| Jur Sital Maithil New Year Aakhar Bochhor | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | Maithils andTharus |
| Type | Festival |
| Significance | Solar New Year |
| Celebrations | Feasting, gifts |
| Date | 14th/15th April |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | South and Southeast Asian solar New Year |
Jur Sital orMaithil New Year is the celebration of the first day of the Maithil new year also calledAakhar Bochhor.[1]Maithils eat Bori with Bhaat (steamed rice) and Sondesh on the day. This day which usually falls on 14th or 15 April onGregorian calendar is celebrated by theMaithils andTharu people ofIndia andNepal. This is also called Nirayana Mesh Sankranti and Tirhuta new year.[2] The festive occasion is in keeping with theTirhuta Panchang calendar used in the Mithila region.
The Maithili New Year follows theNirayanamvernal equinox and falls on 14 April (may sometimes vary by a day) on the Gregorian year. 15 April marks the first day of the traditionalTirhuta Panchang.
Tropical vernal equinox fall around 22 March, and adding 23 degrees of trepidation or oscillation to it, we get the Hindu sidereal orNirayana Mesha Sankranti (Sun's transition intoNirayana Aries).[3]
Hence, theMaithili calendar begins on the same date, with Baishakh as first month of the year. It is also observed by most traditional calendars in India as in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab, Tripura and also in Nepal.[4]
In the south easternTerai of Nepal, Tharu people celebrate Jur Sital (also known asSiruwa) on the first day of the year in the month ofVaisakha by sprinkling water on each other. The elders put water on the forehead and head of the young ones with blessing, while the young people put water on the feet of the elders to pay respect. Compatriots sprinkle water on each other’s body.[5][6]
Maithili Calendar is the traditional Calendar ofMithila region of India and Nepal. After a long period of demand,Bihar government in 2011 declared this day as public holiday to be observed statewide. Officially, the Maithili New year day is called as Mithila Diwas by the Government of Bihar. Every year there will be holiday for Mithila Diwas on 14 April in the Indian State ofBihar on account of the great festival of Juir Sheetal.[7]
