Friday, February 9, 2007Thailand
"Water-splashing"(which the Thais have refined into art) marks Songkran, the Thai New Year. The idea is for the old ills, misfortune and evil to be "washed away". There is a deeply religious strain beneath on the temple. Buddha images are rountinely bathed in scented waters; alms are offered to the monks in temples;fishes and birds are also released in temple grounds; sand is rought into temple to be set into sandcastle-all for the sake of merit making
India
Many people take Deepavali for it but seriously, the many diffrent communities on this vast sub-continent actually celebrate their individual new years. An example is the Sikh community. The Sikh celebrate Baisakhi, the birthday of their tenth guru, Gobind Singh who founded the Khalsa (The brotherhood of Sikhs) in 1699 on April 13. On Baisakhi, they visit temples, listen to religious songs after which everybody eats kada prasad, a sweetheart, a sweetmeat. In the villages, men can be seen doing Bhangra (an energetic dance) while the women, the Gidda (a graceful dance) as they get ready to harvest the corn.
Vietnam
Tet Nguyen Dan (the Lunar New Year; Tet meaning New Year) is a widely celebated festival. One interesting practice is `planting the neu'. Neu is a bamboo pole with green leaves, from which an amulet and eathern bells are hanged.Lime powder is then scattered around the base of the plant to ward off evil. All this is done in imitation of Buddha's actions in a famous legend. He was said to have used a tall magical bamboo pole to drive the devilsaway from Vietnam a long time ago.Tibet
Tibetans usually spend New Year's eve stuffing a variety of thing rice, peas, wool, etc. into Guthuk (barley crumbs). During dinner, the filling that one bites into is supposed to tell your personality. The one who has bitten into coal is said to have a `black heart'. After this, the serious businessof banishing evil sprits begins. Bonfires are lit as people run out of their houses, yelling and shouting to rid the houses of bad spells. On the first day of Losar,(New Year) families and friends visit each other to exchange their Tashi delek blessing.
Korea
The Koreans hang up bok jo ri( straw aieves) at their doors to scoop up all the good luck at the start of Sol-nal( New Year). Then, incese and offering are laid out at the ancestors' altar. Families then put on their New Year's best- usually traditional New Year's best- usually tradidional costumes, the hanbok and proceed to Sebae. Seabae is where younger Koreans go down on their knees and bow deeply to their elders with muttered greeting and good wishes. In return, they get money, fruit or treats. After that, most children run outdoors to seesaw, fly kites and spin tops.
Japan
The celebrations for Oshogatsu (New Year) begin on the eve, when every family gathers for a meal of toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) that sybolises longevity. Then at midnight, there will be the temple bell. The 108 chimes are supposed to help realese men from his his sins. The next day, special treats like otoso rice wine and ozoni (soup with mochi) are served. Games like badminton,kite flying are popuplar amongst the children.
♥ClariceChua♥sweet mem0ries♥ 2/09/2007 03:09:00 PM
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