The New Year Spirit of Varanasi: Where Cultures and Traditions Coexist

“I think Banaras is one of the most wonderful places I have ever seen. It it has struck me that a westerner feels in Banaras very much as an oriental must feel while he is planted down in the middle of London”.
MARK TWAIN.

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Celebrating Christmas and New Year in Varanasi: A Blend of Cultures

My elder sister, who has been living in Denmark for four years, called me during Christmas. Naturally, we talked about how Christmas is celebrated there. She told me that most shops in Denmark are closed, and many people prefer to spend the holiday with their families.

But then she mentioned that she missed celebrating Christmas in Varanasi. This surprised me because Christmas is a Christian festival, and New Year traditions also come from the West. Yet, she longed for the way these festivals were celebrated in Varanasi.

It made me reflect on how, just like England’s national food Chicken Tikka, or tea time became a tradition in England (even though tea is popular in Asia), Varanasi has its unique way of celebrating Christmas. It’s a blend of cultures, showing how traditions evolve across borders.

Away from the debates of civilization clashes and misunderstandings, I thought of Marianne Williamson’s words: “Personal transformation can and does have global effects. As we go, so goes the world, for the world is us. The revolution that will save the world is ultimately a personal one.”

This made me think of the Christmas stories of O. Henry, especially “A Cosmopolitan in Café.” In this story, a man is asked where he’s from, to which he replies that it doesn’t matter. He argues that we should judge people by who they are, not by their origins. He humorously points out how people from all regions can defy stereotypes and still be human.

Similarly, in Varanasi, despite its slow pace of change, the city has welcomed elements of various cultures. Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world, and while it may hold on to its traditions, it has not rejected change entirely. It has adapted over time while maintaining its vibrant spirit.

The Christmas fairs in Varanasi, mostly held at churches like St. Mary’s School, are an example of this blend. Hindus, who may not know the religious significance of Christmas, still participate, understanding it as a celebration of Christ’s birth. This is similar to how Hindus celebrate Krishna’s birthday, as both have similarities in their childhood stories.

On New Year’s Day, temples in Varanasi are filled with people seeking blessings. It is an old tradition to visit the temple and seek blessings from God.

A few methods are also equally popular *Many Hindus enjoy celebrating Christmas and New Year because these holidays allow them to eat non-vegetarian food, which is otherwise restricted during Hindu festivals.

*Interestingly, the old generation in Varanasi still remembers the influence of Buddhism and Jainism on Hinduism, particularly the emphasis on non-violence. This is why eggs are not used in cakes or pastries during Christmas.

This can be confusing for foreigners, but it’s not a problem for those who have lived in Varanasi for years.

For example, the owners of Good Hope Bakery, who have been living in Varanasi for twenty years, happily distribute cakes during Christmas, offering both egg and eggless options to cater to local preferences.

In Varanasi, both locals and foreigners have adapted their ways of celebrating the New Year to respect each other’s beliefs. It’s refreshing to see such cultural coexistence in a world that often focuses on the clash of civilizations. This blend of traditions in Varanasi shows an optimistic picture of a future where cultures live together in harmony.

Author: nitinsingh

Postgraduate in International relations. Experience in writing in various journals, from BBC WORLD NEWS SERVICE to India's one of the oldest hindi daily. I like to write on international relations, religion, religious conflict. Social media has bridged the distance between writing and reading. Now writing is not just the expression of one's own thought, but also knowing the expression of people on various subject.

52 thoughts on “The New Year Spirit of Varanasi: Where Cultures and Traditions Coexist”

  2. Nitin my Friend, this is a very interesting article you have written and shared and I find it most compelling and thought provoking, as well as spiritually insightful! A work of great good!

    Because this material world we are living in temporarily is imperfect then we should understand that there is constant tension, and we are living in a state of perpetual dynamic conflict. A high school teacher once said to me and my fellow class mates while we were studying world history and social systems; that in Russia the young boy or girl that is born there being brought up as a communist is only learning from his or her address in the world where he or she happened to be born and if they had been born here could be fellow classmates sitting next to you learning what you are learning here about being an American. But only because of where they were born by no choice of their own they are now learning what it is to be a citizen of that far off place just as you boys and girls here in these United States of America are being brought up with a Constitutionally based Democracy and it is what you know from your address; what it’s like to be a citizen of America; yet so far away from each other and so many significant differences of each other’s cultures, societies and governments, you do have some major things in common! First and most obvious is that you are all young people living on this earth with many other things in common that you could talk to each other about if you knew each other personally! That was the first time I really thought about what it must really be like for those other kids far away to be living where they do and how they must like to have fun or play games and be with friends just like we do here in my country.

    Nitin, this is a very powerful message you share here for the New Year; and when you say you didn’t have much, you may have felt that way at that moment but I see from my far off place or address on earth that you have so much to share with others near and far; the significant thing is crossing those chasms or thousands of miles to relate to others who are willing to listen and share each other’s differences and of course similarities; or the things we all find familiar and hold near and dear to our hearts! Amen. Peace, Health, God’s Blessings to You and Your Family now and through the New Year!

    Thank You! You brought back these memories of that school teacher many decades ago that I see him still in my mind and heart speaking these things to me and the other students!!! Connections from long ago and now today; yet so far away, but still so close!
    Lawrence

    Reply

    1. नितिन मेरे मित्र, यह एक बहुत ही रोचक लेख है जिसे आपने लिखा है और साझा किया है और मुझे यह सबसे सम्मोहक और सुविचारित और साथ ही साथ आध्यात्मिक रूप से व्यावहारिक लगता है! बढ़िया काम!

      क्योंकि यह भौतिक दुनिया जो हम अस्थायी रूप से जी रहे हैं वह अपूर्ण है तो हमें समझना चाहिए कि निरंतर तनाव है, और हम सतत गतिशील संघर्ष की स्थिति में रह रहे हैं। एक उच्च विद्यालय के शिक्षक ने एक बार मुझे और मेरे साथी वर्ग के साथियों से कहा, जब हम विश्व इतिहास और सामाजिक प्रणालियों का अध्ययन कर रहे थे; रूस में उस युवा लड़के या लड़की का जन्म हुआ है जिसे कम्युनिस्ट के रूप में लाया जा रहा है, वह केवल दुनिया में अपने पते से सीख रहा है, जहां वह पैदा हुआ था या यदि वे पैदा हुए थे, तो वे साथी सहपाठियों के बगल में बैठे हो सकते हैं क्या आप अमेरिकी होने के बारे में यहां सीख रहे हैं। लेकिन केवल इस वजह से कि वे अपनी मर्ज़ी से नहीं पैदा हुए थे, अब वे सीख रहे हैं कि यह उस जगह का नागरिक होना है, जहाँ आप इन संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका के लड़कों और लड़कियों को संवैधानिक रूप से ला रहे हैं। आधारित लोकतंत्र और यह वही है जो आप अपने पते से जानते हैं; यह अमेरिका का नागरिक होना पसंद करता है; अभी तक एक दूसरे से बहुत दूर और एक दूसरे की संस्कृतियों, समाजों और सरकारों के इतने महत्वपूर्ण अंतर, आपके पास कुछ प्रमुख चीजें हैं! सबसे पहले और सबसे स्पष्ट यह है कि आप सभी युवा हैं जो इस धरती पर कई अन्य चीजों के साथ रहते हैं जो आप एक-दूसरे से बात कर सकते हैं यदि आप एक-दूसरे को व्यक्तिगत रूप से जानते थे! यह पहली बार था जब मैंने वास्तव में सोचा था कि यह वास्तव में उन अन्य बच्चों के लिए कैसा होना चाहिए जो दूर रह रहे हैं जहाँ वे करते हैं और वे कैसे मज़े करना चाहते हैं या गेम खेलना पसंद करते हैं और दोस्तों के साथ रहना पसंद करते हैं जैसे हम अपने देश में करते हैं। ।

      नितिन, यह एक बहुत शक्तिशाली संदेश है जिसे आप यहां नए साल के लिए साझा करते हैं; और जब आप कहते हैं कि आपके पास बहुत कुछ नहीं है, तो आपको उस समय ऐसा महसूस हो सकता है, लेकिन मैं पृथ्वी पर अपने दूर के स्थान या पते से देखता हूं कि आपके पास पास और दूर के लोगों के साथ साझा करने के लिए बहुत कुछ है; महत्वपूर्ण बात यह है कि उन chasms या हजारों मील को पार करने के लिए दूसरों से संबंधित हैं जो एक-दूसरे के मतभेदों और निश्चित रूप से समानताओं को सुनने और साझा करने के लिए तैयार हैं; या जो चीजें हम सभी परिचित हैं और हमारे दिलों के पास और प्रिय हैं! तथास्तु। शांति, स्वास्थ्य, आपको और आपके परिवार को नए साल के माध्यम से ईश्वर का आशीर्वाद!
      धन्यवाद! आपने कई दशक पहले उस स्कूल शिक्षक की इन यादों को वापस लाया था कि मैं उसे अभी भी अपने दिमाग और दिल में देख रहा हूँ और मुझे और छात्रों को ये बातें बोल रहा हूँ !!! बहुत पहले से और आज से कनेक्शन; अभी तक बहुत दूर है, लेकिन अभी भी इतने करीब!
      लॉरेंस…

      Reply

  13. I’ve never hear of Varanasi before, interesting, thank you for sharing and I wish you a Happy & Healthy New Year 2020 from Malta.

    Reply

  22. Mahavir Swami was not from Varanasi ! Otherwise , your post is nice. I feel proud that i belong to oldest city of the world nd the cultural capital of India…Kashi❣️

    Reply

    1. The twenty-third Tirthankar belonged to VARANASI,not the twenty-fourth Mahavir Swami Thanks a lot for pointing out my mistake. 🙏🙏🙏
      KASHI KRIPA HAMESHA BANI RAHEY

      MAHADEV

      Reply

      1. My pleasure,sir 😊 Kashi is the birthplace of Suparshvanath, Chandraprabhu, Shreyanshnath and Parshvanath — the 7th, 8th, 11th, and 23rd Tirthankaras — respectively. महादेव ☀️✨🌟

  23. I have also written the blog on the city I live in ie. Varanasi= banaras = kashi ❤️
    Do check it out I hope you like it 😍

    Reply

  26. It will be a strange Christmas in 2020 with global Covid.
    An interesting post.
    Thanks for following my posts. See you soon on your site, or mine!

    Reply

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