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Hindu calendar enters new century

Gudi padwa, the Hindu new year celebrated on March 18, will be the 12th in the 60-year-cycle of the samvatsar.

The new year will be known as pramathi.

The year will be the 'Shalivahan shake 1921'. The worshippers will hoist gudi in their homes and perform special pujas to welcome the new year.

Gudi padwa will be the first day of the 52nd century of the Hindu calendar, as the Kaliyug completes 5100 years of its existence and begins the new century, 5101, Thursday.

The sankalp (pledge) mantras recitations include the mention of kaliyug, time, place and the country where the worship and celebrations take place.

Kaliyug pratham charan, Kaliyug's first charan, has over 100,000 years. According to the Hindu calendar, 5100 years of these are over.

On Gudi padwa, people consume a mixture of tender neem pounded with gul, ajwain and tamarind to maintain good health.

UNI

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