On the midnight of December 31st and January 1st of every year we witness a new year as per the Gregorian calendar. For me, there is nothing much to relish on a New Year day that we cannot relish on any other day. I, however enjoy posting this article on a day everybody else considers to be a milestone. (Even my text editor seems to consider it important: It corrected the previous instance of “new year” as “New Year”!)
As part of the New Year “celebrations”, the “feel-good” people indulge in a lot of antics. They go to parties (as if they never go on any other day!), and burst fireworks (as if Diwali doesn’t ever happen!), at the end of a year that was marked by a drought in India. I am not against people going to parties and bursting fireworks, but I am certainly against making it out to be “The Event”.
One of the most famed rituals of the New Year is the “Resolution”. Despite clinching evidence that none of the resolutions taken the previous year were ever implemented beyond the first few weeks, we still insist on making some resolution. It’s all very well that we intend to do something good, but why start from the 1st of January of a year? Start from any day if you want to.
Another antic is the vast array of television programmes lined up for December 31 and January 1. For every other festival we have programmes for only one day, but for this ‘occasion’ we have for two days. There are movies, special programmes, festive music, movie reviews, interviews with celebrities, “Events of the past year”, and what not. At the stroke of midnight, every conceivable public figure appears on television to wish “A very Happy New Year” [which was probably recorded a couple of days ago].
The beginning of the year is always marked with pomp and gaiety, but it makes little difference to those who are on the margins and to those who have not. For them, neither it is “Happy” nor is it “New”.
One good thing about this occasion is that people connect with others that they have neglected to maintain contacts with for a long time.
But still, it irks me when I realise that some people consider this day to be important.
As part of the New Year “celebrations”, the “feel-good” people indulge in a lot of antics. They go to parties (as if they never go on any other day!), and burst fireworks (as if Diwali doesn’t ever happen!), at the end of a year that was marked by a drought in India. I am not against people going to parties and bursting fireworks, but I am certainly against making it out to be “The Event”.
One of the most famed rituals of the New Year is the “Resolution”. Despite clinching evidence that none of the resolutions taken the previous year were ever implemented beyond the first few weeks, we still insist on making some resolution. It’s all very well that we intend to do something good, but why start from the 1st of January of a year? Start from any day if you want to.
Another antic is the vast array of television programmes lined up for December 31 and January 1. For every other festival we have programmes for only one day, but for this ‘occasion’ we have for two days. There are movies, special programmes, festive music, movie reviews, interviews with celebrities, “Events of the past year”, and what not. At the stroke of midnight, every conceivable public figure appears on television to wish “A very Happy New Year” [which was probably recorded a couple of days ago].
The beginning of the year is always marked with pomp and gaiety, but it makes little difference to those who are on the margins and to those who have not. For them, neither it is “Happy” nor is it “New”.
One good thing about this occasion is that people connect with others that they have neglected to maintain contacts with for a long time.
But still, it irks me when I realise that some people consider this day to be important.
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So, according to you, no day is worthy of celebration?
ReplyDeleteWhy must some days be worthier than others?
ReplyDeleteWhat u say is right. But it is not that everyone is realized to the extent that equality persists in their mindsets in every walk of life. The thoughts of Shankara or Budhdha or even Karl Marx are too idealistic to be propogated as a general rule. On a much more mundane scenario u need to people feel the urge to do things. Which is also perhaps why even Advaitees accept Krishna and Bhagavad Gita but still maintain the impersonal ultimate form of Brahman. Its not a compromise to include the Gita so as not to feel indifferent. A child needs a chocolate to do the homework. At the same time blindfold rejoicing of yet another year is also wrong. U r right in the comparison of the drought. But life is with its plusses and minuses :) I would rather wish to take a survey of how many of those pledge-takers follow it until the next very year with utmost sincerety !
ReplyDelete'Life is with its pluses and minuses' said with variations such as 'Life is with ups and downs' probably sums up whatever has been said!! As you said, Recognition of true equality is the need of the hour.
ReplyDelete