When the Door to God's Home is Open!
Of New Years, Cultural Beliefs, and Random Musings.
Hello All! Hope you’ve had a smashing holiday season—or at least one that met your expectations.
Today is a special day for many in India, particularly those who lean toward the Preserver-God as their ultimate favorite among the Creator, Destroyer, and Preserver trio.
It’s that one day in the year when the doors to the Preserver-God’s celestial home are flung open for anyone who wants to visit!
Always in January, right at the start of the year.
What better way to kick things off?
Why is that?
According to Hindu mythology, the Preserver-God resides in a divine realm called ‘Vaikunth’ with his consort, the Goddess of Fortune.
The Preserver-God is best known for his famous avatars, Rama and Krishna.
Both avatars take the trouble of rescuing humanity from evildoers who thrive on tormenting humans just minding their own business and living ethically.
Just in case we despair, Krishna declares in the Gita: ‘Whenever unrighteousness rises and righteousness (Dharma) declines, I incarnate to destroy evil, protect the good, restore the balance in favor of the good, and uplift humanity.’
But sometimes this takes trillions of years. When the Preserver-God isn’t playing these cosmic roles, He resides in that divine realm inaccessible to mere mortals - even to some lesser gods.
Not only do you get open entry, but your wrongdoings are also forgiven, and you get an easier shot at salvation, bypassing the entire karmic rebirth cycle.
That’s why it’s special for many. I mean, who refuses a gift horse?
So, people line up in queues (often quite long) to get a glimpse of the Preserver-God at their favorite temple. On this day, temples are decorated extensively, with some portraying symbolic doorways to represent the “open entry” to the divine realm.
In recent years, this has taken on a more materialistic flair, with outlandish decorations sometimes overshadowing the spiritual intent - and people taking selfies with the elaborate displays.
For some, the day also involves fasting—whether dry (no water), liquid-only, permitted snacks (no grains), or fruit-only. Mostly, it’s about spiritual reflection.
The ancients clearly understood the need for detoxing after overindulgence!
In fact, fasting was so beloved that they advocated doing it twice a month.
But if that feels like a tall order, they suggest using this special day to fast and claim all the spiritual benefits of the other 23 fasts combined.
Who can ignore such a generous gift?
Thus, this day holds great significance for many.
December is also the start of the kite-flying season in India in celebration of the harvest and to usher in local New Years. I’ve previously shared how different sub-cultures here celebrate their New Years.
Stray kites often end up on our rooftops, backyards, or, tangled in the satellite dish.
I found eight lost kites this week—including one, surprisingly, with an American flag design.
Modern kite designs with waxy textures are everywhere, but none match the charm of the small, brightly colored paper kites—some even painted with eyes—that we loved as kids. We flew them all day past dusk, breaking only for meals, and engaged in friendly kite fights. By January, the sky would be dotted with kites galore. Now, kids seem to prefer their phones to the open skies.
Some modernizations just aren’t as fun.
On that note, goodbye until next month—here's to a year filled with purpose, reflection, and joy. Happy New Year!
Jayshree