new year greetings

[Guest guest]

Happy new year

May the new year enable you to change the world better and give your

voice a place in the world.

 

Trilok kumar jain

 

If you have spare time, you may read my ideas on new year

celebrations: (for any clarification / comment, write to me at:

tkjain)

NEW YEAR CELEBRATION – SOME CRAZY IDEAS

 

As you are busy in celebrating new year party, here are my ideas to

spoil your party mood. If you still dare to read it, it will be

worth the investment that you make.

 

Over the ages, mankind (like other living beings) have developed

innumerable rituals (varying from culture to culture, place to

place). Some of these add value to the world, some don't and the

latter part works more as a speed breaker to our progress. Whatever

little actions that we take have reactions on this world (the

reaction may be small in its intensity, but it accumulates). Being

an intelligent creature, mankind had the responsibility to be

thoughtful in its actions and their ramifications on the universe.

 

The rituals developed by our forefathers took us to this status

(some positive and some negative). We are striving to preserve the

good ones. We have had great struggle in unshackling the negative

rituals (for example – SATI pratha in India). Some rituals are still

a menace for our society and living being. These rituals were

created at one time without thoughtful actions.

 

In the last few years, mankind has destroyed many old rituals and

also created many new rituals, which coming generations will have to

bear. One such ritual created by us is new year celebration – let us

look at it from the perspective of the global impact over the

centuries. I hope our coming generations will not curse us for this

ritual and would not have to struggle to get rid of it as we are

doing with the rituals that we have got from our ancestors.

 

As I watch 31 December passing by, I find myself amidst a mad crowd.

There are crackers, loud music, drink parties, cock-tail parties,

and what not – in the name of merriment. While millions of people

still aspire for their basic amenities, the upper and middle class

of mankind throw lavish parties and make a pompous display of their

wealth in the name of new year celebration. If it is a personal

function of one person, it can be ignored, but it all takes place

across the globe. Crackers and fireworks which are supposed to cause

pollution to environment, are profusely used.

 

Persons like me who don't approve of such parties and merriment are

considered backward and traditional. I therefore make it a point –

if this is modernity, are we in the right direction in the name of

modernity? Are there no alternatives available to us for merriment,

joy, celebration? Have we stopped generating alternatives for our

civilization?

The greeting cards that are transacted (passed from one person to

another – without properly being looked at by either party) in this

ritual are equivalent to paper worth 1000 rims (sufficient for

distributing one copy to every illiterate person of the world) or

wood / forest coverage of 100 trees or financially equal to one meal

for every person living below the poverty line across the world. The

loss due to celebration of new year as holiday (1 January is being

celebrated as a holiday – in many places) is immeasurable,

especially from the perspective of persons who struggle to make

their living.

 

I am not here to destroy the new year celebration. I want to raise

some alternatives. If you can see some alternatives for celebrating

new year – my purpose is served. The resources are unevenly

distributed in the world. Some have – some don't. It is the

responsibility of those who have – to use the resources in the best

interest of the universe – and this is our accountability to cospmic

consciousness – we may accept it or not. Media – which has been

aggravating and aggressively promoting pomp and show in new year

celebrations – can take a lead by adopting a new course of action –

for example – by promoting new year celebration with orphans –

physically challenged – or by inspirational movies / or by

thoughtful entertainment - or by some other options. We must

remember, our small steps can go a long way in changing the world.