With all the pomp, celebrations, and the high of the so called "New Year" coming to an end, I am venturing into the discourse to elucidate what the "New Year" signifies and how relevant are the current "Pointless Celebrations" of a Vain custom. Often times there has been an acquisition on the Asian and African faiths and traditions and more so on the Bharatiya traditions and customs, that they are "Old, unfashionable, and orthodox". Have we ever ventured out to think that celebrating the 31st of December in the same orthodox customs of "Drinks, Drugs, and Sex" too is unfashionable? No, it is modern and stylish to have a glass of bear and smoke a hookah or two! Probably injecting a few drugs is civilization and not doing so is unfashionable. Now, not all celebrate the new year in this manner. Many celebrate it by "Just Chilling out and enjoying". The worry is that most of them are not relaxed and cool for the rest of the year, and that they need a day called "New Year's eve" to make them feel "Happy". How far can this logic be stretched that - "Being Western = Being Modern"?
In the west, people have seen the heights of material and technological advancements. All the comforts and conveniences that one can think of, they enjoy. But what they have failed to see is the joy within. To be peaceful and joyful has become a difficult task. Many recent studies suggest that around 70 Million Americans have insomnia or the problem of sleeplessness, and many of them are under medication and popping pills to sleep peacefully. The average number of people suffering from insomnia is around 22%. Another study in Europe suggests that every country in Europe suffers from the problem of sleeplessness, and the proportion of people suffering from insomnia to the population of the respective country ranges between 16.6% to 31.2%. This study was undertaken by Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 2015. The point I am trying to drive home is that, in more than one way the west is material progressing, yet is internally failing to find peace and joy.
Contrary to the culture and lifestyles of the west, we Bharatiyas are experts in sleeping; sleeping in the buses, in the classrooms, in the lecture halls, on stage, in the crowded markets; wherever we are, we sleep peacefully. There is a fundamental difference between the culture and lifestyles of the West and that of ours. We celebrate the New Year somewhere in the month of April-May. This is the season of harvest, blossoming of flowers, and of economic prosperity. Meanwhile the month of December is the time for the nature to shed of its dry and dead leaves. In fact, many creatures on the planet are on to long durations of hibernation (physical inactivity during this period of December-January). My Guru Sri Mukul Kanitkar Ji writes thus, "One of the main reasons of survival of these New Year festivals (Bharatiya Celebrations of Ugadi, Varsha Pratipada, Bihu, etc.) is that they are related to the happy times of that region. These are the economically most prosperous days of the year for those regions. Mostly due to Agriculture. It is the time of the year when the produce is in the market and hence it is the time to celebrate. But it is not just that. The season is also very happy season with flowers blooming and the entire atmospheric ambience to inspire the mind for higher achievements. There are more subtle reasons also. These days are the Shubh Muhurtas, auspicious celestial arrangements. This is related to the Pranic flow in the atmosphere. Due to the peculiar gravitational arrangement of the planets the flow of Prana in particular moment is suitable for noble acts. These are called as Muhurtas. There is a science behind it. Everyday there are some virtuous periods like these. All the three Sandhya, period if confluence, the pratah sandhya in the early morning when sun has not yet risen physically but the light has come, the Madhyanha or midday sandhya with sun on the head and the Sayam, evening sandhya when the sun is set but the last light lingers on, are all the best times to do the spiritual practices. According to the astrological calculations some days are totally auspicious. They are considered as full Muhurta. Varsh Pratipada, Vijaya Dashami and the Pratipada after Diwali night are three full auspicious days when 24 hours are good for noble acts. The Pranic flow in these times helps the actions to be more productive."
Also I would like to recall here the words of Spiritual Master Sadhguru on the New Year 2017. Just like how the reptiles leave a layer of their skin out, and fresh skin forms, so must we 'malt' our personality. The shedding of old leaves among the trees is also an indication of the 'malt'. Also Sadhguru stresses on the need to do the most profound things in the new year, rather than the silliest things.
We have been a culture that is the closet to Nature and to truth. We have known ways to be joyful from within, rather than to seek it without. When we are capable of being joyful 365 days (or 366 days) a year, why should we "Try to become Happy" only for a single day? When we are capable of enjoying ecstasy from within, what is the need to seek it from external objects of enjoyment? Why can't we say that it is unfashionable to conduct in the 'same old way' every new year (i.e Partying and Drinks)?
What then must be done? I am not in favouring of making and breaking "resolutions" every new year. For me, the calendar new year is a time to introspect on the bygone year. It is the time to introspect on our achievements, failures, strengths, weaknesses, good deeds, and bad deeds. This can be done by listing 12 things within us that we must get rid off, and 12 new things that we can learn for enhancing our personality; this makes one '-' and one '+' for every month of the year. Every human being is a bunch of various qualities, and their various permutations and combinations make every man unique. We must find that uniqueness within and find more profound ways to express the same. Just like how the pure buttermilk is got from the churning of the curds, so must a more profound personality emerge every year by introspection from within. Let us not fall prey and blindly imitate the path of others. Everyone has his own roots and path. We must find that by introspection. As far as the celebration of the new year is concerned, it must always be based on the Bharatiya customs and traditions.
Just like how some animals hibernate during this period, just like how the reptiles shed their old skin, and just like how the trees shed their dead leaves, so must we introspect, ward off the unnecessary traits in our personality, and emerge as a new being with the aim to express our uniqueness with more intensity and acuteness.
My Good Wishes and Prayers to all for this Calendar Year.
