January 1
With the majority of people and governments around the world following the Gregorian calendar, Jan. 1 is the day that most people celebrate the start of the new year. While it is mostly associated with revelry and fireworks, many spiritual people take the New Year as an opportunity for meditation and resolutions to focus themselves for the coming year. HuffPost Travel has compiled a list of their favorite New Year's celebrations around the world.
Even though living together, families can still be far apart, influenced as they are by disparate elements! How does one ensure bonding.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak believes that his 1Malaysia concept is accepted by Malaysians so he is perhaps unaware that it is his insensitive, all-too-powerful and intolerant 'aides' who are scuppering his 1Malaysia message.
When Najib attended the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur’s Christmas tea party at the weekend, church officials were instructed to remove crucifixes and not sing hymns in his presence.
The list of ‘no-nos’ that was sent to Archbiship Murphy Pakiam had to be followed strictly, before Najib could attend. They included:-
- The removal of Christian symbols, such as crucifixes, from the party premises.
- That carollers not sing hymns.
- To not quote from the scriptures and not lead any Christian prayer.
At the tea party Najib said, “It is for us to come together, for us to feel that we belong to one nation, one people with one vision, and that is for us to march forward together to develop a truly prosperous, harmonious and successful 21st century nation.”
Najib claimed that 1Malaysia was not for political purposes, but was for nation-building.
He added, “In today's world where a small group of extremists has drowned the voices of reason and common sense and hijacked the agenda of peace and moderation, it is important for the moderates in every faith - Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists - among us to speak up to reclaim our rightful place and the moral high ground.”
Can the aides boss the boss
On one hand, Najib has been straining at the seams to uphold his 1Malaysia image. On the other hand, the actions of his 'aides' do not seem to promote an atmosphere of inclusivity and community.
How does one explain the overzealous attempts by the PM’s 'aides' to protect the prime minister’s Islamic credentials? Some quarters called the aides, “paranoid”. Did they act with or without Najib’s knowledge?
In one fell swoop, Najib’s aides destroyed any ‘spirit of goodwill and joy’ during Christmas.
It appears that these 'aides' have their own agenda which seems to differ from that of their boss. Or is that an excuse?
Their insistence that the Archbishop adhere to their list of demands shows that they have too much power. Are they not acting outside of their remit?
Najib was invited to tea on the Archbishop’s own turf. When one is invited to someone else’s home, one does not tell the host what he should or should not do on his own premises. How is it possible that mere aides can instruct the Archbishop to accede to their unreasonable requests?
There were reports that Najib’s 'aides' might have over-reacted and that they were exercising extreme caution to protect Najib from any unwelcome attention by the National Fatwa Council over its ruling for Muslims at non-Muslim celebrations.
If that is so, then Najib should curb the powers of both. But why doesn't he? And if he doesn't, who is to be responsible?
Najib must acknowledge that his 'aides' may be retarding any progress of inroads into the community, from his 1Malaysia message. Who are these 'aides' anyway? Are they specially selected because of their intolerant and bigoted views?
Do they and members of the National Fatwa Council know that Muslim ministers’ children attend independent schools in the United Kingdom like Charterhouse, Malvern, Marlborough, Harrow and Dulwich College, all of which have a strong Church of England ethos?
This means that their children have prayers at morning assembly and go to Chapel, although the children of different faiths only do so in a symbolic gesture.
What a farcical state of affairs then if the ministers allow their children some slack when it comes to religious tolerance at boarding schools abroad, and yet non-Islamic institutions at home are subject to scrutiny, with or without their tacit approval.
In a forum organized by Young FICCI Ladies Organisation in Hyderabad on Media - Past, Present and Future, a lady complained that though her children seemed to be aware of all news even before she was, they never read the newpapers! She didn't know whether to be happy about the first, or rue the second. Neither did those of us on the panel. Actually so different are the ways of this generation that rather than evolution, it seems more like a quantum jump, aided more than anything else, by technology!
Living together in the same house,each of us is further apart than would have been imaginable some years ago.We dwell in our own worlds,are exposed to totally different influences and have touch points in our daily life that are nothing to do with each other.The books you read; movies you would like to watch;performances and musicals worth attending, and Malls to be checked out - these are no longer family discussions, but recommendations friends make.
With a whole new set of authors and books coming up for the young,even the books your children read are not the same as you read.Their world is so far removed from what came earlier that they are unable to relate with books you may suggest! The movies they enjoy are different from the ones you like.You may be as wedded to your computer as they are addicted to theirs, but the sites you surf and people you interact with are a world apart from theirs.And not just children, even adults tend to grow further apart as they give in to disparate interests and influences.He goes for business lunches and golf,while she groups up with female friends for girly lunches and interesting outings.
The invasion of smart phones has ensured you are available to office round the clock.So you could be in the middle of dinner when the boss pings you to check on some minor fact. Or you could be putting the children to bed when that critical mail from overseas wings its way with an intrusive beep into your Blackberry!
As such,it has become perfectly normal to be in the same room with each other and yet be wired to completely different gadgets that connect each of you to spaces far removed from the room you are actually sitting in.
In such a scenario how does one ensure a feeling of family togetherness or inculcate the right values in children Obviously one would have to lay down some ground rules and insist everyone follows them.Strange that something which was absorbed as part of daily living together now needs a time,a space and a discipline to be taken in. Children learnt earlier by observing you; today they are so absorbed in their own selves, they may miss out on essential things unless forced to pay attention. Much has been said about families that eat together.And indeed at least one meal together every day is the best way to ensure some togetherness.This time together can also be used for some healthy discussions and bringing everyone up to date on family news. Another idea could be to introduce one topic of general interest at the table and discuss it threadbare.This could be a news item or some other essential general information.
Many families swear by holidays together as great bonding factors.Away from daily distractions,if you choose the destinations carefully, you could indeed use the time away to build strong,lasting memories.And nothing like memories to build bonds and give love a shot in the arm! I find festivals can be another great bonding exercise for families. Like the much reviled television serials show, a festival when celebrated with traditional fervor and full faith, can teach children a lot about their culture and identity. Praying together is another great cementing factor and time should be kept aside for it.And if children cannot read the books you suggest, try reading what they are absorbing to understand and bond with your child better! So long as we are all basically secure about each other and care deeply for family bonds and traditions, no matter how far we may travel from each other, the strong thread that binds us together will always anchor us securely..
Nowruz
Nowruz, Persian for "New Light" or "New Day," coincides with the spring equinox which usually falls on March 20, 21 or 22. Widely known as the Persian New Year, Nowruz is widely observed in Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan and other Central Asian nations. The holiday is believed to have started with Zoroaster himself and is the most important holiday in the Zoroastrian tradition. Additionally, Nowruz is an important holy day for people in the Baha'i Faith and is widely observed by Shiite Muslims. An official state holiday in most countries of the region, Nowruz is usually marked by several days of activities including special foods, gift giving, parties and family gatherings. Last January, Huffpost blogger Melody Moezzi wrote about Nowruz in relation to the democratic movement in Iran.
South Asia
The landscape of holidays in South Asia is crowded to say the least. Immeasurable diversity in religious beliefs and practices means that there is no uniform New Year's observance for the millions of Hindus, Sikhs and other inhabitants of the region. There are many traditions that celebrate the New Year in mid-April with festivals to mark the beginning of Spring. This coincides with the first days of the Nepali and Bengali calendars, among others. Pictured here, Sikh pilgrims perform rituals at the Gurdawara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal, the third most sacred city for the followers of Sikh religion. The festival of Baisakhi, which is celebrated on April 14, marks the Punjabi and Nepali New Year and the beginning of the harvest season in the region.
Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for the nation of more than a billion people. The season around the New Year festival, which marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar and falls in late January or February of the Gregorian calendar, features the largest annual human migration in the world as people travel home to spend time with their families. Specific customs and traditions vary widely within China but gift-giving, fireworks, elaborate feasts, dances and the construction of decorative shrines are common rituals. Pictured here: Chinese Taoist worshippers light joss-sticks as they pray beside the Dafo temple in southwest China's Chongqing municipality on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year on Feb. 14. In 2009, HuffPost World gathered photos of some of theChinese New Year celebrations.
Losar
Losar is the most important holiday for the people of Tibet and marks the beginning of their lunar calendar. Although it often coincides with the Chinese New Year, the two celebrations are not culturally linked. The Losar festival usually lasts for two weeks with public celebrations, special foods, prayer and family gatherings. Many of these activities center around the Buddhist monasteries with meditation and ceremonies aimed at blessing the coming year. Last year, HuffPost blogger Heidiminxwrote about some of the rituals surrounding Losar as well as it's place in Tibet's political struggle.
Rosh Hashanah
While this is commonly referred to as the Jewish New Year and is literally translated to mean “head of the year,” Rosh Hashanah actually marks the beginning of the 7th Hebrew month, Tishrei. In the Torah, the beginning of the year is mentioned in the context of the first Passover holiday, which falls in the month of Nisan. But by the time the Jewish oral tradition -- the Talmud -- was written down, Rosh Hashanah had been established as the Jewish New Year and was referred to in the Mishnah for the first time as the "Day of Judgement." Among other things, it is considered the New Year for people, animals and legal contracts, and is used for calculating the sabbatical and jubilee years. (Believe it or not, there is a Jewish New Year for trees, called Tu B'Shevat, that falls this year in January.) Today, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, or High Holy Days, on the Jewish calendar. It is a time of reflection for some Jews and an opportunity for spiritual awakening for others -- the shofar, a ram's horn, is blown repeatedly during this holiday season to wake people up in this way. Still others just enjoy the New Year as a time of reunion and reconciliation with family and friends. HuffPost Religion blogger Rabbi Brad Hirschfield wrote about Rosh Hashanah this year as a time of renewal and liberation, and he provided seven "easy" steps to personal and spiritual revitalization.
Al-Hijra (Muslim New Year)
Al-Hijra, the Islamic New Year, is the first day of the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram. It marks the Hijra in 622 C.E. when the Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina in order to establish the first Muslim community. HuffPost blogger Omid Safi recently provided an explanation for the significance of the Hijra.
No comments:
Post a Comment