All about New year's Eve by Rekha Jad

As the new year rings in,most of us vouch for the new resolutions .These aim chiefly at physical fitness, giving up addictions,charity,or aspiring for spiritual bliss. Mind makes these resolutions but we know in our hearts that these will fail to sustain and we shall wallow in  defeat and retreat to embrace our good old self. So I have not waded into any such resolutions this year.

This year brings eclectic new year memories of my early childhood which was spent in Kashmir. New year Eve meant bieng glued up to television waiting impatiently for the programme to start. It was the era of mid seventies,doordarshan reserved it's best shows and telecasters for this day owing to the maximum  viewership. (We were the proud owners of a black and white televista t.v ,standing majestically on its four slender , tapering legs in an alcove in our guest room).DD was the sole entertaining channel unlike the myriad array of channels and wide genre of entertainers these days. The show comprised of slapstick comedy,mimicry and some musical rendition and we would revel in that .It  was unlike the current trend of TV channels playing shenanigans and wooing the viewers to grab their eye balls. Watching TV shows these days is no less than a fist fighting  show or a live display of vulgar comedy aiming at insulting and body shaming the fellow artists. At least we could watch the new year  programme with family without any one facing nuggets of embarrassment. At sharp twelve midnight, tv closed,mother serving halwa or kheer or a fruit cake to all of us to ensure a sweet  year ahead. We snuggled into the beds with heavy snow  fall  and looming clouds making it impossible for any outdoor celebrations.

However the new year in it's true essence was celebrated according to lunar calendar on the first day of bright half of chaitra month .(March or April) or "Navreh "

It heralded the auspicious days of navratra and birth of Lord Rama. Blooming almonds were the harbinger of spring.

Navreh celebrations would begin in wee hours of this day  by having a mandatory glimpse of a platter filled with unhusked rice,curd,milk,walnut ,flower,pen ,almanac,mirror,all having a significant  for ushering new year according to Rig Veda. Day was spent rejoicing,eating delicious food,wearing new clothes, going out for pleasure trips to gardens or invoking Ishta Devi at  iconic 

Hari parbat ,the hill overlooking Srinagar and abode of maa Sharika.

As my father got posted to various parts of the country and we came out of our cubby holes, we experienced the splashy ,extravagant 31st Dec. Dance,music,games,tambola , exotic food,cultural extravanza lured us. The austere and Spartan traditions started waning gradually, yet we tried to mantain the traditionality with modernity .Boomers and x generation people are still able to do so .

Majority of the millennials and Z  generation  interpret New year as seamless flow of electronic device, loud blaring music,laser lights,fogged ambience lasting whole night.few of them in raunchy demeanor with parents on edge at home!

Yesterday while going to my parents for new year celebration,we were subjected to so many halts by the policemen on account of massive operations to detect inebriated and bessoted motorist.( "Breathalyzers don't lie" should be the new Shakira ditty on the new year for revelers to tap their feet).These already burdened policemen have an extra onus on this day to raid the illegal rave parties .

Indian culture is a giant melting pot of diverse rituals and traditions.it is our take,what to pick from this buffet. Be it  31st Dec and worshipping the Roman God Janus,the diety of beginnings and doorkeeper of heavens. Or Navreh ,the saptarishi era followed by kasmiri  pandits ,navratra celebrated in Jammu,Ugadi in Andhra,Binghu inJharkhand,Bihu in Assam,Vaisakhi in Punjab,the universal message is the same. Let us adopt the modernity and preserve the traditions so that the blurring line between the two is not erased. Lunar,Solar or Gregorian calendars,let them convey the message of overcoming obstacles,welcoming new possibilities and aspirations. Let us all resolve to work for self growth,optimism and positivity all around .  

Happy twenty twenty!!!