Gujarati community across the world is celebrating their new year today. In Gujarat, the New year is celebrated on the first day of Kartik month of the Hindu calendar Vikram Samvat. The Gujarati New Year, which is popularly known as Bestu Varas, is being celebrated with traditional fervour across the state.

Akashvani’s correspondent reports that the Gujarati people celebrate the first day of Kartik month of the Hindu calendar Vikram samvat as a New Year. On the occasion of New Year, popularly known as Bestu Varsh, prominent temples are witnessing huge footfall of people.

Traditionally people visit the temples on New Year to seek blessings from the god. People clean their houses and decorate with Rangoli on the side of the entrance to welcome the guests on Bestu Varsh. Traders and business houses will perform Pooja at the places of their business and close their shops for five days. People visit the residences of near and dear ones to convey New Year greetings Nutan Varshabhinandan -that is happy New Year and exchange sweets.