A very happy new year to all! Our calendars are changing today indicating the arrival of the year 2022. Change in year shows us change in time and changes in our lives. The fresh start of a year fills us with enthusiasm to empower us to let go of old bad memories and to welcome the new and happy life ahead of us. Many of us are going to visit religious places today to pray to God to obtain happiness and prosperity this new year. The last two years have been difficult for the whole world due to pandemic. We hope that this pandemic will be over this year. The pandemic will certainly be uprooted one day for sure and we will forget about it as well, but the lessons of hygiene and cleanliness which we have learned from it should not be forgotten. No matter where we live and what the time is, hygiene and pollution – free environment are very important as most life-claiming diseases stem from the lack of these two.
January 1st is not the only day of the new year
Based on the modern Gregorian calendar, new year starts on January 1. Many countries officially recognize this day as new year while also celebrating their own calendars’ new years on different days. In India only, where different types of languages and religions exist, new year is celebrated multiple times a year. For example, in the Sikh religion, April 13 is the day of new year which is also called “Vaisakhi” festival. For Hindus, new year falls between the months of March and April. Jains celebrate new year after Diwali, after the end of month Kartika. Muslims celebrate new year on the first day of Muharram month which is on July 29 this year. It does not matter when we celebrate new year. What matters is that we should always grab the opportunity to learn something new and good with each passing day.
How Different Countries Celebrate New Year with Different Ways
Traditions and celebrations of welcoming new year vary from country to country. Sharing sweets, organizing parties, dancing and singing, praying, sending good luck’s wishes to others and adopting new year’s resolution are common practices of people around the world on new year, but still there are some unique and different traditions in different countries which are followed by people on this new day. The following are some of the examples of how new year is honored in different ways by different nations around the world:
- In most countries, new year’s evening and early hours of morning of 1st January witness stunning fireworks at famous places. People get together to enjoy the last hours of passing year and welcome the new year while enjoying amazing view of fireworks. The fireworks of New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Brazil are famous for illuminating the night sky.
- In Denmark, people smash plates outside of the houses of their relatives and friends to bring good luck in their friends’ and relatives’ lives.
- In Spain, people start eating grapes with the start of midnight to bring good luck in their lives.
- The Japanese ring temple bells 108 times on December 31 to welcome new year.
- In Wales, people believe in paying off their whole debt before the arrival of new year. Traditionally, they believe that starting new year with debt means spending a whole year under the burden of debt.
- In Brazil, wishing for good fortune, the citizens eat lentils on the day of new year.
- In Estonia, people eat seven or nine or twelve times at midnight. Eating seven or nine or twelve times means that you will possess strength of that many persons.
- In Philippines, there is tradition of eating 12 types of round fruits to bring wealth and prosperity. The round shape of fruits represents round shape of coins.
- Romanians throw coins into rivers for good luck.
- In South Africa, people get rid of old furniture looking forward to new and brighter beginning by letting go of unnecessary things.
How Dera Sacha Sauda Celebrates New Year
Dera Sacha Sauda, the non-profit and socio-spiritual organization of India has a unique way of celebrating new year. January is also incarnation month of Dera Sacha Sauda’s second spiritual master, Param Pita Shah Satnam Ji Maharaj. During the whole January month, Dera Sacha Sauda followers do 136 different humanitarian works. They see their happiness in others’ happiness. Instead of spending their money on parties and unnecessary things like alcohol, they help the needy. Such a way of celebration is true way of celebrating special occasions.
It is also said that happiness increases manifold if it is shared. Dera Sacha Sauda followers share their happiness with the needy by extending helping hand to them. In return, they experience different type of joy and satisfaction which cannot be obtained through any type of celebration. Their third spiritual master, Revered Saint, Saint Dr. MSG Insan encourages them to do welfare works with an aim to make this planet happy for everyone.
Not only in January month, but Dera Sacha Sauda followers also do welfare works during whole year. Whenever any special occasion or festival arrives, Dera Sacha Sauda followers never hesitate to serve humanity on huge level and they automatically make world records as a result. As an example, August 15 is Revered Saint, Saint Dr. MSG Insan’s pious birthday and India’s Independence Day. On this day, millions of Dera Sacha Sauda followers plant saplings around the world on massive level. Because of their enthusiasm, they have made several world records in planting maximum number of trees in just few hours.
Conclusion
Let’s all pray to God that this new year brings happiness and prosperity to everyone’s lives. Along with praying, we can participate in doing good deeds or help whoever is in need. If every one of us lends a helping hand to the needy, those days are not far away when there will be peace and joy all around us. Let’s make it our new year’s resolution to help the needy and to pray for whole world’s well-being. Leaving our vices and adopting goodness during new year are also good ways of beginning new year with a fresh and satisfactory start.
