Gujarati New Year 2023 (Bestu Varas): Date, Rituals, Celebration and wishes of new year

You may note that Gujarati New Year 2023, also known as Bestu Varas, is being celebrated on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. It begins on the day after Diwali, i.e., on Govardhan Puja and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people. Prayers are offered to Lord Krishna and Goddess Lakshmi on the occasion of Gujarati New Year and people send each other greeting and wishes of new year. This day is considered very auspicious and many puja and rituals are performed with the hope and dream of a fruitful beginning of the upcoming year. The Gujarati New Year is also known and celebrated as Bestu Varas, Varsha Pratipada, and ‘Padwa’. Complete details about Gujarati New Year 2023 such as date, rituals, celebrations, etc can be found from this article.

Bestu Varas 2023 Overview

Event	Bestu Varas
Bestu Varas 2023 Date	14th November 2023
Day	Tuesday

Bestu Varas 2023 Overview

Gujarati New Year is calculated on the basis of Gujarati calendar and falls on Shukla Paksha Pratipada (the first bright day) in the Hindu month of Kartik and coincides with the day after Diwali festival. In the Gregorian calendar, this usually falls in the month of October or November. Gujarati New Year is observed on 14th November and will mark the beginning of Gujarati Vikram Samvat 2079. Pratipada Tithi on this day begins at 2:56 PM on November 13, 2023 and end at 2:36 PM on November 14, 2023.

Story behind Govardhan Puja

The celebration of Govardhan Puja recognizes the occurrence when Lord Krishna shielded the people of his town (Braj) from the fierceness of Indra. One day when Krishna saw individuals getting ready to make offering to Indra consistently for he provides them with rain, he entered an argument stating how the Govardhan Hill should be worshiped instead of Lord Indra.

The people of his Braj agreed with Krishna and started worshiping Govardhan Hill. This made Lord Indra very angry and he began pouring hefty rain on people of Braj. To protect his people from wrath of Indra, Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill with his little finger and all people found asylum under it. The rain and storm continued for seven days, after which Indra acknowledged his mistake and established Krishna as the Supreme King, the Lord.

Rituals performed on Gujarati New Year

The day of new year holds special significance for the traders and business of Gujarat. It is the time when they open a new account book (called as Chopda in Gujarati) and hope for the coming year to be more profitable, financially.

People close their old account book and open a new one on the occasion of Diwali after offering prayers to Goddess Lakshmi and seeking her blessings, known as Chopda Puja. Auspicious symbols of Shubh (auspicious) and Labh (profit)  are marked at the beginning of the account book after performing the Chopda Puja.

Gujarati New Year 2023 Celebrations

People celebrate the Bestu Varas with high excitement. They get up early in the morning, clean their houses and decorate it with lights and flowers. Visiting temples of Lord Krishna to seek his blessings on the first day of upcoming year is also a famous practice. Fireworks and crackers can be seen lighting up the sky on the occasion of new year.

Delicious meals are cooked and enjoyed with whole family sitting together at dinner.

Gujarati New Year 2023 Wishes

Below here are given some new year wishes you can exchange with your friends on the occasion of Gujarati New Year 2023.

On the pious occasion of Bestu Varas, I send my sincere wishes to you and your family.

Let’s hope the New Year brings a new ray of hope with it and all your dreams come true. Nutan Varshabhinandan.

On the occasion of New Year may Lord Krishna shower his blessings on you. Wishing you a very Happy New Year.

Wish you have an auspicious beginning and a beautiful new year ahead. A very happy new year to you and your family!

On the joyous occasion of New Year, may Lord Krishna bless you with health, wealth and prosperity.  Nutan Varshabhinandan.

Best wishes of the new year and may Lord Krishna bless you and your loved ones! Happy New Year!

I wish you and your family happiness, prosperity, and health on the new Year day. Nutan Varshabhinandan!

This New Year, let us hope for a bright, peaceful and healthy future. Happy New Year!!

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