India, with its diverse and varied culture, has more than one tradition of marking the beginning of new year.  But invariably it
marks the on set of spring.  Calendar making, like so much else in the culture is not just a temporal pursuit.  The Hindu calendar,
traditionally known as Panchanga, is not just a marker of days and months of the year. It is replete with spiritual and religious references to the days of year.  It endeavors to predict many things like: the onset of rains, expectations of harvest, peace and
prosperity the people, possibilities of war, the safety and continuity of the king and his reign, the political weather and  host
of other matters.