Definition

Noun: - A Hindu solar holiday: A specific religious observance in Hinduism marking the sun's transition into the zodiac sign of Aries (Mesha), which signifies the beginning of the new astrological year.

Usage

• is a day for religious rituals, prayers, and charitable acts.
• Observant Hindus may take a holy bath in a sacred river on the day of .
• The festival of is calculated according to the solar calendar.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in religious and astrological contexts to denote this precise astronomical and calendrical event.
• It can be discussed in comparative studies of New Year celebrations across different cultures and calendars.

Variants and Related Words

• Mesha Sankranti: An alternative transliteration of the same term.
• Sankranti: A general term for the sun's passage from one zodiac sign to the next. is a specific type of Sankranti.
• Vishu: A related New Year festival celebrated in Kerala, India, around the same solar transition but with distinct regional traditions.
• Puthandu: The Tamil New Year, which also generally coincides with this solar event.

Synonyms

• Solar New Year: A descriptive synonym highlighting its basis in the solar cycle.
• Hindu Astrological New Year: A more explanatory synonym.

Notes

• is a compound word from Sanskrit: (Aries) + (transition, passage).
• It is a proper noun and is typically capitalized.

Noun

1. Hindu solar holiday at the beginning of the new astrological year when the sun enters the constellation Aries