With barely a day before the New Year weekend kicks in, Puneites across communities are all set to welcome 2018 with much gusto. Interestingly each one has a unique way of ringing in the new year :
“We Catholics mainly on go to church on 31st midnight for the thanksgiving prayers for the year that went by and prayers to welcome the new year,” says Justin Mathew.
“All other celebrations of the first day of the new years is really dependent on our convenience; this essentially involves cooking and baking etc. The New year cake-cutting is one custom we follow every year,” he adds.
Rahul Mankikar shares, “We are Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins hailing from Srivalli. Better known as Shirali in Mangalore. Not deeply pious, but Brahmins who hold education in high regard and love our meat as well.
Traditionally our new year comes around ‘Gudi Padva’, that is the conventional new year according to the Hindu calendar.
But we do have a community initiative I’m taking up with a few cousins. We’re visiting Mother Teresa’s home with warm winter wear and a lot of goodies. Essentially creating care packages for those alone this holiday season,” he adds.
Sharing with us her day long plan, Ishpreet Walia says, “Since we are super excited with the mere idea of a party, New Year brings in the same kind of thrill. Of course, planning is now on top priority.
On 31st night, we will visit the Gurudwara where the New Year welcoming ‘Path’, ‘Shabad’ and ‘Kirtan’ from the Guru Granth Sahib are sung by the priests that come from different locations, followed by a midnight ‘langar’.
The prayers will continue till 1 am as we welcome the New Year with the prayers. We visit the Gurudwara again the next morning.
Since winter is here, ‘Makki Di Roti’ and ‘Sarso Da Sag’ has to be on the food list along with ‘Gud Ki Kheer’ and a long list of chicken dishes and unlimited booze.
“The first evening is going to be a full-on family and close friend’s affair with ‘bhangra’ adding to the festival spirit.
This is definite to make us happy hosts of an epic house party,” she gleams.
Aniket Cheke plans to spend a great time with family during the extended New Year holidays. “New Year means starting yet another year and hoping that it will bring happiness and good luck.
Hence like every year, we make it a point to visit the nearby Ganpati temples and our family deity temple residing at Shegaon, in Maharashtra.
The Ashtavinayaka temple in Theur, Pune is also where we are planning to go on the first day of 2018 to pay homage to the elephant God and pray for a healthy and prosperous upcoming year followed by an authentic Maharashtrian lunch.
Last year we were on a 3-day trip, visiting all the religious places we hadn’t visited earlier. A peaceful family trip is what we look forward at this time of the year,” he adds.
Reach her at loveleen@pune365.com or tweet @KaurKaur18
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