padma Shri Dr. Devi Prasanna Pattanayak, renowned linguist, social scientist, and the first director of the Indian Languages Centre, attended as chief guest and shared that the essence of Indian tradition lies in collective consciousness.
Regional Joint General Secretary Subhasis Kar administered the oath to the new office bearers of Odisha East Prant. The venue, adorned with auspicious kalash, lamp decorations, and mango leaf toranas, resonated with Vedic chants, the national song “Vande Mataram,” and the national anthem, marking the ceremonial beginning and conclusion of the event.
A cultural program followed the main event. The Bharat Vikas Parishad Brahmapur branch was honored for achieving the highest membership growth in the past year.
Several individuals were felicitated for outstanding contributions to society, including Santosh Padhi, Santosh Kumar Padhi, Bikram Kumar Pradhan, Bishwaranjan Das, Santosh Kumar Sahu, Sanjay Kumar Sahu, Abhiram Prasad Das, and Santosh Kumar Barada.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by East Prant Finance Secretary Narasingha Mishra. Other key participants included Regional Women & Child Development Secretary Supriti Rath, East Prant Media In-charge Nihar Ranjan Swain, Ram Chandra Dalai, Tapaswini Das, Nrusingha Nath Nanda, Sanyukta Mishra, Bijay Nandini Dubey, Sasmita Nayak, and Shashi Prabha Das, who collectively helped organize and manage the program.
