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Charukesi Ramadurai

Long after the rest of the world has finished welcoming the new year, in many parts of India the celebrations have continued.  Mid-January witnessed  Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival that marks the sun's auspicious journey into the northern hemisphere.  Pockets in Mumbai  (and other large Indian cities, such as  Calcutta) will stay in party mode until next week celebrating  the Lunar New Year.
This is a time for the city's Chinese residents to reconnect with the traditions of their homeland. There are always plenty of firecrackers.  And the  Chinese  consulate throws a  party for those who are away from their families or unable to celebrate at home. 
However, for most members of the community, the festival isn't really about celebrating (or partying), but getting together with the entire family. 
Lifelong Mumbai resident Shih Pao Chang says the celebrations at her home will start this evening. 'The New Year's Eve dinner is considered important - and has to be a 10-course meal.' 
The entire family -  including members who live outside Mumbai - gets together for  the occasion. Some of her  happiest childhood memories involve  Lunar New Year, such  as listening to her grandparents tell stories about their past and their family's history. For her,  this has been a vital link to her roots, given that her grandparents left China when they were young.  
Then there are the rituals passed down through the generations, such as visiting ancestral graves to light incense sticks and pray for good health and prosperity. 
'Chinese New Year is all about new beginnings,'  Chang says.
But the celebrations won't  be confined to members of Mumbai's Chinese community  - that's good news for lovers  of Chinese food as various  speciality restaurants will  be offering lavish spreads  for the occasion. 
Chef  Han Zhou, of the   Grand Hyatt Hotel's China House restaurant, says:  'Chinese New Year is always celebrated with lots of sumptuous food, including seafood, meat and dumplings. The  family sits together and en- joys dumplings with different fillings - this is the symbol of family reunion.' 
But with the passing of  time, some traditions and customs are not being followed as strictly as they once were. One can sense Chang's wistfulness as she says she misses the grand celebrations of her childhood, and that her grandparents still talk about the  traditional rituals and celebration. 
'They always feel nostalgic during Chinese New Year.'



Party on ...