The entire world is getting ready to celebrate Christmas and welcome the New Year. After all, both are great occasions for everybody. For religious and social reasons both are important.

Festivals are always a source of joy and happiness for all.  For some it is time for prayers and meditation, while for some it is time to eat and drink. For working people, it is a welcome holiday. Children wait eagerly for the gifts Santa Clause will bring for them. Thus it can be seen that each individual has some vested interest in Christmas and New Year.

Apart from the enjoyment involved in these festivals, people should understand the true essence of these occasions and try to follow them.

These festive occasions are supposed to be celebrated with family members and close friends.  They remind us of the importance of family and friends in life. A person may be very rich or influential, but without a close loving family and good friends, he will always feel lonely. No riches in the world can substitute for them.

If there is any ill will or misunderstanding due to any reason, between close ones, it should be cleared on these auspicious happy days.

Christmas commemorates the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ who preached love, brotherhood and forgiveness. If people start loving one another just as fellow human beings, irrespective of the nationality, race, socio-economic status or gender, the world will become a much better place to live in. There will be no wars or disputes, when people become more tolerant and sympathetic towards other individuals and consider them as their brothers. When all learn to forgive others for their wrong doings, there will be no ill feelings left and all will be happy.

Such a peaceful and loving atmosphere in the world will ensure total eradication of poverty with development and prosperity for all. This is not a utopian dream but can be possible when all will understand and follow the true spirit of Christmas.

The New Year celebrations signify welcoming the New Year and to bid farewell to the old one. This has a much deeper significance. As such every day of our life is new. Once, somebody wished a famous movie actor on New Year’s Eve. He replied that each day of my life is new and I consider each day worth celebrating.

New Year should be celebrated with that spirit. One should forget the mistakes and failures of past and move ahead with a new determination. All people make mistakes some time or other in their lives. But it is not good to ponder over the mistakes and feel depressed. This kind of attitude also affects the future prospects of an individual thus obstructing the path to success. A wise person learns from his mistakes, tries to rectify them and makes efforts to succeed. Thus sooner or later he always becomes successful in his venture.

New Year is also the day to signify the cycle of life and this should be understood by people. Each day alternates with a night. Good times alternate with bad times in life.  One should remain humble and kind when tidings are good and not be depressed when things go wrong.

It is also the time to appreciate that a day passed never returns in life. Therefore one should try to utilize each day efficiently. If a person recalls all what he has done in the current year, he will realize how fast the year has finished. Same thing happens with life. It is too short and years pass away rapidly. Therefore wisdom lies in making best of it, trying to improve life in a positive way by all means and helping others for doing so.

May this festive season bring joy, good health and prosperity for all.

Dr. Rachna Pande
E-mail-rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk