RSS to celebrate Vikram Samvat New Year on swadeshi theme

Lucknow, Mar 16: RSS has decided to celebrate 'Vikram Samvat' - the beginning of Hindu New Year - on a grand scale with swadeshi as its theme and asked Hindus to hoist flags with the 'Om' symbol on their houses to mark the day.

The decision comes close on the heels of the VHP deciding to organise Ram Mahotsava on the occasion of Ram Navami on March 28.

The Hindu New Year falls on March 21 this year.

"Though the Sangh has been celebrating the Hindu New Year for long, this time it has decided to celebrate the 'Vikram Samvat' in a big way," RSS Vibhag Pracharak Amarnath Verma told PTI over phone.

'Vikram Samvat' is said to have been founded by emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain following his victory over the Sakas in 56 BC.

It is a lunar calendar based on ancient Hindu tradition and is 56.7 years ahead of the solar Gregorian calendar.

Verma said that as the RSS has always been advocating 'swadeshi', it has urged people to light their houses with indigenous lighting on the Hindu New Year that falls on March 21 this year.

"The lighting should be indigenous and not using Chinese light as the RSS had always being advocating swadeshi and Bhartiyata," he said.

Verma said Governor Ram Naik has written to Information and Broadcasting Ministry to issue a stamp on Vikramaditya who founded the Vikram Samvat.

"The Governor has sent a letter to the central government to issue a stamp on emperor Vikramaditya on the occasion," he said.

Verma said New Year flags with 'Om' sign would be hoisted atop every Hindu household to mark the occasion.

He said Hindus will light a "diya" at their homes to mark the beginning of New Year.

"We had been distributing diaries, calendars and others items on the occasion," he said.

In the Vikram Samvat, the New Year begins with the first day after the new moon, in the month of Chaitra Shukla Paksha Prathama, which usually falls in March–-April in the Gregorian calendar.

The nine-day Navaratri festival begins on Mach 21 and culminates on Ram Navami day.

PTI