Widely accepted civilian calendar is based on the modern Georgian calendar (which is based on the solar calendar) and 1st January celebrated as the first day of the New Year as festival in most of the world.

There are two type of calendars, solar and lunar calendars. Lunar Calendar is based on the monthly cycles of the moon’s phases like Chinese New Year, whereas solar calendars are based on annual cycles on the solar year like Modern Georgian Calendar

The month January name came from the name of the god Janus, the god of gateway and beginning in the Pre Christian Rome under the Julian Calendar.

Odisha is not different than any other state, where people celebrate new year irrespective of religion and caste. The new year celebration generally starts with a picnic and it continue until 1st week of January. Due to the COVID restrictions, this year  2021-22, the Odisha Government has prohibited zero night celebration and functions welcoming the New Year at public places stating that these congregations have potential to spread COVID-19 infection.