Happy Nowruz!

By Abdul Ali

Calendars are based on lunar, lunar-solar and solar system. Chinese, Ethiopian, Gregorian, Hebrew, Hindu, Persian and  Islamic are some known used  astronomical calendars. But there had been some out-gone calendars of past era like Attic, Aztec , Babylonian, Bulgar, Byzantine, Celtic, Egyptian, Germanic, Hellenic, Hindu, Maya etc. Aztec calendar consisted of 260 days, Chinese calendar consist of 353-385 days(2637 BC),Islamic calendar consists of 354 days, while the rest are comprising 365 days, the widely followed calendar is Gregorian which starts on  first  January, ide est(i.e.)  when the earth makes one complete revolution approximately in 365 days; making up a year time. New Year of Persian and Indian calendars get start on 22 March. Julian, Mayan, Nepalese, Roman are before Christ (BC) calendars .With the renunciation of BC calendar started calendar with the name of our Lord the Christ-Anno Domini (AD).Later came the Islamic Hijri calendar, starting new year with Muharram, when holy prophet migrated from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 CE.

What these time divisions on calenderer say? Is time finite? Physicists do not believe time flows from future into past. Albert Einstein says “the separation between past, present, and future is only an illusion, although a convincing one”. They believe in the idea of ‘block universe, that alludes time to an illusion, the events happen in fourth dimensional space time. Time for a person is psychological feature that he carries more information and memories to his predecessors. Einstein’s fourth space-time doesn’t mention any thing called now; however he doesn’t favor in keeping happening and becoming suspense, but gives it physical reality.

 The general theory of relativity of Einstein does not endorse any thing ‘now’, all matters; small or colossal are in con­stant motion_ simultaneous space, relative to each other in this cosmos. Andromeda space fleet swings from fixed past to uncertain future that is chance encounter according to two different persons in motion. There is no true division between past and future; there is rather a single existence. And of course if one does travel with speed of light, time will cease for him and would be trapped in timelessness. Feynman’s Sum over histories indicates the direction of our ordinary clock time is simply a path in space which is more probable than the more exotic directions time might have taken otherwise. The states of Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Feyman and Jim Hartle conclude to Occam’s razor theory, time and other worlds being as directions through many 3D spaces.

Not to think much of such models and nomenclatures like time dilation, spatial contraction, imaginary time, infinite spaces, explicate order, implicate order as Hawking has put it ‘such models of the universe are not of much interest to us mortals’. God does not play dice” with the world, let delve in the mundane affair of Norouz- عيد من و نوروز من امروز توئي

The Persian new year, called Norouz—New Day—is just here and tulips, narcissi, jasmine and citrus flowers have begun filling the air with sweet scent. The 3,000-year-old tradition of Norouz celebration is rooted in Zoroastrianism, lasting for 13 days, which the Persian started in 1388, quite closer to nature’s course of blooming. Before 1564, most of Europe celebrated the New Year with the first day of spring. Norouz is celebrated in Persian Gulf countries, Post Soviet Republican states, along Karakorum Range, Pamir, Afghanistan.

The nurouz is more closely related to Shi’it Muslims, the day coincident and marks ecclesiastically a complete separate theological philosophy, when the Holy Prophet (pbuh) gathered an assemblage of Muslims on the bank of Arafa during his Farewell Pilgrimage to air his last message. The very day, when Ali (AS) was appointed as ameerul-momineen (commander of faithful), topping the twelve infallible imams. Thus began imamate of Ali (AS) to Shi’it school of thought.

 It is time to do some spring cleaning and reprioritize New Year resolutions. Norouz is time for reflections, time to restart with new mind and aptitude. For beautiful flower to bloom and rich orchard to prosper, it is time of seedling, its nature’s time of rebirth and renewal of hope, time for joy and engendering optimism. The ritual is celebrated by paying a courtesy visit to relatives over a sumptuous dishes cooked for this day, while in rustic areas houses and water channels are cleaned and symbolic plantations are undertaken with billowing scent of evergreen tree and earnest prayers to mark the arrival of spring.

Talking of spring, it seems quite natural for someone to acquiesce with poets who personify nature’s beauty and the likes of Sa’adi, mulana Rumi, Hafez and Khayyam spring to mind. Rumi says “If your thought is a rose, you are a rose garden; and if it is a thistle, you are fuel for the fire.”Behrooz Parhami’s has befitting description of New Year

سردی رود،سبزی رسد،ھمگام با نوروزما                 از جشن عید و فصل نو،خرم شود امروز ما

و صف گل و آب و ھوا،آید ز بلبل کجا                         بستان و باغ با صفا،چو گیرند از خدا

سبزہ و بوی یاسمن،فصل بھار می رسد                    مقدم عید و سال نو،ھمچو سوار می رسد

Poems are rough notations for the music we are. Rumi’s poetic rendition of spring runs hereunder; did you hear that winter’s over? The basil and the carnations cannot control their laughter. The nightingale, back from his wandering, has been made singing master over the birds. The trees reach out their congratulations. The soul goes dancing through the king’s doorway. Anemones blush because they have seen the rose naked. Spring, the only fair judge, walks in the courtroom, and several December thieves steal away, Last year’s miracles will soon be forgotten. New creatures whirl in from non-existence, galaxies scattered around their feet. Have you met them? Do you hear the bud of Jesus crooning in the cradle? A single narcissus flower has been appointed Inspector of Kingdoms. A feast is set. Listen: the wind is pouring wine! Love used to hide inside images: no more! The orchard hangs out its lanterns. The dead come stumbling by in shrouds. Nothing can stay bound or be imprisoned. You say, “End this poem here, and wait for what’s next.” I will.

As time passes by, Homo sapiens inhabiting different parts of planet develop aptitude for better state and society and catch on change for individualistic pursuits, but some fail to imbibe the changes for the right cause and course. Education, economic growth and gain should be employed for strengthening healthy social and religious fabric of society on sound ethical values and civic etiquettes, leaving rich heritage for posterity to come. The president, Mr. Shah Zaman; feeling disquiet and discomfort, the way youth from our areas are trying to adapt to changes, which results in disrepute and costing many a precious souls. However he wishes the village youth these lines of anonymous poet;

May the arrival of spring bring you joy and affection
and may your fortune be far-flung in every direction
the festival of Norouz is our forbearers’ precious gift
May your mouth be sweet, and your spirit a fragrant wift

The writer is an ACMA, media co-coordinator of the Ghulkin Youth Association.