| Home Page | Ask Ashley | PPI Program | Special Days | Teen Achievers | A day in the life..... |
There are some days in the year that every teenager looks forward to; those days when we can celebrate and party, when we can pig out and enjoy ourselves. These are days that we can make confessions of love, burst firecrackers and pay tribute to our countries. These are holidays; times to spend with our loved ones and take respite from the never-ending whirlwind of our lives. Most importantly, these are days when we can be free and celebrate ourselves.
Dusshera is part of the ten-day Navaratri celebrations. It takes place in October, in accordance with the Hindu calendar for the year. It is a very significant festival in India and it is celebrated with much joy and great gusto.
Dusshera marks the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king, Ravana; the victory of good over evil. Brilliantly decorated tableaux and processions depicting various stages of Rama's life are taken out. On the tenth day, the Vijayadasmi day, colossal effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakaran and son Meghnad are placed on large empty grounds. Rama, accompanied by his consort Sita and brother Laxman, arrives and shoots arrows of fire at the effigies, which are stuffed with explosive material. The result is a deafening blast, enhanced by the enthusiastic and triumphant shouts of the crowds who come to watch.
Dusshera is a national holiday and all institutions remained closed on it. Fairs are usually held on this occasion, with lots to eat, buy and enjoy.
The festival of Raksha Bandhan dates back a long time. It was started when Sachi, the wife of Indra, took a thread, charged it with sacred vows and tied it on his hand. It was this thread that gave Indra the strength to triumph over his enemies. Since that day, Raksha Bandhan has been celebrated across India.
However, like all festivals, Raksha Bandhan, or Rakhi, has undergone changes through the passage of time. Sisters tie threads on their brothers. Priests tie them on congregators. During the middle Ages, if any woman tied a rakhi to a man, it became his imperative religious duty of the highest order to protect the woman, even at the cost of his own life.
Rakhis are now very elaborately decorated, with soft silken threads of many colours, gold, sequins and pictures. All sisters and female cousins tie them to their male cousins or brothers. In return, the brother has to vow to always protect his sister and, to emphasize it, he gives her a gift.
India gained independence from the British on the 15th of August 1947, after a long struggle. The leader of the anti-British movements, Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, was a strong believer in ahimsa, or non-violence, and under his strong leadership, India emerged victorious. The 15th of August 1947 was a day of great celebrations. It was a day when India woke up to freedom from a foreign yoke and became a sovereign nation - the triumph of numerous martyred souls.
The occasion is now celebrated with flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs in the state capitals. The Prime Minister's speech at the Red Fort in New Delhi is the major highlight. Many organizations and institutions have private flag-hoisting ceremonies and the day is a national holiday. Channels broadcast Independence Day-related programs and the general fervour of patriotism can be felt in the very air of the country. Jai Hind!
The 26th of January is celebrated as Republic Day in India. It was on this day, in 1950, that the Indian Constitution was adopted and India became a truly sovereign state. The country was finally a democrat, secular state and the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi and all the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives, were realized. Thus the 26th of January was decreed a national holiday and it came to be known as the Republic Day of India.
It is a celebrated with much enthusiasm by people of all ages, especially in New Delhi, the capital. In New Delhi, the celebrations commence with the Presidential to the nation, when citizens are reminded of the solemnity of the occasion, of all the lives that were lost to achieve it and all the sacrifices that were made. The Presidential is followed by the awarding of medals to army officers and civilians who have shown exceptional bravery and courage during the previous year, risking their own lives to save those of others.
To mark the importance of the occasion, a grand parade is held in the capital, from the Rajgath to the Vijaypath. All the regiments of the army march past in all their finery and official decorations; even the horses of the cavalry are attired attractively, to suit the occasion. The creme of N.C.C. cadets, along with the school children, are honoured to have the chance to participate in the parade. Children from various schools of the capital are selected and no expense is spared to see that every detail, from their practice drills to their uniforms and props, is taken care of.
The parade is followed by a spectacular pageant, with displays from different parts of the country. These short but moving skits depict scenes from the daily lives of people from the different states and are accompanied by music and dance from the state. The displays illustrate the richness and diversity of India's culture and lend a festive air to the occasion. The parade and ensuing pageant are broadcast by national television channels and are viewed by millions of citizens from every nook and corner of the country.
The patriotic fervour of the people brings together the country despite its cultural diversity. Every part of the country is represented, making Republic Day the most important of all national holidays of India.
There are many stories of the origin of Holi. The most widely held belief is that Holi marks the day when the devotee of Lord Vishnu, Bakt Prahlad, seated on the lap of the demon Holika, was saved from the effect of fire by God and the demon got burnt instead.
Holi is a harvest celebration marking the climax of spring. Bonfires are lit marking the end of winter and the death of evil, and proceeds from the seasonal harvest grains, coconuts etc are offered to the flames. The next day, celebrations involve throwing colour on each other, prayers, fasting and then feasting. Children and adults alike celebrate with great gusto, throwing coloured powder on each other and colourful water on each other, dancing and gambling.
Diwali is perhaps the most well known Indian festival. It usually takes place eighteen days after Dusshera and is colloquially known as the 'Festival of Lights', for the common practice is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them around the house, in courtyards, verandahs and gardens, as well as on rooftops and outer walls. In urban areas especially, nowadays candles are often substituted for diyas and sometimes, electric lights are used.
The celebrations are accompanied by the exchanging of sweets and the bursting of firecrackers. The latter, however, has become a major concern now, as the fireworks are created under terrible circumstances by small children. Many schoolchildren from elite areas have pledged not to burst firecrackers and to educate others about it. Children and adults use rangoli or colour to make ethnic designs in schools, homes and offices.
As with other Indian festivals, Diwali signifies different things all across the country. In North India, it celebrates Rama's homecoming; that is, his return to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana and his coronation as king; in Gujarat, the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; and in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali. Everywhere, it signifies the renewal of life, and accordingly it is common to wear new clothes on the day of the festival; similarly, it heralds the approach of winter and the beginning of the sowing season.
Christmas is usually
warm and sunny in Melbourne, however, most people
follow the European tradition of a large family meal together for
Christmas lunch. Some families go for the traditional roast turkey and
ham, plum pudding and all the associated trimmings. However, many
families prefer a BBQ, salads and cold meats with lots of fresh
seafood-prawns, crayfish and oysters being common celebration food. Ice
cream makes a delicious dessert on a hot summer's day.
Most houses have a Christmas tree and some homes are decorated with
beautiful lighting effects. Some people even spray artificial snow
around the windows to remind them of the cold, snowy Christmas in their
homelands.
Santa Claus can be found in every shopping centre and visits
many
pre-Christmas picnics and social events. When all the children are
asleep on Christmas Eve, Santa visits to leave presents under the
Christmas tree or in the Christmas stockings hanging on the mantelpiece.
Not many homes have chimneys, but Santa still manages to find his way
in! Opening the presents on Christmas morning is lots of fun.
After all the festivities of Christmas, Australians take a holiday on
Decemebr 26th, called Boxing Day. This is when you relax and feast on
the leftover Christmas fare. Traditionally, Boxing Day comes from
England, where leftovers and extra presents were boxed up and
distributed to the poor. In Melbourne it's the start of the cricket test
Match at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), which tens of thousands of
fans attend.
Many families leave the city on Boxing Day for well earned holidays by
the beach!
Melbourne Cup Day - the Race that Stops a Nation
Australians love sports of all kinds including horse racing. In Melbourne, one special race that occurs on the first Tuesday in November brings the entire nation to a standstill. Even the country's leaders stop parliamentary debate to listen to the great race. Given a public holiday in Melbourne, over 100,000 people flock to Flemington Racecourse, some dressed to impress, others in wild and weird fancy dress costumes. Throughout the state, others are glued to their television screens, their radios or attending the many parties, BBQ's, local race meetings or events that are part of the carnival atmosphere and excitement of Melbourne Cup Day. Australians all over the country, of every age and from every part of society take an interest in the Melbourne Cup. In workplaces, amongst family groups and neighbours, everyone joins a sweep and has a horse to follow in the race. Officially, over $100 million is wagered on the race.
The first Melbourne Cup was run in 1861, during the Victorian gold rushes, and from then on, the race has grown in stature and tradition. During the Depression era, a magnificent champion, Phar Lap, captured the hearts and imagination of Australians, at a time when the public needed inspiration and hope. With 36 wins from his last 51 starts including the 1930 Melbourne Cup, Phar Lap also won North America's richest race, the Agua Caliente Handicap, in 1932. Not long after this, Phar Lap was struck down by a mystery illness in San Francisco that many suspected was the work of gangsters. Australians went into mourning over the death of the much loved horse. Phar Lap now assumes legendary status in Australian history.