XING Hyderabad

XING Hyderabad

Posts 1-5 of 5
  • Sandy Riedel
    Sandy Riedel    Premium Member   Group moderator   Ambassador
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    How New Year is celebrated around the World
    Hello Everyone,

    This thread is to highlight how New Year is celebrated around the World . Please add to the thread, as needed.

    Cheers,
    Sandy Riedel
    • 26 Dec 2009, 10:42 pm
  • Sandy Riedel
    Sandy Riedel    Premium Member   Group moderator   Ambassador
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Re: How New Year is celebrated around the World
    Hindu New Year

    Hindu New Year is celebrated according to the Hindu Lunar Calendar- Panchanga. The popular name of the Hindu New Year is Vikram Samvat.

    History of Vikram Samvat
    The origin of Hindu New Year relates to the legendary Hindu King Vikramaditya in 57 BC. According to the legend, King Gardabhilla (in 12th century CE) abducted a nun by the name of Saraswati. She was the sister of the famous Jain monk Kalakacharya. The helpless monk sought help of the Saka ruler in Sakasthana to defeat Gardabhilla. He was defeated and captivated by the Saka King. Though later released but Gardabhilla retired to the the forest where he was killed by a tiger. His son, Vikramaditya (brought up in the forest) later invaded Ujjain and pushed out the Sakas. Thus, to celebrate this event, he commemorated a new era called Vikram Samvat.

    Hindu New Year Celebrations
    Multifarious religions are practiced in India and so are the celebrations of various festivals. Hindu New Year is celebrated with gaiety and pomp all over India. Verve of the festival can be seen mostly among the people of North India and Gujarat. New Year in Southern India also emphasize the Hindu New Year but the date and New Year traditions vary.
    • Punjab : New year starts on 13th April.
    • Assam : New year starts on 14th or 15th of April.
    • Bengal : New year starts on 14th or 15th April.
    • Gujarat : New Year starts on Karthik Shukla Pratipada.
    • Kerala : New year starts in the month of Medam (on the day when the Sun enters in the constellation Leo).
    • Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka : New Year falls on Chaitra Shuddha Prathipade.
    • Sikkim : New Year starts on 18th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar.
    • Maharashtra : New Year starts in the month of Chaitra
    • Tamil Nadu : New year starts on 13th or 14th of April.

    People light oil lamps and decorate the house with auspicious flowers those with the color like pink, red, purple or yellow. Rangoli design is also an attractive part of New Year decorations. Indians get up early in the morning, take bath and wear new clothes. They bring home deities of Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of wealth) and Lord Ganesha. Prayers are offered and prasad is distributed among the family members. At the time of New Year, gifts and sweets are exchangd with each other. People consider this festival to be an auspicious time to begin New Year

    Source: http://www.newyearfestival.com/jewish-new-year.html
    • 26 Dec 2009, 10:43 pm
  • Sandy Riedel
    Sandy Riedel    Premium Member   Group moderator   Ambassador
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Re^2: How New Year is celebrated around the World
    Gregorian New Year

    It falls on January 1st. Countries following the Gregorian Calendar celebrate the New Year on this date. Gregorian Calendar is a modification of the Julian Calendar established by the Roman Emporer, Julius Caesar in 46 BC. Gradually Gregorian Calendar gained acceptance in several countries across the world as it created a balance between seasons and calendar.

    Gregorian New Year Traditions

    New Year traditions create a sense of responsibility and also ties an emotional bond of togetherness, belief and faith. New Year traditions are being followed with immense devotion and joy. Tradition of New Year Baby is used as a symbol of rebirth. Image of a baby with New Year's banner is displayed at many houses.

    New Year festivities are incomplete without singing the traditional Auld Lang Syne song. It means 'the good old days'. People sing this song altogether on the New Year's Eve. Traditionally, it is thought one's fate is determined according to the type of food consumed on the first day of the year. People prepare auspicious meals and celebrate the New Year by eating black-eyed peas. Similar to this, the tradition of first-footing is also practiced very seriously. The visitor should be a tall and dark-haired man.

    One tradition of the season is the making of New Year's resolutions. Many people keep New Year resolutions in the coming year. They even pledge to get their desires fulfilled. Modern New Year resolutions are the promise to lose weight or quit smoking and many more.

    Another famous tradition of New Year Parades is attended with excitement by people of all age groups. These parades are preceded by the football game which is the main attraction of the festival. Last but not the least, New Year traditions also include the bursting of crackers and other fireworks to scare off the evil spirits and bring in good fortune.

    New Year Celebrations
    New Year ushers in the festive spirit. People splurge in the New Year activities with fun and excitement. New Year brings in happiness and so people make it a grand affair to welcome the coming year. New Year celebrations begin with the New Year Eve. They attend balls, theme and private parties to celebrate the New Year. Party halls are booked in advance and there is rarely any place which is not hit by the partiers. Festive music and songs rock the New Year parties. People dress up in their best clothes to celebrate the New Year. At the stroke of 12 at midnight, people make a lot of noise, hug, kiss and wish each other “Happy New Year”.

    New dawn is welcomed with open arms. Even after partying all night, they don't delay to visit the church on the New Year's Day. They spend the day with family and friends, go to picnics, watch movies and have favorite meals.

    Source: http://www.newyearfestival.com/jewish-new-year.html
    • 26 Dec 2009, 10:46 pm
  • Sandy Riedel
    Sandy Riedel    Premium Member   Group moderator   Ambassador
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Re^3: How New Year is celebrated around the World
    Islamic New Year

    Islam has a lunar based calendar with 354 days. The New Year date also changes every year as the Islamic Calendar is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar. Maal Hijra or Islamic New Year is celebrated on the first day of Muharram (first Islamic month). The word Muharram also means respect. It is more of a cultural event than a New Year celebration. People welcome the New Year with peace and prayers.

    Islamic New Year's Day
    New Year celebrated by Muslims is not a gala affair rather it's a quite and sober celebration. People gather in mosques and dargahs to offer special prayers. Muslims celebrate this day to pay homage to Prophet Muhammad. The most important part is to tell the hijra (Muhammad's flight from Medina to Mecca). This story is also broadcast on radio. Maal Hijra or the Islamic New Year is spent on reflecting how one's leading his or her life and their own mortality.

    The most recent trend of exchanging New Year cards and gifts have been witnessed in many Muslim communities. However, Shia Muslims do not take part in New Year activities. They commemorate the Battle of Karbala and observe it as a month of mourning. This commemoration ends on the tenth day of Muharram called Ashurah. Similarly, Sunni Muslims do not take part in the New Year traditions as on this day first Caliph Abu Bakr died.

    Remembrance of Muharram
    Remembrance of Muharram has become an important day for the Shias. People enact the scenes of the Battle of Karbala in mosques. At some places, people clad in black dresses. They recite sorrowful poems in the memory of the martyrdom of Imran Hussain. Many males beat their chests or walk barefoot over the burning coal to remember the sufferings of Hussain. Loud cries of congregation can be heard which reflects their inability to save Hussain from the torture and brutalities.

    Later, food and other things of survival are distributed to the poor. The first nine days of Muharram are spent in making an exact copy of martyr's tomb with bamboo and paper. On the tenth day, Ashura, processions are carried out through the streets with the beautifully embellished tombs (also called taziyas). A horse leads the procession relating to Hussain's horse, Dul Dul.

    Source: Source: http://www.newyearfestival.com/jewish-new-year.html
    • 26 Dec 2009, 10:48 pm
  • Sandy Riedel
    Sandy Riedel    Premium Member   Group moderator   Ambassador
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Re^4: How New Year is celebrated around the World
    Jewish New Year

    New Year for Jewish people is the most important event. Month of September and October (according to the Gregorian calender) are for welcoming the New Year. Everybody is in high spirits and mood of the festival. Festival celebrations begin with Rosh Hashanah and ends with Yom Kippur.

    Good health, long life and prosperity for all is the New Year wish of every Jewish. A grand New Year celebrations takes place and lot of enthusiasm can be seen on the faces of all Jewish. There are many religious believes associated with the celebrations of New Year. It is on this day, God recreates fate of his creatures.

    Jewish New Year
    The origin of Jewish New Year can be traced from the holy Bible which is celebrated over a thousand years. The Jewish New Year takes place in the month of Tishri that are months of September and October according to the Gregorian calender.

    When is it Celebrated?
    It is a 10 day long celebration. It begins at the sundown of first day and lasts till sundown of the tenth day. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated the first two days. It means New Year according to the Jewish tradition. Following all traditions, Yom Kippur is celebrated on the tenth day of Tishri. And the time between these two days is called Shabbat Shuva.

    Jewish New Year Celebrations
    Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two major festivals ritually performed during ten days celebrations.

    Rosh Hashanah
    The day commemorates with lighting of candles. Family get-together is the common scene while celebrating Rosh Hashanah. People eat traditional food which includes apples dipped in honey reminding of all that is sweet in life and a baked challah bread. Prayers play a very important role in the celebrations. People recite kiddush prayers on this day.

    The festival has a myth associated with it. It is said that G-d opens his book of fate every human being and scribbles in it, "who shall die...who shall live...who will fall...who will rise". Rosh Hashanah describes the relationship between mankind and G-d. Another ritual followed is of blowing the Shofar, the ram's horn. It calls for repenting the sins.

    Yom Kippur
    The day celebrates the closeness with God. It is also called the Day of Atonement. It is celebrated on the 10th day of Tishri. It is believed that God gives chance to his people to repent for their sins. People look to the passed year and plan for the next year. The day is followed by strict tradition of fasting.

    On Yom Kippur, people eat a festive meal, take holy bath and give charity. In the course of festival, five prayers are offered to god.

    Yom Kippur is considered the most solemn day of the year. Jewish people pray to God to wash all their sins. The book is written on Rosh Hashanah but the actions of a person during the 10 day festivities can change God's directive. The books of fate for the year are supposed to be sealed on this day.

    Source: http://www.newyearfestival.com/jewish-new-year.html
    • 26 Dec 2009, 10:49 pm