India celebrates four festivals

Four festivals – Bihu, Naba Barsh, Puthandu Pirappu and Vishu – are being celebrated today in different parts of the country. All the festivals mark the beginning of the new year.

Four festivals – Bihu, Naba Barsh, Puthandu Pirappu and Vishu – are being celebrated today in different parts of the country.

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President Pratibha Patil has greeted the nation on the occasion.

"On the auspicious occasion of Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsh, Puthandu Pirappu, and Vishu, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my countrymen," she said.

"These festivals celebrated in different parts of the country, denote the underlying unity of our rich and diverse culture and strengthen the pluralistic heritage of the nation. May the festivals bring peace, happiness and prosperity to all," she added.

Bihu, the harvest festival of Assam, has an agricultural and seasonal background.

Naba Barsh is the celebration of Bengali New Year. It marks the first day of Baisakh- the first month of Bengali Calendar.

Puthandu Pirappu marks the Tamil New Year’s Day and is celebrated in the beginning of Chithirai - the first month in the Tamil Calendar year.

Vishu is a festival held in Kerala in South India. It is also considered as the harvest festival of Kerala.

The festival marks the beginning of the Malayalam New Year and brings with it memories of a glorious past and hopes of a better tomorrow.