Ugadi, Gudi Padwa are our peaceful New Year: Astrologers

Condemning the December 31 New Celebrations with alcohol, petty fights, accidents and police cases, astrologers say this is against Indian culture and said, the New Year for Kannadigas is on March 24 and it is Ugadi which is peaceful and requires no police protection for celebration.

Bengalureans welcomed and celebrated the New Year by hitting the famous streets like MG Road, Brigade Road and Church Street and many lined up in city's watering holes. Condemning this behaviour, a section of astrologers feel that this New Year that marks the beginning of January is the concept of British and Pope Gregory XIII.

Famous astrologer SK Jain says Ugadi is the New Year for southern states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Ugadi is the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra (the first month of the year). This typically falls in March or April of the Gregorian calendar.

"People drink, lose consciousness and some end up picking up a quarrel on December 31. This is the influence of western culture and alcohol. Ugadi is celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the same day In Maharastra and Goa is celebrated as Gudi Padwa a spring-time festival that marks the traditional New Year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. The residents in this region go to the temple and enjoy the traditional meals. Here there is no police to control," said Jain.