Dnc Times - October-2016

both the festivals people reflect on the goodness in their

life and wish prosperity and success in life.

“Life is what you celebrate, All of it. Even its

end." (Joanne Harris) in the same context, Danielle

Moniz ( A writer by choice and profession, I blog at

thedeniverse.com) reflects on his life and articulates

through his article the meaning of Christmas and Easter

in daily life and even in death. Perhaps, we lack the

ability to look beyond the worldly celebration and

reconnect the bond with the Almighty.

Sch. Jeyaseelan, on the other hand, defines the

festivals as the

prototypes of life

and indicates the

challenges that are

creeping in today's

world. In this issue

there is also an

article written by

V e n e r a b l e

Sugatananda who

s h a r e s t h e

implicat ions of

May, the important month for Buddhists and the very

practice of Dharma in day- to -day life. He tells us more

about how they signify the full moon day as Vasakha

Purnima. On this day, they call to mind three important

events of Gautama Buddha. Many people voluntarily

make their offerings to all the Buddhist monks. Indeed,

all writers have penned the view of various festivals in

their respective articles and have drawn profound

insights as well as critical significance in the current

scenario. To know more about festivals and celebration

of life read on what our writers have to say. I Hope this

issue will inspire you to become a better human person.

Have a fruitful reading.

rd(Wilson is 3 yr student of philosophy at JDV)

Life is a precious gift given by the Supreme

Being, and definitely, whatever comes from

him is incredibly good and marvelous. We need

not look for reasons to celebrate our life because it is

default in our being to be persons of celebration.

In the past, there was a time when every day of

the year was a celebration of life – '365 days of

celebration.' People celebrated every bit of their life.

Every event in the primitive societies, like hunting,

tilling, planting, collecting woods etc. was a sort of

celebration. Celebration of life was not merely a matter

of merry and bang.

On the contrary, it

c o n t a i n e d a n

attitude of gratitude

in an act of love and

in a vision for the

ca re o f fu tu re .

Unfortunately, the

current scenario has

missed such kind of

c e l e b r a t i o n s .

However, we do

have few occasions to celebrate our life through various

festivals that define as well as instill purpose in our lives.

Therefore, DNC TIMES team gladly presents

this issue on the theme “Festival, celebration of life".

This issue focuses on various festivals of our country

both traditional and religious. No matter what they are,

celebrations of these festivals play an important role in

our lives. It can be even said that without celebrations, we

cannot enjoy life to its fullest. Festivals also give the

opportunity to come together and leave behind religious,

caste, state and national boundaries. Fr. Shanaka

Mendin(Archdiocese of Colombo,Sri Lanka) highlights

the celebration of Deepawali and Aluthavurudu (Sinhala

New Year) in Sri Lanka. He describes that in celebrating

oCtoBEr - 2016oCtoBEr - 2016oCtoBEr - 2016 020202

EditorialEditorialEditorial

Pranay Wilson SJPranay Wilson SJPranay Wilson SJ

participating in the festivals like Christmas, Diwali, Id-

ul-fitr and Ganesh Chaturti. Festivals are celebration of

life and they help to instil in the minds of all, especially

children, a feeling of unity, no matter what religion they

follow, a feeling that festivals are meant to be celebrated

together.

For children festivals mean holidays, fun, feasts,

presents, new clothes, dancing, singing, bursting

crackers, rituals, blessings and happiness. Of course

grown-ups too have a big share in these celebrations, and

the way they look at these festivals, the children learn

from them and pass it down

t o t h e i r c h i l d r e n .

Surrounded by family and

friends, festivals become

m e m o r a b l e m o m e n t s

l e a v i n g a l a s t i n g

impression on their minds

and creating a bond with

the members of the family,

creating a sense of culture,

heritage and tradition.

India is the land of most festivals. More than 500

festivals in 365 days are celebrated in different parts of

India at different times. Festivals revolve around events

like the changing of the seasons, (harvesting and

sowing), commemorating an event, legend or history,

births of prophets, or invoking the blessings of Gods and

Goddesses. For eg. Gudi Padwa is the beginning of a new

year for many Indian people and it is celebrated in March.

Holi is one of the most colourful festivals. It arrives in our

country every year with spring. Onam is a harvest

festival, usually celebrated in August or September.

People in Kerala enjoy grand feasts and play festive

games during Onam. Pongal is also an important harvest

celebration in Tamil Nadu. People offer thanks to their

cows and bulls on this day and make sweets. Raksha

The poet John Keats in his poem 'A Thing of

Beauty' says: 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Its loveliness increases, it will never pass into

nothingness.'

Reflecting on the theme 'Festivals – Celebration

of Life', I would say that 'festivals are beautiful occasions

to celebrate the love and togetherness of families which

increase year by year passing its beauty and significance

down to generations to come. Festivals bring people

together and strengthen their bonds of union. The

remembrance of some past events, religious or national,

is the usual basis for

common celebrations.

Some festivals have in the

course of time become so

deeply rooted in the

consciousness of people,

t h a t t h e y c o n s t i t u t e

essential and inseparable

e lements of cu l tu re .

Throughout the year these

festivals are incorporated

in the calendar, and they are often celebrated in such a

manner that the external rituals and customs overshadow

the deeper meaning and more spiritual values they are

supposed to enshrine and transmit to the succeeding

generations. Unfortunately, owing to difference of

religion or culture, the unitive force of festivals at times is

not fully utilized and so sometimes they can even become

occasions for strife and communal clashes.

Festivals are occasions that serve to remind us of

our spiritual and cultural heritage. In India most festivals

are declared as national holidays and people from all

walks of life, belonging to different communities,

celebrate them with fervour, gusto and enjoyment. There

cannot be a more powerful symbol of communal

harmony than a sight of people of all religions

Festivals – Celebration of LifeFestivals – Celebration of Life Festivals – Celebration of Life


ArticleArticleArticle

Cont’d on Pg. 15

Sr. Susanne PereiraSr. Susanne PereiraSr. Susanne Pereira

a k h a d a ; t h e

celebration has a

strong impact on the

youngsters. Though

the youngsters are

easily influenced by

the fast changing culture and attractive fashions of the

modern world, a lot of youth make sincere effort to make

progress in acquiring languages and dance as well.

In today's world, the special celebration, like

Karam, is a need to preserve our identity and legacy of

our ancestors. In villages people work together and

celebrate Karam together but the setting of cities is

different. People who live in cities have a very different

lifestyle from that of the villagers. Many job holders and

workers quietly bear diasporic feelings in the cities.

There are some youth too who stay in cities to pursue

their studies. In this regard, Karam celebration creates a

special opportunity to reunite people. All categories of

people can come to celebrate Karam and share the joy of

life. The feeling of natural belongingness to a vibrant and

lively community itself eases them to lead a satisfactory

life in the cities. With this satisfactory feeling, the

moment of celebration doubles the joy of the Tribals.

The Karam story delivers some inspiring

messages for our life. It invites us to become human. It

calls us to be lovers of nature. It holds our attention to

celebrate life but also be responsible for our mother

earth. The Karam teaches us that our real and original

home is nature; by caring for the nature we care for

ourselves. Let us be aware that our relationship with the

earth is from eternity and we can never be happy by

exploiting and misusing it. Nature has always protected

us and will protect us. But in turn, we too should ever

strive to become more human, constantly transform

ourselves for better caring of our common home.

rd(Paleshwar is a 3 yr student of philosophy at JDV)

he Tribals of Chhotanagpur, generally known as

TAdivasis have a beautiful inheritance of

celebrating Karam. Karam, for the Tribal

community, is an expression to commemorate their

salvation story. On the feast of Karam, the community

prays specifically for the young unmarried women so

that they may have good husbands and family. The

celebration is also a reminder to each Adivasi that he/she

is a person who feels at home with nature and cannot

exist in separation from it and the fellow human beings.

This special event of Karam has a special

relationship with the Tribals, since it started from their

ancestral home which was in Rohtasgarh. It is said that in

Rohtasgarh, the Adivasis had plentiful to eat, drink and

celebrate life. But unfortunately, this celebration of life

came to an end when men of the community were

completely drunk and were defeated by their enemies.

The Tribals had to run for life: they crossed rivers and

dense forests to find a secure place, and finally hid

themselves in a cave. When they had entered in the cave,

green branches of a tree called Karam covered the mouth

of the cave. In this way the Tribals were saved by the tree.

The Christians, due to its given protection, consider it the

crucifix, on which the Lord surrendered Himself

willingly in order that the whole race of humanity may

have life in fullness.

Karam feast presents some of the beautiful

features of the Tribal community. The people come

together and thank God, for He saved them through this

tree. It shows them that they belong to a nature loving

community. They have a close bond with nature. At the

dancing place, akhada, all the members of the

community gather and enjoy dancing together. They

become so aesthetic that they forget their daily struggles

and worries. And they sing and dance for hours with the

resounding music of mandar (the traditional musical

instrument).In spite of some difficulties like not having

the knowledge of the tongues, languages used in the

Karam: A Celebration, Prayer & MissionKaram: A Celebration, Prayer & MissionKaram: A Celebration, Prayer & Mission


ArticleArticleArticlePaleshwar Lakra SJPaleshwar Lakra SJPaleshwar Lakra SJ

parents' lives by coming home for Christmas! This

exchange of gifts, sweets, dancing and merriment is all a

reflection of the celebration of us feeling loved and cared

for, by our Father in heaven.

Coincidentally, my grandmother was also born th

on 25 December. As little kids, we found this quite

exciting and used to have her cut a birthday cake with,

'Happy Birthday Jesus & Grandma' iced on the cake!

When she passed away a few years ago, one of the priests

at her funeral said something that completely changed

my perspective on life and death. He said, “If a group of

people are to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and one

of them falls sick and is left behind, whom will we feel

sorry for? The sick person? Or the others who took the

pilgrimage? Similarly,

someone who has died

before us has already met

the Father and we should

be happy about it, not

sorrowful.” What an

amazing way of looking at

death! As Catholics, we

probably know this, no

wonder we celebrate the

feast of Easter with as

much joy as we celebrate Christmas! For if Christmas is

about celebrating the birth of Jesus, Easter celebrates the

way He lived his life! His obedience, his faith, his

empathy, his forgiveness, his kindness, his selflessness,

his simplicity, his miracles, his triumph over death, and

most of all, his love! So with Christmas round the corner,

as we prepare our homes for His coming, let us also

prepare our hearts to serve like He did, and live a life of

love, which will be remembered and celebrated, even

much after we're gone!

(Danielle Moniz is a writer by profession. Her blog is

thedaniverse.com. )

I've always loved the month of December. The cool

breeze, the snuggly warm clothes, bonfire parties

and above all, Christmas Day! And this time,

Christmas was going to be ever more special for me!

It was Christmas Eve and amidst the joyful carols

and the aroma of scrumptious Christmas sweets, I

realised that we hadn't put up the main Christmas

decoration! So after some rummaging around, we finally

found, decorated and put up…the Christmas cradle. Yes,

that's right, Christmas cradle. For this year, along with

baby Jesus, we were to welcome the little one in my

womb as well!

Now isn't Christmas a celebration of the birth of

Jesus? And considering He wasn't lucky enough to have a

cradle to cuddle up in then,

shouldn't we offer him

one, now? A cradle in our

homes, and in our hearts!

But unfortunately, most of

u s b r i n g o u t t h e

meaningless Christmas

t ree ins tead . I was

for tunate enough to

deliver my baby on

Christmas Day and have him cuddle up with baby Jesus

in the same cradle. What a wonderful feeling it must have

been for him! Watching him peacefully sleep in Jesus'

arms, I hoped he would grow up to be the wise, obedient

and loving son, like our Lord was.

He was God, yet He chose to be born and live like

one of us. And just like we clean the house and prepare to

welcome a newborn, we do the same before Christmas.

It's a day we want to commemorate each year, year after

year! Christmas reminds us of the Lord's coming,

especially for us. And it is this very feeling that we

celebrate! Parents celebrate it by bringing their

childrenfancy gifts and children bring joy into their

Christmas & Easter- Celebrations Of Life!Christmas & Easter- Celebrations Of Life!Christmas & Easter- Celebrations Of Life!


ArticleArticleArticleDanielle MonizDanielle MonizDanielle Moniz

theoretical one. It is the step between the conception and

execution of an idea. It, then, means that festivals are the

primitive form of our lifestyle and that they could lead us,

if only they are possible of course, to a flawless lifestyle

intended at. Thus any festival has to be an enlivening

experience of our life so that it narrows down the gap

between the ideal and the one at present.

� However, festivals are now celebrated only with

a view of gaining something. The politicians want to gain

the support of the people by announcing bonuses and

freebees. Marketing of clothing and jewels keeps

breaking its own records every year. The release of films

has become a must; needless to say of the amount of

profit that the companies of fire crackers make. Those

who are not part of all the

above are happy because

they have got a holiday.

Thus , a lmos t a l l a r e

interested only in gaining

something. It all thus results

i n t he l o s ing o f t he

significance of festivals;

they are no longer festivals

but only days of marketing

and gaining. There hence

arise a series of questions. Are festivals any longer

celebrations of life? Are they the prototypes of our lives?

Are those prototypes even working?

� It is our duty to make the people realize the

significance of such festivals, not that they are to be

celebrated but that they are the prototypes of our way of

life. If the prototypes are only for marketing, then it

means that our life too is at stake which is, actually, the

reality now. What are we going to do? The questions

raised afore are awaiting our response.

rd(Jeyaseelan is a 3 yr student of philosophy at JDV)

Festivals are not merely days of celebration nor

are they days of remembrance of something

unique and thanksgiving, rather they are

celebrations of life itself. The traditions of any

celebration, therefore, imply the primordiality of their

being amidst our ancestors. It means that it is not because

of the festivals that people came together as one group,

rather the other way around. This very well implies that

what we celebrate as festivals today were the very ways

of life of our ancestors. Yes! They are our ideal yet

possible ways of life.

� Speaking of festivals, we have Ugadi which is the

celebration of the Telugu New Year and Pongal which is

the harvest festival of the Tamils. Both these festivals

share, as they should be, the

a f o r e - m e n t i o n e d

characteristic of any festival.

For instance, 'shedruchi' is a

dish, prepared on the Ugadi

day, which is a mixture of all

available six tastes meaning

that life is a mixture of six

different emotions which

actually make it a life.

Similarly the day of 'Maattu

Pongal' is dedicated to thank all the cattle that help the

farmers in farming. This tradition came to be because

such was the attitude of our ancestors towards the cattle

on any given day. Thus festivals are no longer customs

that have to be celebrated, rather they must be our very

way of life. I would like to, hence, view the festivals as

prototypes (working models) of life.

� The word prototype derives from the Greek

prototypon meaning 'primitive form' or 'first'. A

prototype is an early model of a product built to act as a

thing to be learned from. Prototyping serves to provide

specifications for a real, working system rather than a

Harvest of South IndiaHarvest of South IndiaHarvest of South India


ArticleArticleArticleJeyaseelan SJJeyaseelan SJJeyaseelan SJ

Guru Amar Das to be celebrated by Sikhs, the others

being Maghi and Diwali.To mark the celebrations, Sikh

devotees generally attend the before dawn Gurdwara

with flowers and offerings in hands. Processions through

t o w n s a r e a l s o

common. Vaisakhi is

celebrated in much

the same way as

Gurpurbs Gudwaras.

are decorated and

visi ted. Parades,

dancing and singing

happen throughout the day. Many Sikhs choose to be

baptised into the Khalsa brotherhood on this day.

The festival is marked with nagar kirtan

processions: processions through the streets (nagar

means "town") which form an important part of Sikh

culture and religious celebrations. Kirtan is a term

meaning the singing of hymns from the Guru Grath

Sahib, the Sikh holy book. Celebrations always include

music, singing and chanting scriptures and hymns. The

processions are led by traditionally dressed Panj Piaras.

The Guru Granth Sahib will be carried in the procession

in a place of honour.

Since, Vaisakhi is primarily a harvest festival, the

central traditions revolve around harvesting of the crops.

The main tradition, that is the Awat Pauni, is

characterized by people getting together in large groups

to harvest wheat. Men, women and children take part in

this ritual, and work tirelessly to harvest the crop, to the

beat of drums, which are played simultaneously in the

fields. The tradition also includes people singing special

songs and dohas to the tune of the drums. People also

perform the traditional Punjabi folk dance- the giddah, or

the Bhangra, on this day. Bhangra, is traditionally a

harvest dance.

(Gurpreet Kaur Saluja lives in Mumbai)

very April, communities across the world come

Etogether to celebrate Vaisakhi. For centuries,

Vaisakhi has marked the spring harvest, and

Punjabi farmers have celebrated this occasion with

community gatherings and festivals.

Vaisakhi is celebrated on the first day of the second

month of Vaisakh according to the . Nanakshahi calendar

The festival is celebrated on 13th or 14th April, with the

era starting in 1699 A.D. Vaisakhi is a Punjabi harvest

festival for people of the . This day is also Punjab region

observed as a thanksgiving day by farmers whereby

farmers pay their tribute, thanking God for the abundant

harvest and also praying for future prosperity.

Vaisakhi took on special significance for the Sikh

community in 1699, when the tenth of the Sikh Guru-

Prophets—Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708

CE)—invited his disciples to join him in the city of

Anandpur Sahib. At this gathering, Guru Gobind Singh

formally established the Khalsa Panth, the Order of the

Pure, giving rise to the festival of Khalsa Sirjana Divas. It

is also used as a celebration for those accepting the five

Ks.

During the Vaisakhi festival Guru Gobind Singh

came out of a tent carrying a sword. He challenged any

Sikh who was prepared to give his life to come into the

tent. The Guru returned alone with his sword covered in

blood. He then requested another volunteer and repeated

the same action four times until five men disappeared

into the tent. The crowd was very concerned until they

saw five men return wearing blue turbans with the Guru.

These five men became known as the Panj Piare, or

'Beloved Five'. The men were then baptised into the

Khalsa by the Guru. He sprinkled them with Amrit

('immortalising nectar': the Sikh term for holy water) and

said prayers. This is the basis of the Sikh baptismal

ceremony.

Vaisakhi is one of the three festivals chosen by

Vaisakhi - A Punjabi Harvest FestivalVaisakhi - A Punjabi Harvest FestivalVaisakhi - A Punjabi Harvest Festival


ArticleArticleArticleGurpreet KaurGurpreet KaurGurpreet Kaur

Historically, all feasts and

festivals have been celebrated to mark the time of peace

and prosperity. Naturally, the etymology of the word

Bihu takes us to two, supposedly Dimahasa, words 'bi'

and 'shu'. Bi literally means 'to ask' and shu means 'peace

and prosperity; hence, Bihu literally means 'asking for

peace and prosperity'. However, over the year the word

has evolved from just being 'asking', to celebrating and

reminding one another of the peace and prosperity that is

integral part of our life.

Despite all these historical and cultural richness

of the festival, the question arises as to whether Bihu has

still retained its significance as a time of celebration,

especially amidst the varied trouble torn situations that

are prevalent in modern day Assam. We know that Assam

is one of the biggest and culturally most diverse states of

India. There is also this perennial social and political

unrest. This is accompanied by the annual floods due to

the regular monsoon uproar of the River Brahmaputra. In

such a context, Bihu, I think, indicates not just some days

of celebration in a year, but also the fullness of life that

keeps reappearing and so retelling oneself that even

difficult moments of life are passing. Bihu becomes a

symbol of hope, and the triple Bihu celebration emerges

as a moment that reminds one that life is not just a battle

to be fought, but a journey to be enjoyed.

( Pradeep is pursuing his MA in English in Pune

University)

I have not met a single Assamese whose face does not

shine with a broad smile on hearing the word Bihu.

That is the power of the magical word Bihu. Bihu is a

common festival that is celebrated all over Assam. One

of the important aspects of the growth of 'a group of

individuals' into 'a community' is its celebration of the

regular cyclic phenomena of life. The celebrations

marking these phenomena are what we call festivals.

Bihu is one such festival of the Assamese community.

Bihu, as often thought to be, is not a single

festival. There are three Bihus: Bohag/Rongali Bihu,

Kongali/Kati Bihu, and Bhogali/Magh Bihu. Rongali

Bihu celebrates the arrival of the spring, and usually is in

April. Kongali Bihu is usually in October, and it is a

celebration of the appearance of the first fruits in the

field; and Bhogali Bihu is celebrated in January as

harvest festival. Besides being social celebrations, they

also have religious significance associated with them.

While Rongali and Bhogali Bihu are occasions to thank

gods for the harvest and good ambience around, Kongali

Bihu is a time not only of thanksgiving but also of

pleading the gods not to bring any curse on the newly

growing crop, but to protect and nurture it. Further, Bihu,

on all the three occasions, is a time of celebrating life

with one another. Performing religious rites, eating and

drinking, singing and dancing with musical instruments

like Dhol, Taal, Pepa, Toka, Baanhi, Xutuli and Gogona,

having adventurous sports like buffalo fights – all are

part of fun.

Bihu – Celebrating LifeBihu – Celebrating LifeBihu – Celebrating Life



W. K Pradeep SJW. K Pradeep SJW. K Pradeep SJ

you my experience way back in 2010, when as an

aspirant I was sent to a certain outstation for mission

exposure. It was a very rich experience. There I prepared

the cathecumens alongside the cathechist et al.

On the eve of the solemnity, all the outstaions

approximately 23 assembled at the quasi parish for the

preparations; confessions, choir practice, liturgy

animation and much more. What stroke me was the

welcoming spirit of the Christians of the locality who

welcomed those who had come from far off outstaions

and had to be accommodated by them.

You can imagine what a massive celebration

which of course went on. There was the Mass which

lasted for almost three to four hours and also sandwitched

within the mass, all the groups under the patronage to our

lady, dedicating new members. Oh what a celebration!

After the celebration of the mass, we shared a common

meal and a great eureka could be seen on the expressions

of the masses.

This is just a glimpse of the celebration of the

solemnity of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Hope to share with you more on subsequent editions.

Until then may the peace of the Lord be with you all!

Mother Mary pray for us.

st( Tapang is 1 yr student of theology at JDV)

Cameroon which has been baptised with the

name “Africa in Miniature”, is one of the West

African countries that make up the African

continent. Among the richness of its vast varieties and

contributions to the world at large, I bring to you the

celebration of the solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary th

which falls on the 15 of August annually.

This feast celebrated by the holy mother Church

is held on a very high platform in Cameroon. It will be

worthwhile for you to know that Cameroon is highly

percentaged with Christians and other ecclesial

communities come on board. It is on this day that the

ministers of God and the lay faithful are quite engaged

into different activities. I remember it was on this day in

the year 2002, I received the First Holy Communion.

The celebrations through out the country are very lively

and of course, it is declared a public holiday.

In the villages especially, more flavour is given to

this day, especially in outstaions where the priests

seldom go. Cathechists in these outstaions ensure that the

cathecumens are well prepared and ready for the

sacraments. During this trek of the priest, he tries to visit

all of these outstations, listens to confessions and

celebrates the Mass, while the cathecumens receive the

sacraments. Permit me at this juncture to share with

Assumption of Mary in Cameroon Assumption of Mary in Cameroon Assumption of Mary in Cameroon


ArticleArticleArticleMarius TapangMarius TapangMarius Tapang

from the samsara, only Dhamma, as taught by the

Supreme Buddha, when practised sincerely, cuts the

bondage of the world and leads persons to Nibbana.

The flow of Dhamma remains uninterrupted for

those who seek it sincerely. Dhamma is there to be seen,

experienced and realized in our day-to-day lives

provided we pay wise attention accompanied by

mindfulness. Mindfulness is the key to correct

understanding and development of Right View. When we

see the phenomena around us as they really arise and pass

away and not as they

generally appear to us,

namely, apparently

pleasing or unpleasing,

t h e n w e s t a r t

understanding their true

nature. All phenomena

that we experience, we

did experience in the

past or will experience

in future, internal or

external, far or near,

loss or subtle, inferior

or superior, belonging to past, present or future, they are

essentially impermanent, productive of un-

satisfactoriness and devoid of a permanent abiding self,

i.e., they are empty of any substance. However, because

of lack of wise attention and mindfulness, the clear

comprehension of the phenomena does not arise and this

leads to development and strengthening of wrong view

within us. This wrong view makes us believe that some

phenomena are pleasant and shall remain so for all times

in future, and, therefore, they should be craved for,

whereas some other phenomena are unpleasant and are

going to continue in the same way and hence, they should

be pushed away by us.

Guided by our wrong view, we behave

incorrectly; and tend to crave for pleasant

May is a special month for Buddhists. The full

moon day in May is celebrated as Vesakha

Purnima. Three Great Events in the life of

the Supreme Buddha, namely, the birth, the

Enlightenment and the Mahaparinibbana took place on

this day.

On Vesakha day, Buddhists and followers gather

in their various temples before dawn for the ceremonial,

and honorable, hoisting of the Buddhist flag. They sing

hymns in praise of the holy triple gem: The Buddha, The

D h a r m a ( h i s

teachings), and The

Sangha (his disciples).

People make simple

offerings of flowers,

candles and joss-sticks.

Many wear white robes

and only eat vegetarian

food on and around

Vesakha. They spend

the day in the temple

trying to renew their

determination to live

the eight fold Precepts. They also donate money, food or

goods to the poor, the elderly and the sick. Keeping with

the spirit of The Buddha's teaching many birds, insects

and animals are released in what is known as a 'symbolic

act of liberation.' In some temples a small statue of the

Buddha is placed in front of the altar in a small basin of

water and decorated with flowers, allowing devotees to

pour water over the statue. Monks also recite verses

uttered by the Buddha to invoke peace and happiness.

All of us seek for happiness but it can be achieved

if we practice Dhamma. We are indeed lucky to be living

in a time when the Supreme Buddha's Noble

Dispensation is still there and we are in a position to

practise the Dhamma. Dhamma is the most shining and

valuable of all things because nothing else liberates us

Vesakha PurnimaVesakha PurnimaVesakha Purnima


ArticleArticleArticleVen. Bhikkhu SugatanandaVen. Bhikkhu SugatanandaVen. Bhikkhu Sugatananda

our dependence on the objects and people around us. At

this level we start developing the understanding that

previously we kept our mind engaged and burdened with

a lot of things that were not useful for us and then start

letting go of these phenomena one by one and

immediately, with the giving up of the attachment

towards these phenomena, our mind automatically

becomes lighter and we start feeling the happiness that

comes from a lighter and less burdened mind. This is the

beginning point of freedom.

The further we remove our dependence on the

phenomena, the calmer the mind becomes and wiser we

get. Those who are developing this path start realizing the

inherent burdensome nature of the unwholesome

qualities such as greed, hatred, ignorance etc. and also

the lightness and relief that comes from the wholesome

qualities such as detachment, loving kindness and

compassion and wisdom and consequently, the mind gets

more inclined to perform more and more wholesome

actions and wishes to avoid unwholesome actions. On

account of growth of wholesome actions, the meditation

starts spreading its deeper roots and wisdom starts

growing and then there comes a time when the wisdom

reaches the threshold and our defilements start getting

eradicated. Then we experience the liberation which is

Unbinding (Nibbana) and all our sorrows fade away. This

is the path to happiness.

(Sugatananda is a monk at Maha Bodhi Loka Shanti

Buddha Vihara)

phenomenon by the unpleasant phenomena. By this

constant play of attraction and repulsion, we do not allow

our mind to settle down nor allow it to develop wisdom

about the real nature of the phenomena. All phenomena

arise only to pass away, and is essentially empty and

consequently, incapable of producing any abiding

happiness for us. But our deluded mind does not see this

simple fact and gets caught in the constant wrangling of

liking and disliking and remains burdened for all times.

When this mind is burdened, then the happiness that

could have arisen out of unburdening of the mind by

developing the detachment remain an impossibility and

we never experience the happiness that is borne of a

burden free state in mind.

Our suffering is necessarily self-wrought; we

through our wrong understanding tend to attach to a lot of

things which are unnecessary and burdensome for us.

But due to the lack of wisdom in us, we do not see them

correctly and take delight in the burden. For some time

these burdens appear to us as a source of great joy,

however, in the long run they become the reason for far

greater sorrow. And then when we tend to feel the pain

then we blame the phenomena for our suffering and

move on to another equally burdensome object, not

realizing the suffering is just round the corner. After some

time, the process of arising of un-satisfactoriness gets

repeated and we continue to search for another

phenomena thinking the new one might be able to help us

overcome the suffering and give happiness. However, by

their very nature, all phenomena are unsatisfactory and

therefore as long as we cling on to them, there is no

opportunity for us to overcome the suffering.

When we start seeing the inherent non-

dependability with regard to all the objects that are

around us, by developing the wisdom bit by bit, then we

no longer rely on them and consider them as substantial.

The insubstantiality becomes clearer and clearer and as

we move towards being independent by giving up



year wishes with family members, relatives and friends

in the morning, people, put rangolis outside their homes

and garlands of flowers outside and inside their homes.

We light divas in our houses to ward off evil. Go to the

fire temple after taking a bath and pray to god for the year

ahead.

People cook special food at home called rice dal

and fish patio, or even order food for lunch and dinner

from Parsi caterers. Evenings are generally spent by

going out for a Parsi Natak or a movie or going out for

dinner. We Parsis are famous for wine and dine and so

generally on such auspicious occassion as new year men

generally like to drink at home or outside with family and

friends.

For the Irani new year of Jamshedi Navroze the

routine followed is the same except that a special table is

set up with selected food items and liquids which has its

own significance. This table is generally kept for the

whole day of new year. May the glory of King spread all

over, May Lord praise us in galore, Lets pray for

happiness and prosperity, May this Parsi New Year gives

us Happiness. Lasting ever and ever !!…Happy New

Year!

(Sorab is working as a Chief Engineer in the

Merchant Navy)

he Parsis landed in the west coast of India in

TGujarat 1386 years ago in a small town called

Sanjan, in alsad district, after fleeing from our

motherland Iran to save ourselves from the invaders from

a particular region who wanted us to get converted or get

executed. Some out of fear had got converted and

majority fled to save their lives and religion. In India we

were welcomed by the ruler of Gujarat, provided we

fulfilled certain conditions put down by him, which we

have been doing for all these years.

Festivals:

There are two major festivals we Parsis celebrate

one being our new year also called as navroze and the

other being the new year of Iranis called as jamshedi

navroze, which every year falls on the day of the equinox

21st march. This festival is still celebrated in the Persian

Gulf countries like Iran.

Parsi new year of navroze falls every year in

August as of now and with every leap year gets back by

one day as we have only 365 days in a calendar year and

no leap years. Before our new year t h e 1 0 d a y s

preceeding that is our holy days when we worship our

departed souls and are mourning days for us. On the day

of the new year generally after getting

Parsi & Irani New yearParsi & Irani New yearParsi & Irani New year


ArticleArticleArticleMr. Sorab SadriMr. Sorab SadriMr. Sorab Sadri

be the god of Ayurveda) and also for their good health ,

while the businessmen worship their treasures on this

day.

Narakchaturdashi: It is believed that on this

day the very cruel and powerful demon was killed by lord

Krishna. As a symbolic gesture to celebrate this occasion,

the family members crush a typical kind of fruit before

their bath. It signifies the victory of good over evil .

Lakshmi poojan: On this day, people perform

rituals to please the Goddess Lakshmi, believed to be the

Goddess of wealth.

Balipratipada : This is celebrated to mark the

conquest of Lord Vishnu over the evil demon Bali.

Then there is also the celebration of bond of love

between brothers and sisters called bhai dooj. And

Vasubaras where the holy cows are worshipped. And

there is also a day called Padwa, which also marks the

celebration of a bond of love between a husband and

wife.

Before the Diwali festival, people clean their

houses, paint or redecorate it. New clothes are bought

and Diwali sweets are prepared. It is believed that since it

falls at the beginning of the winter season, the traditional

sweets consumed during Diwali help us to prepare our

bodies for the cold and dry weather. Also special bath

rituals are observed during Diwali called Abhyanga

snana, where oil is massaged all over the body and

bathing is specially prepared using a herbal powder

called ubatan. Lighting of the lamps during this festival

indicates the victory of light over darkness. It is an

obeisance to the heavens/ universe for attaining health

wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. The aspects

important to human life are paid respect. Belief and hope

in triumph of good, removing darkness in our lives and

those around us is the essence of Diwali.

( Neeta Patil works at Capgemini Consulting Ltd)

n a culturally diverse country like India, a number

Iof festivals are celebrated throughout the year. They

are typically woven around mythological, seasonal,

religious or spiritual reasons. Most of them have a deep

philosophical significance behind them.

Towards the end of the monsoon season, a chain

of festival begins, where people observe fast, consume

vegetarian food, worship various aspects of nature e.g.

Nagapanchami where the cobra/ serpent is worshipped

and a garland made from leaves of various kinds of

monsoon seasonal plants and flowers is offered to him.

These leaves are supposed to be from the plant habitat

where the cobra is supposed to reside.

Although there are religious reasons offered for

consuming vegetarian food during monsoon, the

philosophy could be that the digestive system is sluggish

during this period, it's the breeding season for the fish and

consuming them at this time could lead to their

extinction. Also animals in general could suffer from

some kind of disease or the other and thus consuming

them could be harmful.

Nagapanchami is followed by raksha bandhan,

Ganesh festival, Pola ( where bulls are worshipped since

they aid in farming ) then Navratri, Dassehra and finally

Diwali.

Though some festivals could be celebrated only

in some parts of India and not in others, Diwali is an

exception. It is celebrated across the length and breadth

of the country. It's an ancient festival. According to the

epic Ramayana, it is believed that Rama returned home

after 14 years of exile on this day and hence since then

Diwali is celebrated. Diwali also generally marks the end

of the harvest season for Kharip crops. It is celebrated on

4 consecutive days. Each day of Diwali has different

significance.

Dhanatrayodashi : Ayurvedic doctors celebrate

this to pay respect to the deity Dhanvantari (believed to

Diwali - Diwali - Belief and Hope in Triumph of GoodBelief and Hope in Triumph of GoodDiwali - Belief and Hope in Triumph of Good


ArticleArticleArticleNeeta PatilNeeta PatilNeeta Patil

Eid al-Fitr “festival of breaking of the fast” is an

important religious holiday celebrated by

Muslims worldwide that marks the end of

Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The

religious Eid is the first and only day in the month of

Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast.

The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30

days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of

Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day

of the month of Shawwal. The date for the start of any

lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new

moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of

celebration varies by locality.

Eid al- Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer)

consisting of two Rakats (units) and generally offered in

an opening field or large hall. It may be performed only in

congregation and has an additional extra six Takbirs

three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah and

three of them just before Ruku' in the second raka'ah in

the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam. Other Sunni school

usually have twelve Takbirs, seven in the first , and five at

the beginning of the second raka'ah. This Eid al- Fitr

salat depends on which juristic opinion is followed, Fard,

Mustahabb or mandoob.

Muslims believe that they are commanded by

Allah, as mentioned in the Quran, to continue their fast

until the last day of Ramadan and pray the Zakat and fitra

before offering the Eid prayer.

Traditionally, it is the day (beginning at sunset)

of the first sighting of the crescent moon shortly after

sunset. If the

m o o n i s n o t

o b s e r v e d

immediately after th

the 29 day of the

previous lunar

month (e i ther

because clouds

block its view or because the western sky is still too

bright when the moon sets), then it is the following day.

Eid al- Fitr is celebrated for one, two or three

days. Common greetings during this holiday are the

Arabic greeting 'Eid Mubarak (“Blessed Eid”).

Muslims are also encouraged on this day to forgive and

forget any difference with others or animosities that may

have occurred during the year.

Typically, practising Muslims wake up early in

the morning – always before sunrise-offer Salatul Fjr and

in keeping with the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad

clean their teeth, take a shower before prayers, put on

new clothes and apply perfume.

It is forbidden to fast on the Day of Eid. It is

customary to acknowledge this with a small sweet

breakfast, preferable of dates, before attending a special

Eid prayer.

As an obligatory act of charity, money is paid to the poor and the needy before performing the 'Eid prayer'. The Eid prayer is performed in congregation in open areas like fields, community centres, etc. After the prayers, Muslims visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances or hold large communal celebration in homes, community centres or rented halls. Eid gifts, known as Eidi, are frequently given to children and relatives.

(Annet is studying in St. Vincent’s college, Pune)

EIDEIDEID


ArticleArticleArticleAnnet AnandrajAnnet AnandrajAnnet Anandraj

time to perform many rituals during this festival. This

practice of celebration is mostly observed by the farmers

in the villages, because this celebration is a form of

offering their gratitude to the Sun for their harvest. On an

auspicious time, the newly built hearth is lit up, and a pot

of fresh milk is kept on that new hearth to wish success

and prosperity in their life. Furthermore the whole family

rally around the dining table to light an oil lamp, which

symbolises the new beginning and bright future in their

family. It is obvious that in celebrating both Deepavali

and Aluth Avurudu, people reflect on the goodness in

their life, and wish for prosperity and success in their lief

for now and ever.

( Shanaka is a priest in the Archdiocese of

Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Deepavali” festival is commonly celebrated by

both Sri Lankan and Indian Hindu faithful.

This festival is celebrated annually either in

October or November. Celebration of this festival in the

life of Hinduism reflects the defeat of the darkness in

one's life and one's family by the goodness. In other

words, it symbolizes the victory of good forces over evil

forces in one's life. Because of this reason this festival is

also termed as the “Festival of Lights,” By tradition, they

light up small lamps in their homes and the temples as a

symbolic of their celebration, and wish a bright and

prosperous future.

Sri Lankan Buddhist faithful traditionally and th

annually celebrate a similar festival on 14 of April,

called “Aluth Avurudu” known as “Sinhala New Year,”

where the entire country is in festive mood on this special

day. The practice of this joyful celebration goes down to

the time of pre-historical period of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan

Buddhists mostly celebrate this colourful festival on the

basis of astrology and the study of the signs of the zodiac,

where they believe that the Sun, which is the base on

which time and seasons counted upon, journeys from

“Meena” to “Mesha”(from Pisces to Aries) in the

Zodiac.This journey of Sun is commonly called

“Mankranthiya” or “Transition.” During the period of

transition is called “Nonagathya” or no auspicious time.

During this time they refrain from engaging in their usual

works, and observe some religious ritual at Buddhist

temples. Therefore they observe “Nakath” or auspicious

Celebration of light in Sri LankaCelebration of light in Sri LankaCelebration of light in Sri Lanka

Cont’d from Pg. 3

Bandhan is a celebration of a special bond

between brothers and sisters. The sister ties a 'rakhi'

around her brother's wrist and he, in return, promises to

look after her, and gives her a present.What better way

for a brother to show his love, respect, admiration and to

give protection to his sister especially in our country

when the girl-child is looked down on by society and

treated shamefully.

Conclusion: Festivals play an important part in the

social bonding of Indians all over the world and develop

a sense of national integration. Indians living abroad

have their share in celebrating not only the Indian

festivals but also those of the countries in which they live

thus integrating themselves in the lifestyle and feeling

one with the people they live with. India being a land of

diverse culture, language, tradition, caste and creed, one

experiences a myriad of festivals enhancing the

celebration of life and love all over.

( Sr. Susanne is the Secretary to the Provincial of

Ursuline Franciscan Congregation)

Festivals, a Celebration of Life


ArticleArticleArticleFr. Shanaka MendisFr. Shanaka MendisFr. Shanaka Mendis

Hindus but Christians and Muslims also celebrate Onam.

It is one such festival that unites all the people of different

races and religions.

� How significant is Onam today? It is said that

Kerala never witnessed a better time than it witnessed

during the rule of king Mahabali. He was the most just

king ever to rule Kerala. The legend says that the king

sacrificed his life and his wealth to stand true to his

words. The people were equally treated and respected

each other during his kingship. Keralites sing on that day

“maveli nadu vaneedum kalem manushyarelarum onnu

pole” it means all were equal, when Mahabeli ruled the

land. Like all other feast days, Onam also leaves us in a

world, to think over about the present society or to reflect

on the world where we live.

The great disparities

between the rich and the

poor, conflicts due to the

religious fundamentalism,

t h e m a n i p u l a t e d

governments, corrupted

authorities etc. make the

meaning of Onam feast as a

matter of thought. If it is

celebrated only in peripheral

level, Onam also will pass us

with great noise like all other celebrations. It's a social

remainder to evoke the responsibility of a citizen. It's

something to mould one's inner values to have a universal

mind to accept that all are equal and to sacrifice

everything for an authentic life. When the different

colors of flowers are brought together, the Pookalalm

(Rangoli of flowers) gains its beauty. The differences in

the society should not be a cause for division, it should

unite the people for creating a beautiful society. So let us

try to imbibe the real thrust of this great celebration.

nd( Charles is a 2 yr student of theology at JDV)

Onam is a festival which is still celebrated in

today's modern time. Onam is considered as

one of the most beautiful and meaningful

festivals in the world. It stands as very pure and beautiful

festival of the Indians and is known for its richness in

diversity. It is an ancient celebration surviving even

now. Sometimes people misunderstand Onam as a

harvest festival. Actually no harvest is happening on

Chingam (Malayalam month). That would be a term

given by English people. There are records of Onam

being celebrated during the Sangam age. The record of

Onam is found in earliest writings about Kulasekhara

Perumals around AD 800. Onam elevates the rich

cultural heritage of Kerala. Onam has two specific

significances. First it is the communal memory and

celebration of past history of

Mahabali legend. A story of

how paradise was lost by

sacrificing the life of the

King for his people. He was

known for his generosity and

love for his people. And he

was blessed for his desire to

visit his people once in every

year. So people make

elaborate preparations to

welcome their king on this day, to bless the people with

happiness and prosperity.

Onam is celebrated in the starting of the month of

Chingam, which is the first month of Malayalam

calander. And celebration lasts for ten days with great

pomp and enthusiasm. Now people who are outside

kerala also celebrate the Onam joining the other people in

the celebrations. They also feel involved in the festival

activities. Different kinds of fun games, Pookalam

(Rangoli of flowers), vegetarian lunch called

Onasadhya, Thiruvathirakali (dance), vallam kali

(boatrace), make the particular day special. Not only



OnamOnamOnam

Charles CSTCharles CSTCharles CST

environment is very youthful and invigorating.

Significance: It represents the celebration of the

Goddess Amba (Power) in nine different forms.

5. Durga Puja

One of the important festivals of India, Durga

Puja is celebrated with grandeur by Bengalis, throughout

the country. The 10 days of fast, feast, and worship of

Goddess Durga are accompanied by cultural songs,

dances, and dramas. Huge and beautiful Durga idols are

made and placed in specially made artistic

Pandals(canopies). People dress in traditional wear and

go around the pandal – hopping, praying, and feasting.

Significance: It commemorates Lord Rama's invocation

of Goddess Durga before going to war with the demon

king Ravana.

6. Vishu

Vishu, a Hindu festival, is among the most

important festivals of India. The festivities include

performing the puja, bursting crackers, decorating with

lights, buying and wearing new clothes, giving money to

children and loved ones, and having the Vishu feast that

has equal proportions of salt, sweet, sour and bitter items.

Significance: It is the start of the Hindu New year.

People celebrate Vishu to commemorate the return of

“Sun God”.

7. Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi, another important Hindu

religious festivals of India, is a 10-day affair of colorful

festivities. Huge handcrafted Ganesh idols are installed

in homes or outdoors, in public pandals. Pujas are

performed in the morning and the evening. The last day is

the day of Visarjan – immersion of those idols in a water

body.

Significance: It's the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the

elephant-headed God. rd

( Praveen Jose is 3 yr student of philosophy at JDV)

(Collated from Various Sources)

1. Diwali

Diwali, the most prominent Hindu festival of

India, is celebrated with a lot of pomp and show. During

this festival of lights, houses are decorated with clay

lamps, candles, and Ashok leaves. People wear new

clothes, participate in family puja, burst crackers, and

share sweets with friends, families, and neighbors.

Significance: The festival marks the return of Lord

Rama to home, along with his wife Sita and brother

Lakshmana, after a long exile of 14 years.

2. Holi

Also known as the festival of colors, Holi is one

of the famous festivals of India, celebrated with a lot of

fervor across the country. On the eve of Holi, people

make huge Holika bonfires and sing and dance around it.

On the day of Holi, people gather in open areas and apply

dry and wet colors of multiple hues to each other, with

some carrying water guns and colored water filled

balloons.

Significance: It signifies the victory of good (Prince

Prahlad) over evil (Holika) and the arrival of spring.

3. Dusshera

Dussehra, also referred to as Vijayadashami, is

also among the most famous festivals of India. It is

celebrated in different forms countrywide.

Ramlila(enactment of scenes from Ramayana) is held

everywhere for 10 days. It's culminated with “Ravan

Dahan” – the burning of huge effigies of Ravana,

Meghnath and kumbhakaran which is a real spectacle to

see.

Significance: It celebrates the death of the demon king

Ravana at the hands of Lord Rama.

4. Navratri

Navratri festival is celebrated by all people

throughout India in different ways. In Gujarat, it is a nine

day celebration of rejuvenating Garba nights and highly

energetic Dandiya Raas dances. People are dressed in

beautiful, colorful traditional clothes and the

Major Festivals in IndiaMajor Festivals in IndiaMajor Festivals in India


ArticleArticleArticlePraveen Jose SJPraveen Jose SJPraveen Jose SJ

St. Xavier’s Youth - Camp Sunday 25th September 2016 was a very big day for our youth group. After

planning for almost a month and working together, the day had finally arrived.

This day we had organized, "Father Barco Memorial Throwball Tournament 2016"

for girls. Teams from all over Pune Diocesan had come to take part in the

tournament. We had a list of almost 12 teams, including the teams of Mothers of

Xaviers which was called as MOX. Rev Father Andrew and Rev Father Misquitta

inaugrated the function and welcomed the teams for participation.

It was very exciting to see the matches. Our Youth Group members worked

together to make this tournament a very big success. Each one of us were given

different task to perform so that the tournament goes on very smoothly. There was

a surprise match for the boys as well. The day ended with nail-biting finals

between Sacred heart youth group and St. Patrick's youth group. The Tournament

was won by St Patrick's youth group. Father Andrew gave away the prizes n

Trophy. Finally one of the youth member gave the vote of thanks. After a tedious

day which finally ended with a smile on everyone's face and memories in

everyone's heart .We would like to specially thank Fr. Andrew Fernandes SJ for his

constant support n all the sponsors for their support without them we wouldn't b

able to put a big show n a smile on everyone's face. - Steffi Pereira

Gorpuri. Telugu Sangam The Ghorpuri Telugu sang am had arrived in Pune around 1970. They are mainly from the districts of

Cudapha , Nellore and Prakash of Andhrapradesh. Majority of them do not have their own houses and so they stay

in rented houses resulting scattered houses as for their convenience. They have strong catholic faith and show

special devotion to Velankani Matha. Scholastics form DNC assist in their faith journey by going to ministry

regularly. Scholastic those who speak Telugu actively involved in teaching Telugu prayers, conducting family

prayers and helping them in the choir. Whenever there is special occasion in their families they invite scholastic to

bless the occasion by conducting special rosary service. Scholastics with dedicated commitment teach new Telugu

hymns for the church feasts and lead the faithful to share the love of Christ. Though it is tiring job to cycle 10k.m to

reach the catholic body yet it is rewarding effort in the sight of the lord to continue his mission

181818oCtoBEr - 2016oCtoBEr - 2016oCtoBEr - 2016

Education

Dnc Times - October-2016