Navreh – A Cosmic Celebration Marked by Kashmiri Pandits in the UK
Kashmiri Pandits across the globe, including the United Kingdom, celebrated Navreh, the first day of their New Year, with great enthusiasm and devotion. This festival blends scientific precision with spiritual tradition, marking the astronomical event where the celestial equator intersects with the sun’s apparent path (ecliptic), known as the first point of Aries. This year, the Kashmiri calendar entered its 5101st year, continuing a legacy rooted in both celestial and cultural significance.
Navreh is steeped in legend and tradition. It is believed that on this auspicious day, the revered Sapta Rishis gathered at Sharika Parvata (Hari Parbat in Srinagar), the abode of Goddess Sharika, as the first rays of the sun illuminated the sacred Chakreshvara. This moment is honored by Kashmiri Pandits as a celebration of the Supreme Mother, Durga, and the beginning of a new year is filled with hope and prosperity. The day also coincides with other New Year celebrations across various regions in India with Marathi and Konkani Hindus celebrating Gudi Padwa, Sindhi Hindus celebrating Cheti Chand and Telugus celebrating Ugadi.
A central tradition of Navreh is the ceremonial preparation of a sacred thali on the eve of the festival. This plate contains rice, curd, bread, cooked rice, walnuts, an inkpot and pen, a silver coin, a mirror, and the Panchanga (almanac). Each item symbolizes essential elements of life, including sustenance, knowledge, and prosperity. At dawn, family members begin the day by viewing these offerings, a ritual that signifies prayers for abundance and well-being in the year ahead.
Community members in the UK gathered to mark the occasion, exchanging greetings of ‘Navreh Poshtey’ and participating in traditional observances. The festival not only strengthens cultural ties but also serves as a reminder of the rich heritage and enduring spirit of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
