|
|
|
|
Articles: Festivals | Thanks giving Day
- Mr. VIRABHADRA SASTRI KALANADHABHATTA
| |
Thanks giving Day Celebration in India :
Thanks giving is celebrated world over with equal fervor and euphoria. It conveys the universal feeling of being thankful to Lord Almighty for his continuous grace. India is a multi-lingual, multi-cultural and a secular country; also popular for its spirituality, God loving and God fearing people. It is known for its 'Unity in Diversity'. With the spread of westen culture, Thanksgiving is celebrated in quite a few parts of India, the major festivity is however, observed by Christians in the state of Goa.
Thanks giving Day Celebration in Goa :
Thanks giving is primarily celebrated in the state of Goa, with a different name. Thanks giving is popularly known as 'Ladin' or 'Ladainha' in India. 'Ladin' literally means a litany to the Virgin Mary. During the Thanks giving ritual, people thank God for all the material and spiritual benefits. The Thanks giving function is sponsored by a different person every year who either seeks benefits or has been lucky enough to have God's special grace. Christians start preparing for Thanks giving celebrations by purchasing wheat and gram, candles, wine and colored tinsel paper. A temporary platform/altar is constructed which is decorated with flowers, vines and creepers.
Celebrations also include singing of hymns and prayers. The village local violinist/choirmaster conducts the entire show of singing of litany.
Religious Feast of Thanks giving in Goa :
Another celebration associated with the feeling of Thanks giving, is the popular religious feast of conception of Mother Mary. It is a time for farmers to cut the first harvest of milk-filed corn from the rice field and offer it to God. This is done to seek God's blessing for a good harvest in the coming season. Though the date of celebrations varies in different parts of Goa, but generally it is celebrated on the 15th of August every year.
Thanks giving Day around the World :
Thanks giving is essentially a harvest related festival. It celebrates communal harmony. Though it is said to have been originated in America, a number of other countries celebrate harvest related festivals. They are observed with different names and in different seasons.
Harvest related festivals, all the over the world are characterized with lot of fun and merrymaking. Each region has its unique customs and traditions to jubilate the occasion.
Canada celebrates thanks giving on the second Monday in the month of October. India also has a number of harvest related festivals in different regions. Popular regional festivals are Pongal, Baisakhi, Lohri, Onam etc. Though the underlying principle behind each of them is same, every festival is exclusive and different from the other.
Other Asian countries such as China, Malaysia, Korea celebrate the festival on different dates. Each festival has a folklore attached to it. Harmony, peace, feeling gratitude is the underlying theme of the celebration all over.
International year of Thanks giving :
Thanks giving is a communal gesture celebrated all over the world. The significance of thanks giving day stems from the need to display gratitude through prayer, hymns and gift giving.
UN Declaration :
Though thanks giving originated in America, but it has spread its wings to other continents of the world as well. In November 1997, as a communal effort to reunite people all over the world, the millennium year 2000 was proclaimed as the 'International year of Thanks giving' by the United Nations. This was first time ever that the general assembly voted unanimously in favour of a spiritual idea. The responsibility to take lead was given to Center for world Thanks giving situated at Thanks-Giving Square. The idea behind the declaration was to spread peace, harmony and brotherhood.
United Nations decided the year 2000 as the 'International thanks giving year' in order to celebrate the gift of life as the noblest expression of the human spirit.
The activities undertaken by Center of World Thanks giving included surveying the members countries of United nations and study their harvest related festivals. The survey laid emphasis on the importance of thanks giving as an expression of gratitude in history, in arts, in philosophy and in religion. The declaration also served the purpose of fostering cultural relations among different countries.
Lastly, the declaration intended to promote friendly relations among nations.
HAPPY THANKS GIVING DAY
Extract from Google)
| Be first to comment on this Article!
| |
|
|
|
 |
| Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
| Advertisements |
|
.gif)
