Four seasons of Friday

This Friday marks many beginnings. It is one that is especially hallowed as four faiths converge in their celebrations. And for once, the Moon shines bright in all lunar calendars to ring in much joy and brotherhood. The Muslim world will honour the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It will also remember his passing, on the same day of Rabiul Awwal 12.

Hindus and Sikhs are preparing to usher in the radiant season of spring with all the colours of the rainbow, as the Zoroastrians and Ismailis embark on a new year. Christians salute Christ’s resurrection and this Good Friday also serves up a long overdue chance to uphold the ideals of secularism; make the mantra of compassion and tolerance, inherent in all religions, the order of the day and bring followers together to rejoice in this season of multiple rebirths.

Eid Miladun Nabi

Eid Miladun Nabi is always celebrated according to the Islamic calendar on Rabiul Awwal 12. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was born in AD 570. This year too will witness tremendous fanfare; the streets and buildings blaze with fairy lights, religious scholars, politicians and television presenters prepare to wax eloquent, resounding sermons and naats will boom from mosques and the poor will be awash with alms. Needless to say, there is a dire need for Muslim leaders to lay particular emphasis on the Prophet’s (PBUH) message of peace, brotherhood and acceptance to counter the bloodbath that has tainted the ideals of a moderate religion.

Good Friday

A day of tribute to Christ’s suffering. Holy Saturday follows with a night service of Easter vigil and then finally, it’s Easter Sunday. The festival falls between late March and end of April, following ‘the cycle of the moon’. Easter eggs, hard boiled and painted red, are a prominent symbol of Christianity and denote the blood of Christ and ‘the promise of eternal life’. These are cracked to commemorate the ‘opening of Christ’s tomb’. The entire Easter period is filled with much indulgence including culinary delights that are now the food of folklore. Good Friday comes with Hot Cross buns, marshmallow bunnies and jelly beans with a traditional feast of lamb roast and Simnel cake on Easter Sunday.

Holi hai!

Like most occasions in Hinduism, Holi has fanciful roots in Hindu mythology and epitomises the victory of good over evil. The popular legend has it that an evil king Hiranyakasipu ordered his sister Holika to kill his son, prince Prahlad, an embodiment of good. But it was Holika who died while the prince remained safe. The legend goes that before the demon aunt died, she begged for Prahlad’s forgiveness and the prince forgave her and announced that her name would be remembered once a year. Thus the festival ‘Holi’ was created. Held on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Falguna, the vibrant festival heralds Spring time and is redolent with abandon and colour. Legend has it that Lord Krishna began the custom of colours when he applied ‘gulal’ to his beloved Radha. On this day, prayers are offered for a good harvest amid songs, bhajans and dances, accompanied with an abundance of bhang, milk and sweets. Streets are dotted with bonfires to cleanse the air of evil.

Nauroz

The first day of spring that also marks the New Year for the Zoroastrian, Baha’i and Iranian communities. Nauroz falls on March 21, also the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, and is celebrated like Eid after 19 days of fasting. Parsis begin preparations in the last month of winter in their solar calendar and traditions include new clothes, elaborate cuisine, prayers and extended exchanges of greetings. The festival of Nauroz (meaning New Day) signifies rebirth, and the celebration was officially acknowledged by mythical Persian emperor, Shah Jamshid, from Achaemenid Dynasty (500 BC).