Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) 2026

Karnataka (Bali Padyami)

Bali Padyami is a much-loved Karnataka observance in which families worship King Bali, known as Balindra, who is believed to visit his earthly kingdom on this day by the boon of Lord Vishnu. It takes place on the Pratipada (first day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

Read the full Bali Padyami guide

Maharashtra (Diwali Padwa)

Diwali Padwa, also called Bali Pratipada, is a much-loved Maharashtrian festival in which families honour the generous King Bali, wives perform the aukshan of their husbands, and traders open their new account books. It takes place on the Pratipada (first day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

Read the full Diwali Padwa guide

Puja Vidhi: Gujarat (Bestu Varas)

About the Festival

Bestu Varas, also called Nutan Varsh, is the Gujarati New Year, a much-loved Gujarati observance that marks the first day of the Vikram Samvat year. It takes place on the Pratipada (first day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

Who Celebrates This Festival?

• Gujarati Families: Gujarati families, in Gujarat and across the world, welcome the new year together with prayers, sweets and visits, seeking a happy year full of harmony.
• Children: Children carry sabras (whole salt) from door to door before dawn, the first auspicious sign (Shukan) of the year.
• Women of the House: Women go out first on this morning to send away the old year's strife (Kakalat), so that the new year begins in peace.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Before Dawn: The day begins before dawn. The family rises early, and children set out with sabras while it is still dark.
• Sabras at Sunrise: The sabras Shukan is also given at sunrise. Check the sunrise time for your city on this page.
• Morning: The rangoli and Diyas, the bath and new clothes, the temple darshan and the visits to elders and relatives follow in that order.

The Katha (Story of Krishna, Rukmini and the Sabras)

Once Shri Krishna was sitting with Rukmini when she asked him whether he loved her very much. Krishna answered that he loved her greatly: "You are as dear to me as salt."

Rukmini felt that this was all the worth he gave her, and she sulked. To make her understand, Krishna went to the kitchen and ordered that no salt be put in any dish that day.

The food was cooked without salt, and when everyone sat down to eat, every face fell, for food without salt has no taste. Krishna then turned to Rukmini and asked: "Now do you understand the worth of salt?"

Rukmini saw her mistake. By Krishna's order in Dwarka, the custom began of giving sabras at the new year. Since that day, families have given sabras to one another on Bestu Varas as a wish that the year be full of every rasa (flavour of life), in which all are one.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the morning celebrations:

• Sabras: Whole salt (Sabras), in lumps or grains, to give at every door
• Rangoli & Toran: Rangoli colours, and a Toran (decoration for the door)
• Lamps & Lights: Diyas for the courtyard
• New Clothes & Sweets: New clothes to wear, and sweets to share with those who visit
• For the Optional Govardhan Puja at Home (Base): Fresh cow dung (or a heap of wheat or rice), and Haldi and Kumkum paste
• For the Optional Govardhan Puja at Home (Offerings): Flowers, a Ghee Diya, Dhoop (incense), Nadachhadi (sacred thread), fruit, Patasha (sugar drops), and Annakut dishes

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Rising Before Dawn

1. Wake up before dawn to welcome the first day of the new year.
2. The women of the house go out first, before any other work, to send away the old year's strife (Kakalat).
3. At first light, greet the new year with firecrackers.

Step 2: Giving Sabras

1. Children go from house to house before dawn and place whole salt (Sabras) at every door; in towns, salt sellers leave it and take a coin as Shukan.
2. At sunrise, receive the sabras at your door and exchange lumps of salt with your family and neighbours.
3. Take it as the wish for a year full of every rasa, in which all are one.

Step 3: Preparing the Home

1. Sweep and clean the courtyard.
2. Draw a Rangoli there, as you have done every day since Agiyaras (the eleventh day).
3. Light Diyas in the courtyard.
4. Hang a Toran on the door.

Step 4: Bath and Darshan

1. Bathe and put on new clothes.
2. Visit your Kuldevi's (family goddess) temple first; if that is not near, go to a nearby temple.
3. Many temples offer Annakut (a mountain of food) to the deity on this day; do not miss the darshan of the Annakut and of the Govardhan puja.
4. Pray to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi for the year ahead.

Step 5: Govardhan Puja at Home (Optional)

1. Shape Govardhan from cow dung (or a heap of wheat or rice if there is no cow dung), draw three circles of Haldi and Kumkum paste round it, and draw eight Swastiks in the eight directions.
2. Offer a flower on each Swastik and on Govardhan, reciting "Om Hreem Hreem Govardhanaya Bhadraya Aim Om Namah," then light a Ghee Diya and Dhoop.
3. Wind the Nadachhadi round Govardhan with three knots, and offer fruit, Patasha and Annakut.
4. Go round Govardhan in parikrama (circumambulation) and share the prasad.

Step 6: Seeking Blessings and Visiting Loved Ones

1. Touch the feet of the elders in your family to seek their blessings (Charan Sparsh).
2. Go round to relatives and neighbours with sweets, greeting them with "Nutan Varshabhinandan," "Saal Mubarak" and "Ram Ram."
3. Some families also listen to the Varataro, a brahmin's forecast of trade, crops and rain for the year.

Annakut (Govardhan Puja)

Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut, is a much-loved North Indian observance in which families worship Govardhan, the hill Lord Krishna lifted, honour their cows, and offer a great spread of dishes (Annakut). It takes place on the Pratipada (first day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik, the day after Diwali.

Read the full Govardhan Puja guide