Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Visakhapatnam
NEW YEAR celebrations
New Year celebrations generally take three forms. The first and perhaps the most desirable mode is to spend the midnight hour in a place of worship thanking God for sustaining us in the year that just slipped by and invoking blessings for the new year. The second type is epicurean whereby people spend long hours in hotels, theme parks, beach resorts singing and dancing, eating exotic food and making merry.
The third mode is of the Bacchanalian kind. In metros and even small towns, youths in an inebriated state run amock on streets. They indulge in orgy of violence, knock down people with their speeding vehicles or themselves get fatally injured. It is the responsibility of parents to dissuade their children from going in for such primeval celebrations. The responsibility also lies with the police to prevent any untoward incident.
Prof.Stanley Mohandoss,
American College,
Madurai.
NEW YEAR is celebrated by all irrespective of religion, caste, creed or colour. Thanks to the influence of western culture, the occasion brings with it not only joy and entertainment but communal harmony as well.
But in every such celebration, it is vital that our culture is safe guarded. The enthusiasm shown especially by teenagers in welcoming the New Year can cause ill effect and bring harm to society too. It is better we draw a "Lakshman Rekha" for ourselves while enjoying such occasions. And in the midst of such celebrations, it is not only the duty of politicians but every citizen to resolve to make India, socially, economically and spiritually, a powerful Nation.
R.Ramaswamy,
9-2-28, Maruthupandiar II Cross
Viswanathapuram,
Madurai-625 014.
THESE DAYS days it appears people celebrate New Year with more enthusiasm than Pongal. Earlier people were happy sending New Year greeting cards, never mind even if they were delivered late given the heavy rush in the postal department. But now people are happy greeting each other either over the telephone or through e-mails. We are also fast catching up with the western culture of wining and dining to usher in the New Year at midnight.
While the phenomenon was earlier restricted to the metros only, but now hotel celebrations are picking up in Madurai too. While the rich splurge at star hotels the middle class restrict themselves to bursting crackers. The youths, in particular, take to the streets on bikes, yelling and making merry with a couple of pegs down.
New Year is a welcome event and people have learnt to exchange New Year greetings on 1st January instead of following the Hindu calendar.
K.Gopala Krishnan
H-998, Ellis Nagar,
Madurai-625010.
FESTIVALS ARE associated with celebrations and sharing the joyous mood with friends and relatives. English New Year is not meant for Indians. But since we were under the imperial rule, we celebrate January 1 as New Year and in a more grand manner than the Tamil New Year.
But this celebration should not cause inconvenience to others. Imitating alien culture and taking to dance parties and night outings should preferably be avoided. Money spent in luxury hotels on food can better be channelised for social welfare activities. Organising health camps, cleaning the streets and colonies, donating blood, planting saplings and a range of such social activities will go a long way in developing goodwill among the people while ushering in the new year.
G.Natarajan,
H 714, Ellis Nagar,
Madurai-10.
HAVING SEEN New Year celebrations in big metros like Mumbai and abroad, I feel, there is nothing wrong in celebrating New Year on January 1 in the right spirit. It is one occasion which is common to all religions and when maximum number of people all over the world rejoice with equal enthusiasm and passion.
We must use this opportunity to make resolutions for achieving what we could not in the previous year.
Celebrations should just not be wasteful. Rather it should be an occasion to plan for the New Year. That is what the wise do.
There are different ways of celebrating without being a nuisance to others. Visits to places of worship, seeking the blessings of elders, helping the poor would be more appropriate ways of welcoming the New Year rather than making merry ostentatiously and on the streets.
S.P.Raja Chandra Moulie,
47, Janaki Cottage,
Chandrakanthi Nagar,
Madurai-625010.
PEOPLE FROM all parts of world celebrate New Year setting aside differences. The occasion is suitably used to rejuvenate their minds and uplift their spirits. Many of us look for some exclusive way or a different place for celebrating the moment.
Parties in luxury hotels, get-togethers and reunion functions in homes, visit to holy places or spending time with the disadvantaged groups of people — celebrations can take any form because the occasion holds something special for each person.
A.Thirumalai Prakash,
11, Roja Street,
I.O.C.Nagar,
Madurai-625018.
NEW YEAR celebration follows the Christmas fever, which is joined in by people from all religions and all walks of life.
This is a welcome trend because it helps in promoting a sense of integration among the masses. However, drinking and creating law and order problem that have come to be associated with such celebrations should better be avoided. Let all celebrate New Year in their houses. I also feel suggestions to keep the temples open on midnight of 31st December is unwarranted.
K.Venkataraman,
A-T-2, Porkudam apartments
Bypass Road,
Madurai-10.
`WISH YOU a Happy New Year' is the phrase that rings in every year. On the New Year eve, the world unites to welcome the fresh set of days, weeks and months. Everybody is gripped by the New Year fever and sets his or her own rule for celebrations. Some visit temples, some go for movies, some simply spend their time with their family and friends, some remain glued to the TV. It is however the youths who choose to celebrate in style and in full spirit. Special programmes in big hotels also attract some to shrink their wallets. But somehow we all seem to be celebrating the eve without any real meaning. Instead of lavishly spending on fun and entertainment for ourselves, could we not serve the needy for whom the eve is just another day.
Does artificially wishing everybody a happy new year hold any significance? The world today is marred by terrorism, natural calamities, corruption and disasters. There is no peace of mind for anybody anywhere. We should all collectively try to put an end to global and national problems and make the world a better place to live in. Only then the New Year can be a real happy one.
E.Bhaarathi,
79B/1B, Bodi line,
Palanganatham,
Madurai-3.
WHILE BIDDING adieu to 2003, let us also bid our farewell to hatred and violence and welcome 2004 with much warmth and love. Let the New Year create a more vibrant India, poised for prosperity and growth in all spheres. Let the human psyche shed all mental reservations, encounter all stumbling blocks and create a new sociological order, paving way for amity and harmony. Let us foster tolerance, a harbinger for peace and happiness.
Let us work toward an India devoid of scourges like AIDS, Polio etc, the malaise afflicting the society. Let us take a resolution to build a newer India, which will spell doom for all those professing animosity. Let us all in the New Year practice what all religions preach — love. Let us nurture and cultivate the concept of harmony. Let us be humane.
S.V.Vaikundam,
Plot 139, Vivekananda Nagar,
Madurai-7.
WE ALL enjoy New Year celebrations in the hope of a better year ahead. But we tend to forget numerable people who are unable to celebrate the day owing to poverty, sickness and other problems. Let us all join hands to make 2004 a fruitful and meaningful year so that everybody can enjoy equally.
J.Shourie Ranjana,
17, Chinnasamy Pillai Street,
Bethaniapuram,
Madurai-16.
NEW YEAR is like turning a new leaf in our life. Everybody around is in a happy mood on New Year eve.
Celebrations galore and the climax is reached with the bursting of crackers at midnight. Some people prefer going to temples while some attend prayer meetings. In several colonies, residents take the initiative of wishing and exchanging sweets with neighbours. TV channels are also full of special programmes. At the end of the day, everybody has someway of enjoying the occasion. But everybody should resolve to become a good human being essentially.
V.R.Panneer Selvam,
20 Bharathiyar Street,
CITU Colony,
New Vilangudi,
Madurai-18.
JANUARY 1 IS undoubtedly a day of celebration and jubilation. It augurs a fresh beginning as the celebrations indicate joyous welcoming of the New Year. In the Western world, people hold family parties, greet and visit friends, take New Year resolutions and strive hard to follow them. In some countries New Year eve parties are symbolised by watching the old year make an exit when the clock strikes the midnight hour and the New Year is allowed to enter when the people join hands to form a circle and sing the song `Auld Lang Syne'. The very act is symbolic of unity and peace. But, what do we see today? The midnight madness, the noise, the `don't care' attitude — this unlimited freedom is appalling. I was a witness to a horrible incident a few years ago when four youngsters sped past a walking couple, trying to pull the sari `pallu' off the lady, who as a result of the scuffle fell on the road sustaining injuries. Is this what we call celebration? Does our culture - or for that matter any culture - teach this kind of barbarism?
Let us take a pledge on the New Year's day, that we will put an end to such dishonourable acts. Young India is energetic, dynamic, skilful, confident and full of promises. Let us not waste this gift. Rather let us help to covert all positive energies into a positive force. That should be our resolution on this New Year's day.
Padma Srinivasan,
C-47, Thirunavukkarasar Street,
Alagappan Nagar,
Madurai-3.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Visakhapatnam
|
