Indian  expats belongs to various communities celebrated their traditional New Year on April 14 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). For instance, the  Malayali community celebrated  Vishu with  get-togethers, prayers and feasts while, the Bengali community celebrated Pôhela Boishakh with the traditional sweet of Rosogola served in a traditional pot.

Shilpa Nair, who has been a UAE resident for four decades, said that, “When we wake up, we keeps our children’s eyes closed until the first thing they see in the morning is the deity as Vishu is an auspicious day.”

“In fact, we celebrate the New Year with more fanfare here than our home state in Kerala. Celebrations begin a month before and last a month after the day. There are special feats on traditional banana leaves, cultural performances, decorations, etc.”

Kundan Mukherjeee, a Kathak and Odissi folk dancer and teacher in Dubai, said that, “We also give Pranam, the traditional way of showing respect to our elders and seeking their blessings. It’s a new beginning and we only wear new clothes on this day.”

“We have get-togethers and focus on the positivity of starting a new year. We try not to use anything old on this day to symbolise a fresh start.”

The Punjabi community also marked  Vaisaki with equal enthusiasm. Rajesh Bajaj, a sales manager in Abu Dhabi, said that, “We try to replicate the same atmosphere as found back home during this festival. There are sweets, prayers in the morning, the end of fast celebrations, get-togethers, traditional cuisine specially cooked for the occasion, and merriment.”

“We celebrate the New Year with happiness and enlightenment that brings another year of change. As it is linked to the solar year, the occasion is like the dawn of a new sun for us.”

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Nandini