In the hustle and bustle of the festive season, the pursuit of presents, the struggle against ice and snowstorms, it is hard to imagine that somewhere on the other side of the world, eternal summer reigns, and that Father Christmas, if he ever appears, only in the refrigerator. So how does a much-loved Russian New Year take place in faraway India?
Content:
Indian New Year
India is a country with a long history, which has blended the traditions of many different religions and nationalities. Each of the 29 states has its own language, holidays and customs. But I can say with certainty that the New Year we are accustomed to is hardly celebrated in India.
What does this have to do with anything?
- First, from time immemorial to the present, a large proportion of Indians have been engaged in agriculture. The close relationship with nature has inspired the natural joy of a change in the weather, a bountiful harvest or a respite from arduous field work. Spring is a symbol of renewal, of awakening. It is during this period that the so called Indian New Year takes place.
- Secondly, in India astrology is of great importance. And in contrast to the European system, which is oriented to the Sun, here the Moon is of great importance. The main religious festivals are regulated by the lunar calendar, so there are no fixed dates.
- Thirdly, in one way or another, India is home to many different religions: Muslims, Jainists, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians and, of course, Hindus. Their attitude to the New Year is also very ambiguous.
How they celebrate the New Year in India
Muslims do not attach much importance to this holiday. It is calculated according to the lunar calendar.
For Sikhs and some Hindus, the New Year comes in the second half of March according to the special Nanakshahi calendar.
Buddhists, depending on their currents, also use the phases of the moon to determine the day for celebrating Losar – the Tibetan New Year.
The more usual format of New Year celebrations is typical of the Christian population – the states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya, parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa. But Christmas here has a greater significance and is the main holiday.
Diwali – the Indian New Year
Incidentally, it is a common belief that the colourful and boisterous festival of Diwali or ‘Festival of Lights’ is the general Indian New Year. This is not quite true. The fact is that in some states, the end of October/beginning of November (according to the local calendar) coincides with when the new accounting year begins. Up till now, the finances of small shops and big shops are recorded by hand in thick notebooks, and these ledgers are updated before Diwali. Hence the association with the New Year. But in reality, Diwali is just one of the major and beloved festivals across the country.
New Year in Goa.
The vibrant globalisation of the world has affected India – economic ties with the Western world, tourist flows, the popularity of mass media are affecting the younger generation. New Year is becoming a fashionable occasion for a raucous party. No wonder the more sophisticated Indians rush to the small touristy state of Goa to experience the excitement. There’s a more democratic order here, with affordable alcohol, a variety of nightclubs and an abundance of tourists from all over the world.
Parties in Goa
Café and restaurant owners keep up with the trend and are happy to organise themed events, decorating the establishments with exotic Christmas trees and weird-looking Santa Clauses. The locals start getting ready for the “winter” (daytime temperature outside is consistently around +32) festivities a week and a half before the Catholic Christmas. Miles of garlands, hundreds of large and small paper stars, and candles are all indispensable attributes of the decor.
Christmas in Goa
The local Catholics are very reverent about the tradition of building nativity scenes around each house or church, with puppets and improvised materials to recreate the birth of Jesus. Some of the nativity scenes are on an impressive scale and can be breathtakingly detailed and realistic.
On the night of December 24th and 25th, festive masses are held in churches. Children and adults sing Christmas carols in the streets. In the shops you can order a traditional cake and wish you a merry Christmas (all light-skinned foreigners are a priori considered Catholics). It’s a period of hearty family dinners, gifts and fun. There is a truly magical atmosphere. New Year’s Eve doesn’t have the same scale, but it’s a joy to celebrate with a wave of general good cheer.
How to prepare for the New Year?
Traditionally, the end of December and beginning of January is a high tourist season. For our compatriots, it is a popular time to travel to hot countries and celebrate the New Year in an exotic setting. What must be prepared for mentally and physically?
- A huge number of people. Tourist flow increases by a factor of 2-2.5. Especially due to local tourists.
- Prices. The cost of living in Goa at this time is palpable.
- Traffic. The problem is that the traffic jams in Calangute, Candolim and Baga start a week before December 31. The same situation can be observed in Arambola. You can make a map of all the states in India by the car numbers. Big companies and families rush to Goa in huge jeeps and tiny cars. Apparently, the excitement of what is happening puts the drivers in a stupor halfway there.
Mentality. Don’t be surprised by the large number of purely male Indian companies; they usually go on holiday to Goa and leave their families behind. The alcohol flows heavily these days and unfortunately, the consequences are not pretty.
Advice
A few recommendations for those who want to celebrate the New Year on the shores of the gentle Arabian Sea:
- If you rent a scooter, be extra careful on the roads. Don’t neglect your helmet. Don’t get behind the wheel unless you are sober. Better still, arrange a taxi.
- Choose a venue for your gala dinner in advance, book a table and check the menu. For those who can’t imagine a New Year’s table without the traditional Olivier, there are Russian cuisine restaurants, and many of our compatriots specially prepare their favorite dishes to order and with delivery.
- Stock up on good cheer, but do not fill up on local alcohol and other dope for fun.
And if you’ve decided to postpone your trip to India for now, that’s no reason to stay without exotic gifts – our online shop offers all the things India is so rich and famous for!
GoaBay team congratulates you with the upcoming holiday! We wish you health, love and happiness. May the New Year 2023 see more of your wishes come true! Открывайте что-то новое для себя вместе в GoaBay!
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