Essay on “Navreh”
Navreh is the lunar New Year celebrated in Kashmir. It is the Sanskrit word ‘Nav Varsha’ from where the word ‘Navreh’ has been derived.
Navrch actually falls on the very first day of the Chaitra Navratras. It is also the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra and the Sapath Rishi Samvat. The day before the festival, the Kashmiri Pandits visit the sacred spring of Vichar Nag for the holy dip. After the dip, they take prasad. The next morning, that is the day of Navreh, they deliberately first of all look at a bowl of rice as it’s symbolizes riches and fertility and to have a plentiful future.
Later they receive almanac from their Kulguru (clan priest), containing information like auspicious dates and times. In the evening, the housewife of the family prepares a big ‘Thali’. It is studded with almanac, dry flowers, fresh flowers, etc. People of all ages put on new dresses to celebrate the New Year’s Day.
