First Day Festival

The First Day Festival (𑼈𑼥𑼸𑼄 𑼡𑼔 𑼧𑼾𑼱𑽁𑼡𑼶𑼮𑼭𑼾𑼴 - Unua Taga Festivalo) is a celebration held annually throughout Siban to welcome the new year. As the name suggests, it is held on the first day of the year, but celebrations and festivities begin on the eve of the last day of the previous year. The festival is characterized by the widespread use of fireworks and communal feasts. While activities may vary from community to community, the most essential observance is that of the communal feast, wherein every household cooks and brings food for the community to enjoy. Children are also encouraged to play and interact with each other, meant to symbolize a harmonious year ahead. In many areas, temples serve as the focal point of such celebrations and prayers and rituals are performed as the community welcomes the new year.

In the capital Darmapuro (𑼣𑼬𑽁𑼪𑼦𑼸𑼬𑼾𑼴), being the largest urban center in the world, the cosmopolitan administration organizes large-scale shows and activities in the morning. The Vajroĉano Temple, considered to be the main temple of the capital, hosts merit-making rituals in the evening of the same day, which concludes at the start of the commencement of the rituals for the Protector and the Planetary State. People often make hefty donations, both financial and in-kind, to temples during this period. It is also customary to have the names of deceased relatives included in rituals held for the deceased.