Lunar New Year in Taiwan makes Indian diplomat homesick－聯合翻譯有限公司/聯合翻譯社

Lunar New Year in Taiwan makes Indian diplomat homesick

Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) The hustle and bustle of the Lunar New Year in Taiwan bears much resemblance to the way the new year is celebrated in India, said Pradeep Kumar Rawat, the director-general of the India-Taipei Association (ITA).

Firecrackers, densely packed temples, and lavish feasts are some of the common traits that both countries share during the festive holidays, Rawat told CNA in a recent interview.

Having lived in China, he said that Taiwan has a comparatively "unique" way of celebrating that reminds him of his hometown that bubbles with joy and overflows with exuberance during Diwali.

Diwali, also popularly known as the Festival of Lights, is accepted by many religious communities in India as their traditional new year. It falls between October and November based on a local lunar calendar.

"While I was in Hong Kong, I found the Chinese New Year to be very quiet with most of the shops being closed and no sound of festivities, such as firecrackers being let off."

It was a similar experience in Beijing, where the use of firecrackers is limited, he said, observing that people there seemed to prefer the market place more as a destination than temples.

"In Taiwan, the markets are busy and temples full of people. The sound of firecrackers keeps the festive atmosphere alive until late in the evening," he said.

"In India, people clean their houses prior to the new year, have new clothes made, buy gifts, prepare sumptuous meals, visit temples to offer prayers, distribute sweets, and let off firecrackers. This is similar to the way the new year is celebrated in Taiwan."

Given the nine-day holiday this year, the Indian diplomat said that, like many others, he intends to take the opportunity to spend more time with his family, arrange some trips, and participate in traditional and cultural activities.