Cultural events and ceremonies highlights the diverse religion, caste and creed existing in the world. Unlike the common new year celebration, Buddhist in the Mahayana countries welcomes new year on 30th January. A number of activities are performed and people make best effort to wash away gloomy moments of past year and aim at making a fresh start.

Histroy of Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism talks a lot about the origin of Mahayana. Accordingly, it is one of the two prime divisions of Buddhism. History says, that the Mahayana movement has its strong connection with the origin of Lord Gautam Buddha. It originated in India in 1st century CE and was sub-divided into early Mahayana Buddhism and Late Mahayana Buddhism.


Buddhist New Year Celebration in Mahayana Countries
Buddhist in Mahayana countries (Tibet, China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Nepal and Indonesia) celebrate new year with great enthusiasm. It is declared depending ethnic environment of the people residing in the mentioned countries. In Mahayana countries, it falls on the first full moon day in the month of January. Besides, some Tibetans celebrate New Year in the month of February i.e a month later than the Lunar New Year.

Interestingly, there is no sacred narrative devoted to Mahayana Buddhism. Fact file on the lives and activities of buddhas, boddhisattvas, female deities and monks are the only truth, which explain the Mahayana doctrine and practice. People call the occasion as Spring Festival and as such organizes many cultural programmes. Grand feast with the menu of traditional food is the major attraction.

Buddhist follow certain customs to celebrate the New Year. On the very day, women take a religious bath, while men wait for 24 hours until the New Year's Eve. A traditional food “Gutu” (a thick soup made from dough) is cooked and served hot to the family members.