Celebrating diversity
Why do Brahmins and Chhetris remain numb during Loshar? Why do we stay docile during Eid? All the festivals celebrated by Nepalis in Nepal are our common festivals. Let's celebrate them!' This was my status on Facebook a week ago, which was liked by many of my friends.
Festivals are simply a great reason to celebrate and get together. It's fun playing cards with delicious food during festivals, yet most Nepalis wait for Dashain and Tihar to celebrate. There are many
festivals in Nepal and there is no need to feel restricted to one's own religion and celebrate just once a year.
I always felt that nothing could compare to Dashain and Tihar. But a friend of mine who belongs to the Marwari community explained that Diwali and Holi are truly the biggest. Another friend from the Madhesi community gives this honor to Chhath, while my Gurung classmate says it's Loshar. Does this not show the bias we all give to our own cultures?
I don't know what other communities do during Dashain, but I spend my time sleeping and watching television during Loshar. I used to go around to see celebrations during Chhath when I lived in my hometown, but these days, I pass my time idly during Chhath as well. I wonder why we don't get excited about festivals that don't strictly 'belong' to us. We shake hands and work together, why can't we share in
celebrating as well? Why can't Hindus also wish their neighbours 'Eid Mubarak'?
In multi-cultural Nepal there is at least one festival every month, be it Eid, Ram Navami or Christmas. If we choose to recognise them all, what an exciting year it would be! There's no need to celebrate the
festivals according to strict rules. But why not call your relatives over for dinner and say 'Eid Mubarak!' Wouldn't that be a great way to enjoy even more festivals?
Why don't we save our weekend parties for these festival times when the government has declared it time to celebrate. Imagine a Nepal where all festival days were truly national celebrations, instead of the few that apply to the majority. Excited communities and an excited nation could celebrate a common joy, instead of dividing ourselves based on the religions and cultures we follow. Then we could truthfully call ourselves a multi-cultural, secular nation.
By adopting other festivals, we can all celebrate together, instead of laying in front of the TV during someone else's festival. Please don't misinterpret, there's no need to spend money to celebrate. Cheap and together with friends is the best way. This will even get rid of that sad feeling we have when
the main festival has ended. Dashain is over so what? Chhath is approaching! Let's put our country back in a festive mood, unify the culture and make every festival ours. You don't need to be a Christian to celebrate Christmas. So this year, no matter your religion, make it merry!
PUBLISHED IN THE KATHMANDU POST (DEC 24, 2010)
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/12/23/oped/celebrating-diversity/216407/
Why do Brahmins and Chhetris remain numb during Loshar? Why do we stay docile during Eid? All the festivals celebrated by Nepalis in Nepal are our common festivals. Let's celebrate them!' This was my status on Facebook a week ago, which was liked by many of my friends.
Festivals are simply a great reason to celebrate and get together. It's fun playing cards with delicious food during festivals, yet most Nepalis wait for Dashain and Tihar to celebrate. There are many
festivals in Nepal and there is no need to feel restricted to one's own religion and celebrate just once a year.
I always felt that nothing could compare to Dashain and Tihar. But a friend of mine who belongs to the Marwari community explained that Diwali and Holi are truly the biggest. Another friend from the Madhesi community gives this honor to Chhath, while my Gurung classmate says it's Loshar. Does this not show the bias we all give to our own cultures?
I don't know what other communities do during Dashain, but I spend my time sleeping and watching television during Loshar. I used to go around to see celebrations during Chhath when I lived in my hometown, but these days, I pass my time idly during Chhath as well. I wonder why we don't get excited about festivals that don't strictly 'belong' to us. We shake hands and work together, why can't we share in
celebrating as well? Why can't Hindus also wish their neighbours 'Eid Mubarak'?
In multi-cultural Nepal there is at least one festival every month, be it Eid, Ram Navami or Christmas. If we choose to recognise them all, what an exciting year it would be! There's no need to celebrate the
festivals according to strict rules. But why not call your relatives over for dinner and say 'Eid Mubarak!' Wouldn't that be a great way to enjoy even more festivals?
Why don't we save our weekend parties for these festival times when the government has declared it time to celebrate. Imagine a Nepal where all festival days were truly national celebrations, instead of the few that apply to the majority. Excited communities and an excited nation could celebrate a common joy, instead of dividing ourselves based on the religions and cultures we follow. Then we could truthfully call ourselves a multi-cultural, secular nation.
By adopting other festivals, we can all celebrate together, instead of laying in front of the TV during someone else's festival. Please don't misinterpret, there's no need to spend money to celebrate. Cheap and together with friends is the best way. This will even get rid of that sad feeling we have when
the main festival has ended. Dashain is over so what? Chhath is approaching! Let's put our country back in a festive mood, unify the culture and make every festival ours. You don't need to be a Christian to celebrate Christmas. So this year, no matter your religion, make it merry!
PUBLISHED IN THE KATHMANDU POST (DEC 24, 2010)
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/12/23/oped/celebrating-diversity/216407/
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