About Today: Happy Hindu New Year!

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Today Today's the day many Hindus usher in the new year and welcome the spring season! But the festivities are more complicated than you might think. Hindus in various states of India actually honor the new year in their own unique ways (and not all of the holidays even fall on today's date). Let's take a closer look at how they celebrate and then learn why even the Hindu belief system lacks the unity of most world religions. For daily information and inspiration, follow About.com Religion & Spirituality on Facebook and Twitter. Happy Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and More! Whether the Hindus of Kashmir call it Navreh or the Marathas call it Gudi Padwa, the Hindu New Year takes place around the start of the month of Chaitra, which says hello to spring. From cleaning and decorating their homes to wearing new clothes and baking tasty sweets, learn all of the ways Hindus start anew. And Happy Vasanta Navaratri! Today also marks the start of Vasanta Navaratri, also known as the nine holy nights of spring. Now through April 8, Hindus fast and worship Durga (the Mother Goddess). Why Goddess Durga Has So Many Forms 5 Things You Need to Know About Navaratri Search Related Topics:  hindu gods & goddesses  hindu festivals  hindu rites & rituals Hinduism for Beginners While Hinduism may lack a unified system of beliefs and ideas, the religion does believe in idol worship, reincarnation, and karma among other concepts. Hindus also emphasize non-violence, truthfulness, purity and generosity. Interested in learning more about the world's oldest extant religion? Start with these Hinduism basics for beginners. What Are the Origins of Hinduism? What Hindus Really Believe Search Related Topics:  hinduism  hindu beliefs  hindu gods & goddesses Top 10 Hindu Deities One of the most interesting things to explore in Hinduism is the multitude of gods and goddesses that symbolize the one abstract Supreme Being or Brahman. From Ganesha to Vishnu to Shiva, we explore the 10 Hindu deities everyone should know. Search Related Topics:  hindu gods & goddesses  hindu festivals  hindu beliefs Related Searches Hindu Happy New Year Holi Hindu Festival Hinduism Indian Festival Featured Articles Follow About.com on Pinterest 10 Ways to Enjoy a Spring Walk The Best Foods for Your Sex Life 6 Steps for Acheiving an Early Retirement The Groovy Fashions of 'Mad Men' Season 7 What to Do If You Messed Up Your Taxes   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Today newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. If you would like to unsubscribe from all newsletters sent from About.com, please send an email to optout@about.com with "Unsubscribe" as the subject line. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2014 About.com     Follow us on: Advertisement