It’s already new year in Nepal!
December 30th, 2009 - 3:10 pm ICT by IANS ( 3 comments )Kathmandu, Dec 30 (IANS) While the rest of the world has begun an eager countdown to the new year, which will be ushered in from Thursday midnight, it is already 2010 in the exotic Himalayan land of Nepal.
For the Tamu or Gurung community of Nepal, an ethnic people believed by many to have migrated from western Mongolia, 2010 starts from this Wednesday, the last day of the lunar calendar they follow traditionally.
Colourful processions with women dressed in exotic long skirts and blouses of Chinese brocade and musicians playing drums and ethnic instruments began weaving through the busy streets of Kathmandu to party, basking under the government declaring the day a public holiday and President Ram Baran Yadav hailing the community in a public message.
For New Year party-goers, Nepal remains a dream destination where ethnic new years pop up practically throughout the year.
On Thursday midnight, Nepal celebrates the advent of 2010 with the rest of the world.
The capital’s hotels, bars, restaurants and resorts in outer towns are trying to cash in on the festive mood, offering special packages and incentives that range from free drinks to lucky draws that will enable the winner trips to Thailand or Malaysia.
For Indian singers and DJs, New Year parties in Nepal offers lucrative commercial opportunities. In the past, Bollywood starlets like Mahek Chahal and Asha Sachdev had added glamour to new year celebrations.
This year, it is former Indian Idol oomph girl Charu Semwal who will raise pulses along with exotic belly dancers from the Middle East at the five-star Soaltee Crowne Plaza hotel, which traditionally plays host to such greats as former American president and Nobel laureate Jimmy Carter.
On Jan 16, 2010, long after the new year has been ushered in with fanfare, Nepal will hold another round of celebrations as its Tamang community begins the ethnic year 2086.
Tamangs, people of Tibetan origin believed to have been sent to police the border areas between Tibet and Nepal in the eighth century by Tibetan king Trisong, celebrate their new year as Sonam Lhosar, a public holiday in Nepal.
Less than a month later, it’s New Year once more in Nepal around mid-February as the Tibetan community ushers in their new year.
Then two months later, on April 14, Nepal begins the new traditional Nepali year in accordance with the Vikram Sambat calendar started by Indian emperor Vikramaditya and also followed in parts of India.
While it will be the start of the new Nepali year 1131 in April, six months later, the republic will time-travel to the new Newari year 2067.
Newars, the first residents of Kathmandu valley and famed for their trading skills as well as mastery over the arts, follow the Nepal Sambat, a calendar founded by Sankhadhar Sakhwaa, a national hero who paid off the debts of the entire Kathmandu valley by transmuting sand from river banks into gold.
And the partying continues beyond that to December-January, when it is time for yet another ethnic new year.
This is the time the Kirat community, people living in eastern Nepal, herald the start of Yele Sambat, the Kirat new year following the Yele Sambat, the calendar named after their first king Yelamber Hang.
- Nepal celebrates new year - Oct 27, 2011
- It's already 2011 in Nepal! - Dec 30, 2010
- Nepal starts time-travel to 12th century - Oct 18, 2009
- Nepal ushers in new year ahead of world - Dec 30, 2008
- Tibetan origin woman held for trying to get fake Nepali passport - Aug 01, 2011
- Four Tibetans held during sombre Dalai Lama birthday in Nepal - Jul 06, 2011
- Nepal sets its calendar back by eight centuries - Oct 26, 2008
- China pressures Nepal to disrupt Tibetan polls - Oct 04, 2010
- Ex-Indian Idol Prashant Tamang is Nepal's new ambassador - Sep 30, 2010
- European Parliament asks Nepal to let Tibetan refugees vote - Apr 09, 2011
- Six Tibetans arrested in Nepal as refugee exodus continues - Jan 03, 2011
- Nepal PM steps in to defuse religious row over burials - Feb 01, 2011
- Nepal frees Dalai Lama's envoy but threat deepens - Aug 06, 2011
- Under pressure, Nepal moves to help gangraped nun - Jul 16, 2011
- Dalai Lama's envoy arrested in Nepal (Lead) - Aug 05, 2011
Tags: asha sachdev, belly dancers, chinese brocade, colourful processions, countdown to the new year, crowne plaza hotel, free drinks, himalayan land, indian singers, long skirts, lucky draws, mahek chahal, new year celebrations, new year parties, nobel laureate, oomph girl, party goers, playing drums, tibetan origin, trips to thailand
December 31st, 2009 at 9:24 am
Happy New Year!
http://blogs.wsj.com/wsjam/2009/12/29/happy-new-year/tab/comments/#comment-1535
Happy New Year to the Best Friend and All
Dear Jarnail,
We are ready to play in ‘New Year-2010’
And the past played with us
The days ahead like a U turn for us
To further strengthen my belief in GOD
As you wish us all a “VERY HAPPY,
HEALTHY,
WEALTHY,
PROSPEROUS AND ENJOYABLE
NEW YEAR-2010″
All HE planned and gifted me to wish so a friend
To enjoy an enjoyable past, played with us
Health was because of happiness
Wealth is the soundness of health
We wish all of you the healthiness
Includes everything which you wish for us
Nothing added by me but my belief in HIM
God planned the friend and now a relation
A ‘U’ TURN IN LIFE FOR US
We are ready to play in ‘New Year-2010’
And the past played with us
It was all normal for HIM but new for us
A ‘U’ TURN IN LIFE FOR US
‘We wish all of you the healthiness
Includes everything which you wish for us’
Balbir
http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com
Happy New Year!
Wall Street Journal (blog) - Mike Gavin - Dec 29, 2009
You can also get the latest WSJ This Morning news by following us on Twitter. Happy New Year! We welcome thoughtful comments from readers. …
http://blogs.wsj.com/wsjam/2009/12/29/happy-new-year/
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:17 am
Happy New Decade, India
THE HEALTHINESS INCLUDES “VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, WEALTHY, PROSPEROUS AND ENJOYABLE NEW YEARS (DECADE) AHEAD, INDIA”
From the root level to top, the deception of polluted mind prevails, totally against nature and humanity as it looks today.
Was the deception HIS requirement?
Otherwise, the downtrodden are laborious, god fearing, but for the unseen truth, not accepted by God for HIS grace.
Are they facing curse of Almighty and made to born in India like poor country?
Only is known to HIM. We must wish sincerely and honestly, the happy new years ahead only for others, not only for decade.
So long, we don’t do that and wish in the manner, never would be accepted by HIM for HIS grace.
Despite all type of injustice, the extinct of piousness was also not missing altogether.
God after testing the purity of your mind, HE may any time, bring change, known to HIM and may ask take U turn for your happiness and healthiness.
In view of the formulae, expectations of the happy new years are ahead for a U turn in us.
The healthiness Includes a “VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, WEALTHY, PROSPEROUS AND ENJOYABLE NEW YEARS AHEAD”.
Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:32 am
Happy New Decade, India
THE HEALTHINESS INCLUDES “VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, WEALTHY, PROSPEROUS AND ENJOYABLE NEW YEARS (DECADE) AHEAD, INDIA”
From the root level to top, the deception of polluted mind prevails, totally against nature and humanity as it looks today.
Was the deception HIS requirement?
Otherwise, the downtrodden are laborious, god fearing, but for the unseen truth, not accepted by God for HIS grace.
Are they facing curse of Almighty and made to born in India like poor country?
Only is known to HIM. We must wish sincerely and honestly, the happy new years ahead only for others, not only for decade.
So long, we don’t do that and wish in the manner, never would be accepted by HIM for HIS grace.
Despite all type of injustice, the extinct of piousness was also not missing altogether.
God after testing the purity of your mind, HE may any time, bring change, known to HIM and may ask take U turn for your happiness and healthiness.
In view of the formulae, expectations of the happy new years are ahead for a U turn in us.
The healthiness Includes a “VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, WEALTHY, PROSPEROUS AND ENJOYABLE NEW YEARS AHEAD”.
Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana