Chinese New Year in Prasanthi…

HOPING for greater insistence and practice of Filial Piety, respect and reverence for parents, hundreds of Chinese speaking devotees from South East Asian countries namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore assembled in Prasanthi celebrating the advent of the 4013th Lunar Chinese New Year this evening here in Prasanthi Nilayam.

This year’s Chinese New Year is the year of the snake and Chinese all over the world celebrated the advent last week, on Saturday, 9 February with raucous celebrations.

H..O..P..E..Honouring Of Parents Everyday was the theme of this year’s New Year and speaking on the occasion Mr Billy Fong, coordinator for the celebrations, from Malaysia, stressed on the greater significance of ‘filial piety’, honouring parents as practised in the Chinese culture and tradition.

Earlier, the programme commenced with holy Rudram chanting by the ‘chinese’ that was followed by traditional offering of delicacies, to Bhagawan, by children from Indonesia and Malaysia.

Holy Tibetan chantings continued before Mr Billy Fong from Malaysia took over speaking on the significance of Chinese culture and tradition, stressing on Filial Piety. Speaking on the theme, recalling quotes from Confucius, he invited the Regional Chair of SSSSO Dr Ravindran to release a compilation of teachings of Bhagawan on the theme Filial Piety at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet.

A burst of songs in Mandarin Chinese and English followed that ended with a combined Mandarin – English piece on the joy and bliss of the advent of Happy New Year.

A surprise item was to follow, a Carnatic rendering by one of the Chinese speaking youth who was trained by Padmabhushan Dr BK Pattammal. Singing “Rama Ninnu Namina…”, , the young singer rose to the expectations of the capacity audience receiving rounds of applause.

Even as participants were felicitated bhajans continued and ended with Mangala Arathi at 1830 hrs.

The 2- day Chinese New Year celebrations would continue tomorrow.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavnatu II