Dear Editor,
There are many occasions to celebrate almost every day all over the world. Celebration means to do something special or enjoyable for an important event or occasion. My context of celebration means to mark (as an anniversary) by festivities or deviation from routine and confined to the celebrations, connected with the individual himself – such as ‘birthdays and marriage anniversaries’. But when we scroll into the religious books that may be of any religion, we do not find mention of God celebrating their birthdays. The Cultural Revolution has brought in many occasions for celebrations and now and then new formations are coming forth marked to be celebrated. Almost everybody today celebrates birthdays. Around the world, friends and relatives hold birthday parties, give gifts to one being honored and wish ‘happy birthday’. The celebrations are the occasions to meet, greet and serve relatives and friends. It is celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift and party. In Canada and United States, the girl’s 16th birthday is celebrated as ‘sweet sixteen’ celebration. In the Philippines, girls on their 18th birthday and boys on their 21st birthday celebrate as ‘debut’. In some Asian countries, there is tradition of celebrating 60th birthday. Apart from birthday, there is tradition of remembering marriage in the shape of ‘marriage anniversaries’, ‘Silver Jubilees’ and ‘Golden Jubilees’ as well. It is a healthy exercise to look for vivacious moments of the past, which energise the present. Apart from these, let us think of celebrating other three important occasions of one’s life, which we can visualise as:
Education Day’, the day one enters into the temple of education i.e. school, to become a human in real sense. It is the transitional day to acquire education and knowledge for your future course of life. A man without education is merely a rubber stump. The education has an impact on all other areas. Education is the key to acquire the knowledge, self expression and civic managements. The day should be celebrated with distribution of books, best reading material, best thoughts and if possible by arranging lectures in schools and colleges, about importance of the education in self building, character building and nation building.
Service Carrier Day’, the day when after completion of his education, one enters into service, which enables one to cater to the Financial duties ahead, to serve the Mankind and to secure his old age from worries. The Service to mankind is Service to God. The working experience of a person enhances the working qualities of others if propagated. A man without experience is raw material and just a log advancing at the mercy of the water current. The day should be celebrated by propagating the best ways, to perform during one’s service career, based on your practical experience by suggesting various measures to improve the service career in order to secure laurels from the seniors in general and from the public in particular.
Retirement Day’, the day one re-joins his family after his prolong service and from daily grind. The retired person is a beautiful painting with all colours of life. Retirement is beautiful time in one’s life to settle down for golden years and carefree time ahead. The day should be celebrated by adhering to the ‘Tips to Stay Fit’, ‘Stress Free Life’, chat with your old friends and by having fun with your grand children in particular and by befriending with books especially based on the ‘Theory and Methods of Salvation’.
Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
Udhampur
