Gujarati New Year 2026 (Bestu Varas): Date, Vikram Samvat 2083, Customs and NRI Guide
Gujarati New Year 2026, also called Bestu Varas or Nutan Varsh, falls on Tuesday 10 November 2026, the day after the Diwali Amavasya. It begins Vikram Samvat 2083 in the Gujarati reckoning. Here is the date, the Pratipada tithi, how families celebrate with Saal Mubarak greetings, darshan and Annakut, and tips for Gujarati families abroad.
Gujarati New Year 2026, also called Bestu Varas or Nutan Varsh, falls on Tuesday 10 November 2026, the day after the Diwali Amavasya. It begins Vikram Samvat 2083 in the Gujarati reckoning.
Quick answer: Gujarati New Year 2026, also called Bestu Varas or Nutan Varsh, falls on Tuesday 10 November 2026 in India. It begins Vikram Samvat 2083 in the Gujarati reckoning and comes the day after the Diwali Amavasya. Families greet each other with "Saal Mubarak", visit temples, offer Annakut and start the year with prayers.
This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. Dates below are from Drik Panchang for New Delhi. If you live outside India, check Drik Panchang for your own city, because the date can differ by a day.
Gujarati New Year 2026 date and tithi
Bestu Varas is observed on Kartika Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of Kartika. In 2026 the Pratipada tithi is current at sunrise on Tuesday 10 November in India.
| Detail (New Delhi, IST) | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) | Tuesday 10 November 2026 |
| Tithi | Kartika Shukla Pratipada, up to 02:00 PM |
| Sunrise / sunset | 06:40 AM / 05:30 PM |
| Also on this day | Govardhan Puja, Annakut, Bali Pratipada |
| Year that begins | Vikram Samvat 2083 (Gujarati reckoning) |
Source: Drik Panchang, New Delhi. Times are for New Delhi in IST only and are not converted for other countries.
Why the Gujarati year starts after Diwali
India uses more than one way to count the start of the year. In much of North India the Vikram Samvat year begins in spring, in the month of Chaitra. In Gujarat the year traditionally begins with the month of Kartika. This is called the Kartikadi reckoning. So for Gujarati families the new year starts on the first day after the Diwali new moon.
The months in Gujarat follow the amanta system, where each month ends on the new moon. Per Drik Panchang for New Delhi, the amanta month of Kartika runs from Tuesday 10 November 2026 to Tuesday 8 December 2026. That month is also observed as Karthika Masam in Telugu, Kannada and Marathi homes; see our Karthika Masam 2026 guide.
The Diwali to Labh Panchami week in Gujarat
Bestu Varas sits inside a short run of festive days. Per Drik Panchang for New Delhi, the 2026 sequence is:
| Date (India) | Observance |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8 November 2026 | Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, Chopda Puja, Sharda Puja |
| Monday 9 November 2026 | Kartika Amavasya |
| Tuesday 10 November 2026 | Gujarati New Year, Govardhan Puja, Annakut |
| Wednesday 11 November 2026 | Bhai Dooj (Bhai Bij), Yama Dwitiya |
| Saturday 14 November 2026 | Labh Panchami |
| Monday 16 November 2026 | Jalaram Bapa Jayanti |
Chopda Puja, the worship of the new account books, was on Diwali, Sunday 8 November 2026. Many traders keep the shop closed over the new year days and formally restart business on Labh Panchami. See our Labh Panchami 2026 guide.
How Gujarati families celebrate Bestu Varas
- Early start: The family wakes early, bathes and wears new or freshly washed clothes. Many homes light a diya at the doorway and at the home shrine.
- Rangoli and toran: Fresh rangoli is drawn at the entrance and a toran of leaves or flowers is hung over the door to welcome the year.
- Temple darshan: Families visit their local temple or haveli for New Year darshan. In Vaishnav temples the deity is often offered a large Annakut.
- Annakut: Annakut means 'a mountain of food'. Many sweets and savoury dishes are arranged before the deity and later shared as prasad. This is linked to the Govardhan story; see our Govardhan Puja and Annakut 2026 guide.
- Saal Mubarak visits: Younger family members touch the feet of elders and receive blessings. Friends and neighbours visit each other's homes through the day, saying "Saal Mubarak" or "Nutan Varshabhinandan".
- Sweets and snacks: Homes keep trays of Diwali sweets and snacks ready for visitors. Mathiya, chorafali, ghughra and mohanthal are familiar Gujarati choices.
- New account books: Business families begin the year with the books that were worshipped at Chopda Puja, writing 'Shubh' and 'Labh' and a swastika as they open them.
- Resolutions and charity: Many people make a quiet resolution for the year and give food or money to those in need.
Meaning of Bestu Varas and Nutan Varsh
'Bestu Varas' is a Gujarati name for the day the year 'sits', or begins. 'Nutan Varsh' is Sanskrit for 'new year'. The idea is simple: after the lights of Diwali clear away darkness, the new year starts with gratitude, fresh accounts and good relations. Clearing old quarrels and meeting relatives is seen as just as important as the puja itself.
Gujarati New Year for NRI families
Large Gujarati communities live in the UK, the USA, Canada, East Africa, Australia and the Gulf. Bestu Varas often falls on a working weekday abroad, so families adapt. Some ideas:
- Check your local date: Use Drik Panchang for your own city. Do not assume the India date or convert India's times.
- Keep a short home puja: Light a diya, offer sweets to Lakshmi, Ganesha or your family deity, and say a prayer for the year before work or school.
- Visit your mandir: Many Hindu temples and Vaishnav havelis abroad offer New Year darshan and Annakut. Check your local temple's own website or notice board for its programme.
- Call elders in India: A Saal Mubarak video call to grandparents keeps the custom of seeking blessings alive for children.
- Share the meaning: Explain to children why the Gujarati year starts after Diwali and why we visit people on this day.
- Weekend gatherings: If the weekday is busy, many families hold a Saal Mubarak get-together or a home Annakut on the nearest weekend.
Frequently asked questions
When is Gujarati New Year 2026?
Gujarati New Year 2026 (Bestu Varas) is on Tuesday 10 November 2026 in India, per Drik Panchang for New Delhi. It falls on Kartika Shukla Pratipada, the day after the Diwali Amavasya.
Which Vikram Samvat year begins on Bestu Varas 2026?
Vikram Samvat 2083 begins on Bestu Varas 2026 in the Gujarati reckoning, where the year starts with the month of Kartika.
Is Gujarati New Year the same day as Govardhan Puja?
Yes, in 2026 both fall on Tuesday 10 November. Drik Panchang lists Gujarati New Year, Govardhan Puja, Annakut and Bali Pratipada on the same day.
What does 'Saal Mubarak' mean?
'Saal Mubarak' is the common Gujarati New Year greeting and means 'happy (blessed) year'. 'Nutan Varshabhinandan', meaning 'greetings for the new year', is also widely used.
When was Chopda Puja in 2026?
Chopda Puja, the worship of new account books, was on Diwali, Sunday 8 November 2026, per Drik Panchang for New Delhi. Many businesses then open the new books for the new year.
Is the date the same outside India?
Not always. Tithis begin and end at fixed moments, so the festival date in North America, the UK or Australia can differ by a day from India. Check Drik Panchang for your own city.
Editor's note
Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. All dates, the tithi time and sunrise and sunset times are from Drik Panchang for New Delhi and are given in IST only. We have not listed muhurat clock times, events or venues. Customs differ between families and communities, so follow your own family's practice. Readers outside India should check Drik Panchang for their city.
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