CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR
2013: YEAR OF THE SNAKE

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk - The Lunar New Year is being celebrated around the world on Sunday to mark the start of the year of the snake. Also known as the Spring Festival, it is the most important holiday of the year in much of Asia. In China an estimated 200m people make the journey home to spend time with their families. It is thought to be the biggest mass human migration on earth, reports the BBC. So many fireworks are let off in Beijing during the celebrations that authorities this year were forced to appeal for a limit so as not to contribute further to already toxically high levels of air pollution. 
Chinese new year falls on the first day of the lunar calendar and lasts for 15 days. According to mythology, firecrackers and red lanterns are believed to ward off evil spirits. Thousands of people braved the rain to pack into Trafalgar Square in central London today to celebrate.

Music, dancing and fireworks displays kept up the crowd's spirits as they saw in the Year of the Snake. Performers from China and the UK wore intricate and colourful costumes as they paraded through the streets of China Town, before dignitaries took part in a traditional Dragon Eyes Dotting Ceremony on the Trafalgar Square stage. The hardy revellers were then treated to a dramatic Flying Lion Dance in front of the iconic facade of the National Gallery. 
Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally lasts 15 days, from the first day (during a new moon) to the 15th day (a full moon).Each day holds a special significance that varies according to local traditions. But first, before the arrival of the new year, homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away ill fortune, and to welcome good luck. On new year’s eve, there are family gatherings to celebrate and enjoy sumptuous traditional feasts, and to greet the new year with fireworks at midnight.

Over 1.3 billion people in China and millions of Chinese around the world celebrated yesterday the first day of the Chinese New Year. It’s the most important of Chinese holidays, kicking off a celebration that lasts for 15 days and culminates with the Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. For 2013, it’s the Year of the Snake. In China, the familiar Gregorian calendar is used for day-to-day life. But Chinese calendar dates continue to be used to mark traditional holidays such as the new year and the fall moon festival. It’s also used astrologically to select favorable dates for weddings and other special events. The celebration began yesterday in China, but don’t let that stop you from celebrating. Gong Xi Fa Ca! That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The cultural relations between India and China can be traced back to very early times. There are numerous references to China in Sanskrit texts, but their chronology is sketchy. The Mahabharata refers to China several times, including a reference to presents brought by the Chinese at the Rajasuya Yajna of the Pandavas; also, the Arthasastra and the Manusmriti mention China. ... According to Terence Duke, martial arts went from India to China. Fighting without weapons was a specialty of the ancient Ksatriya warriors of India. Until recently, India and China had coexisted peacefully for over two thousand years. This amicable relationship may have been nurtured by the close historical and religious ties of Buddhism, introduced to China by Indian monks at a very early stage of their respective histories, although there are fragmentary records of contacts anterior to the introduction of Buddhism. The Chinese literature of the third century is full of geographic and mythological elements derived from India.

Vedic Knowledge Online :
“Vedic Roots of China and Japan”
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/connections/Vedic-roots-China-and-Japan.php

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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