Celebrating Christmas as a Hindu
A recent survey of 2,300 employers across Britain said that 74% of companies in Britain have chosen not to display Christmas decorations. The employment law firm Peninsula that conducted the survey claimed that this was so as not to open companies to litigation for discriminating against non-Christian religions. The National Secular Society dismissed the reports as “exaggerated and misleading.” President Terry Sanderson said: “Where Christmas parties and decorations are being discontinued it is usually for cost or health and safety reasons. We do not consider the move to be ‘Christophobic’ as Christians are increasingly prone to claim”
December 26th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
I think the Christ out of Christmass is definitely on the way out and the English public most probably will go back to their Pagan roots eventually.
December 27th, 2006 at 12:57 am
I don’t celebrate Christmas. Instead, I observe Pancha Ganapati and prior to that, the Winter Solstice. I still send presents, but include a Happy Holidays, non-denominational card. I come from a multi-faith family, and a social circle which includes liberal Jews, Christians, neoPagans, Muslims, Jains and Buddhists, as well as Hindus, so it works out this way. Of course, the Religious Right, especially here in the U.S. objects to this kind of thinking, deceptively trying to pose it as a War against Christmas, meaning Christians of their reactionary stripe. Anyway, Christmas, or December 25, was really Mithra’s holiday, the same Mithra, or Mitra, found in Zoroastrianism, the Vedas, and classical Paganism, not to mention also the Roman Saturnalia. Which probably explains why office-parties have something of an ill-repute in the popular mind. As Freud called it, “the Return of the Repressed,” and Jung always said the archetypes, when repressed, come back as pathologies (or hang-overs, at least).
December 27th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
‘Many alarmist Hindus bemoan the ‘loss of culture’ and ‘westernisation’ simply because their children celebrate Christmas.’
Ive not come across alarmist Hindus on the web or here in the UK.
Ive been celebrating Christmas since the 70s to the point of decorating my home with trees and light and picture of Jesus.
Ive been brought up in a Christian school where I was given a Bible and singing daily the Lords prayer.
I love carol singing.
Yet never have I felt any need to convert.
I am much stronger in my relgion today then ever before. I think we should not worry about our kids converting but rather more the company they keep.
December 30th, 2006 at 10:41 am
I agree wholeheartedly with KP. My upbringing was very similar to what KP describes, and even now, I love to sing hymns with the Church choir, attend carol services, go to Church on Sundays and so on. Over the years, my faith as a Hindu has been strengthened by attending synagogues, mosques, churches and so on. I personally feel no need to look for ways to justify celebrating Christmas and am quite happy to celebrate it in the Christian tradition as the birth of Christ (yes, I know Christ was not actually born on 25th December, but so what?) Similarly, since I was away with no other Hindus and certainly no mandir at Diwali time this year, we held a special Diwali church service that week. I’m sure some may read sinister plots and conspiracies into such things; personally, I just see genuine seekers of spirituality coming together in whatever way they know to celebrate the divinity that is within and all around each of us. As Swami Vivekananda said, “Each soul is potentially divine” - so why separate those divine souls in the name of organised “religion” (doesn’t the word ‘religion’ itself derive from ‘re-ligare’, or ‘to rejoin’?)
December 30th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Re: “Many alarmist Hindus bemoan the ‘loss of culture’ and ‘westernisation’ simply because their children celebrate Christmas. They should realize that if celebrated with the understanding of the real meaning …”
To Christians, “the real meaning” of Christmas is all about the unique, virgin birth of Jesus Christ who is the savior for all humankind. Truly respecting other religions is to realize what they believe and not what one’s spin is on the other’s religion. Hindus that celebrate Christmas are insulting both Christianity and Hinduism.
Those of wisdom and courage sound the alarm when there is a fire. Those who deride Hindus, who see the outcome of religious ignornance, will (interestingly) cry “alarmist.” All one has to do is look at “modern yoga” to see the perversions that have taken place due to shallow Hindus. All one has to do is to ponder the fate of indigenous Indians around the world to see the effects of Christian Monotheism.
December 31st, 2006 at 11:09 pm
I have no problem with Hindus “celebrating” Christmas with the Christians, singing hymns, taking communion etc… but let me just let all you “inclusionists” be reminded … that the Catholic Churches greatest contribution to India was through Francis Xavier … the priest who introduced the quaint practice of the “Inquistion” to India.
So when all you puesdo-Hindu’s are singing away “Silent Light” and letting us know that Christianity is the religion of peace etc just remember the screams of the Brahmins and the Muslims when where they where being burnt alive for being “heathens” and that the present Pope, in fact no Pope, has ever apologised for that act.
ta ta
Happy new year.
JackB
January 3rd, 2007 at 3:03 am
Chirstmas is a pseudo chritstian celebration.
The Winter solstice celebration was a Roman celebration (Persephone and Demeter et al). The Christians of the 1’st 300 years would have known that the actual birth would have been in the spring (assuming the story is true). The pagan celebration was of joy and peace and rebirth (you’ll note that the common era year starts here - the pagans were optimists). Christianity chose not to remember that pagans celebrated these things. so they acquired the holiday, took the tree/nature worship of the northern European traditions and fashioned a lie that these traditional celebrations were an invention of christianity.
There never was a christ in christmas. As time went on it became a time to revel - a remembrance of Carnival. Only as christianity acquired power and wealth could it sustain the mythology of Jesus’ birth. By that its own scholars were pointing out that the myth was just that.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a nordic Sant who is the true origin of Santa claus (like the virgin of Guadalajara, All saints eve, and soon diwali and holi - acquired because a lie couldn’t conquer them).
The holiday season is good because it reminds christians to be peaceful, which they soon forget. To non-chritsians we must celebrate a day of peace (every day). But we must remember that it is called christmas to remind us of the ability of christianity to destroy and obfuscate truth.
Remember Marcus Aureleus, Cincinnatus, Cicero… The great pagans that stand as the city of Olympia - once wonders of spirit and love now dead to the world killed by an ideology willing to lie for power.
As to the good christian, like the good muslim, like a good Hindu, like a good Buddhist - s/he will look to the truth, not the propaganda. But, If we judge those that fund the conversion of Hindus (the weekly church plate) as generous, kind and peaceful; then who do find as the enemies - do they need to lift the knife before we know who they are?
Celebrate that Demeter has regained her daughter, celebrate the being that is in trees, call it christmas if you like, but remember the truth.
hariaum
January 4th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Jai Sri Krishna
This Pancha Ganapthi festival is a Shiviate Hindu festival founded by Sumbramanya Swami of Hawaii. The Puranas or other scritptures may not mention it, but what is harm of doin puja for Ganesh during this time. Afterall during divalli and other festivals, Western Hindus in the west often find it hard to make time to celebrate due to work etc… So its nice that Western Hindus can make bets use of their national holidays!
However i do want to stress that this Pancha Ganapathi is an Shiviate festival and Vaishnavas have thier own festivals which occur around xmas time. Gita Jayanti occurs some tim in december. Also the solar month of Danur (sagittarius) which roughly coincides with the Magshar lunar nonth, occures from mid december to jan 14th which is Makar Shankranti. This month of Dhanur is considered very sacred and many Vaishnva temples have special pre-dawn pujas. This period is also called the Adyayana festival when the vedas and other scritptures are recited daily. Vaikuntha ekadashi which fell on december 30th is considered to be the day when the doors of Vaikuntha Loka (heaven of Visnu) are opened. The new Balaji temple in west mids celebrated this festival with great pomp. These festivities however are more prevalant in the south hence why most Uk Hindus whe tend to be north indians may not be familiar with them. But if you go to swaminarayan-Vaishnav temples you will see that Dhanurmas is observed. Im not to certain but many this period also has significance for the devotees of Shiva. The Dhanurmas period culminates on the 14th of January which is the MakarShankranti/uttrayan/pongal festival. In India is a major national holiday and harvest festival.
January 4th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Jai Sri Krishna
This Pancha Ganapthi festival is a Shiviate Hindu festival founded by Sumbramanya Swami of Hawaii. The Puranas or other scritptures may not mention it, but what is harm of doin puja for Ganesh during this time. Afterall during divalli and other festivals, Western Hindus in the west often find it hard to make time to celebrate due to work etc… So its nice that Western Hindus can make bets use of their national holidays!
However i do want to stress that this Pancha Ganapathi is an Shiviate festival and Vaishnavas have thier own festivals which occur around xmas time. Gita Jayanti occurs some tim in december. Also the solar month of Danur (sagittarius) which roughly coincides with the Magshar lunar nonth, occures from mid december to jan 14th which is Makar Shankranti. This month of Dhanur is considered very sacred and many Vaishnva temples have special pre-dawn pujas. This period is also called the Adyayana festival when the vedas and other scritptures are recited daily. Vaikuntha ekadashi which fell on december 30th is considered to be the day when the doors of Vaikuntha Loka (heaven of Visnu) are opened. The new Balaji temple in west mids celebrated this festival with great pomp. These festivities however are more prevalant in the south hence why most Uk Hindus whe tend to be north indians may not be familiar with them. But if you go to swaminarayan-Vaishnav temples you will see that Dhanurmas is observed. Im not to certain but many this period also has significance for the devotees of Shiva. The Dhanurmas period culminates on the 14th of January which is the MakarShankranti/uttrayan/pongal festival.
January 28th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Honestly when i was young and going to school with a bunch of xtians, I wanted a xmas tree, the lights and gifts from santa. But now a days i have nothing to do with Xmas and make all my gifts, lights and stuff during DIWALI.
As for that moron Hindu with the pic of Jesus and the bible. You are the reason why we Hindus have such problems with Hindus converting. You are part of the problem not the solution.
The truth hurts and in this case I hope it offends.
January 28th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Ya righttttt all these white washed Hindus come up with justifications for celebrating x-mas as Jesus birthday and singing carols, I don’t see the Hindus in Islamic countries celebrating bakrid by sacrificing goats and cows and saying Namaz.
So let’s realise that Jesus means nothing to Hindus.
December 27th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
I heard xmas was initially a pagan festival which the chtristains then took over, more the fact alot of people say jesus died in november not december at all?? and no, we do not ‘celebrate’ xmas, but use the time off work to come together as a family.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:31 am
So many Hindus want to turn the religion into some kind of fanatic religion like how some fundamental Muslims and christians have their religion.. in Guyana , Christmas is like the national festival and many hindus celebrate, and the hindu businesspeople make a lot of money from the people who are buying presents and things to do up their houses and so on..
one friend has started putting up a tree at divali, with the lights and leaving it up..
Diversity.. that is what is good abotu Hinduism..
December 28th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
It is said that jehovas do not celebrate christmas because they say when jesus was born it was not in winter..
December 30th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
I celebrate xmas… but not the way christians do.. I celebrate it because im a kid, and i used to love it when “santa” came and dropped me loads of presents. As a child everyone celebrates xmas… but as time goes they dont celebrate as much.
But it’s not fair for you Park X so say im a moron Hindu with a picture of Jesus and the bible, cause i aint. Im a normal Hindu with a picture of RadhaKrishna and a Bhagvad Gita. We have to be fair on this… Kind of like the valentine protest arguement:
http://thehinduvoice.com/blog/2007/02/26/valentines-day-protests-in-india/
Be fair, cause they do celebrate some of our festivals. Besides, it aint like i sit there in a church praying. They dont sit in a mandir praying on Diwali either, but they do wish us a happy new year, and eat mithai with us.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:21 pm
vidyartha u moron, y wud I want to celebrate (even symbolically) the birthday of that dead loser who said all unbelievers that didn’t accept him will be eternally damned to hell?
first we need to get rid of these morons like vidyartha.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:23 pm
“Diversity.. that is what is good abotu Hinduism..”
u dumb loser, hinduism is diverse within itself. we dont need any xtianity.
servile homos like u might even give up your women to jihadis to “embrace diversity”.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Vidyartha you are just another white washed greedy loser, what next celebrate bakrid and slaughter cows for diversity?
The only people I respect are those who do it understanding it’s pre christian significance, any one who celebrates the “birth” of “jesus” is a certified moron.
Who cares what your loser friend and those greedy businessmen do (the same kind that usually get kicked out of every country when the locals get fed up of them like in east africa and do nothing).
As park x said, you are part of the problem not the solution.
I know one Hindu who does that and new year too, i ask him why, he says he just wants to get laid and will stop after his marriage lol.
December 31st, 2007 at 5:33 pm
is it just me or are some of the people on here way to into xmas even more so than maybe Diwali, yes celebrate xmas if you really have to but whats the point of putting up Jesus pics in your home.remember we are Hindus living in chritians dominated societies UK, USA, Canada etc but that doesnt mean we have to read about their faith and take part in it so much that we actually look like practising christians ourselfs!
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
agree with dharmesh……..putting pics of jesus in your homes is taking the cake so to speak…..someone mentione how christians share mithai with us so its only fair that we celebrate xmas in the same sentiment. Well do you think the christians/people from the west would ever put pics of Bhagwan or an aum in celebration?…No..they are merely being inclusive and I believe that we should engage and enjoy a celebration.
During xmas…we put up a tree and exchange presents, but for us, its an excuse to get together (nothing to do on xmas as everything is shut!) and we simply enjoy the day as a day off to chill with family. No way do we celebrate the “birth” of Jesus!…thats just delusional.
What people dont understand here is the encroachment that these activities can have on our way of thinking….as generations of Hindus go by…we become less Hindu and more western…and if we are ALREADY singing carols…praising the LORD and attending Sunday Church services (couldnt believe i read that in someones post!)…slowly but surely these christian festivals will take more prominence than our own religious festivals.
I know MANY MANY Hindus who dont bother putting up lights for ironically the festival of lights - Diwali…but spend so much to decorate their houses during xmas!…i also know one women who covers her xmas tree every year in NEW miniature teddy bears from The Disney store…im talking around 20 toys to hang…each which must cost over £5….but does NOTHING for any Hindu fesitivities. Ask Hindu children which festivites they most look forward to and i guarantee they will say xmas….and thats a crying shame.
My opinion…theres nothing wrong in putting a tree up…enjoying xmas dinner and generally celebrating a time where you can get together with friends and family….but it shouldnt be celebrated for its christian overtures….and it shouldnt be so ostentaciously celebrated that our own Hindu festivals pale in comparison…becuase the generatins to come will only help strengthen the divide..paying more and more attention to xmas..and less to festivals like Diwali.
When i have children, Hindu festivals will ALWAYS take precedence….and xmas we will celebrate just becuase we are sociable ppl living in a christian society. We arent muslims after all who are kill joys.
January 8th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Ancient Hindus, Romans, Zorastrians were not PAGAN.
PAGAN means idiots, rustics, horrible etc in the original Greek word.
MITRA( The Sun in Sanskrit) was not a PAGAN god, but according to Bhagwat Gita, Mitra( or Vivassam ) is the father of MANU, the father of all human being ( Chapter 4, Verse 1).
What Jesus said are almost similar to what Sri Krishna said. Because of that many people believe that Jesus was another reincarnation of the Brahman, just like Sri Krishna.
That is the opinion of the Saunak Rishi Das, the Director of the Oxford Centre of Hindu Studies ( of Oxford University), if you look at the website of the Association of the Hindu Temples of UK.
January 9th, 2008 at 4:52 am
A.Moron please do not insult Shri Krishna by associating the mythological entity known as Jesus with him. We’ve already got the ISCKON traitors to do that.
January 10th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
When Buddha came and preached his message, Hindus were ‘inclusive’ (it’s not a dirty word) enough to make him a God, as they did with Sai Baba. When the ten Sikh gurus taught their ideas, again we added them to the great canon of Hindu reformers and saints. Personally, I am quite happy for a Hindu to worship God in any form and under any name they feel appropriate to them, be that Rama, Ganesh or Christ (is there any less actual evidence for the existence of the ‘Kristos’ than for that of Shiva?)
Even if one chooses not to worship Christ but prefers the worship of say Hanuman, one recalls Hamid Dalwai’s judgment on Indian Muslims: “The explanation of Muslim backwardness is to be found in the very make-up of the Muslim mind. Indian Muslims believe that they are a perfect society and are superior to all other communities in India. One of the grounds for this belief is the assumption that the Islamic faith embodies the vision of a perfect society and, therefore, being a perfect Muslim implies not having to make any further progress. This is an unacceptable claim by modern criteria.” The Hindu attitude is striking for its rejection of such arrogance: “Aa no bhadrah krtavo yantu vishvatah” (May noble thoughts come to us from all sides). Just because one may see much to be condemned in another’s religion, that should not blind us from what good there is there that we too can learn from. Hinduism flourishes through the ages purely because of our constant quest to take all that is good from all sources and absorb it into ourselves - the moment we assume that we have attained perfection, we are doomed.
Another perspective is that organised religion has multiple aetiology, part of which is social and communal collectivism. Where is the harm in sharing the social aspects of Christmas by joining with them in celebration?
January 10th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
“social” aspects don’t include worshipping jesus, the fundamental issue is not whether jesus existed or not but his message is intolerant and runs counter to Dharma, trying to assimilate him into the Hindu pantheon is like trying to assimilate poison into milk.
There is a saying in Telugu “whether a leaf falls on a thorn or whether a thorn falls on a leaf, the harm is done to the leaf”, in this case Dharma is like the leaf, its making a mockery of it when you worship jesus or allah whose message is being used to this day by their respective followers to launch aggressive jihads and crusades on Hindus.
This has already been extensively discussed here:
http://voiceofdharma.com/books/tfst/
And finally neither Buddha, Mahavira or the Sikh Gurus taught their followers to go massacre the heathens or launch jihad against the infidels or that unbelievers will burn in hell for eternity, that is why many Hindus may respect them.
In my response, i assumed that you want Hindus to “add” jesus to the “pantheon” or think that there is no harm in doing so, correct me if i am wrong.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Prahalad:
The Guru of Swami Vivekananda was Ramkrishna Paramhansa. He has converted himself to both Christianity and Islam ( but without eating beef or ham) in order to understand these religions.
After his death, the cremation ceremony was performed in the presence of Swami Vivekananda according to three different religious methods.
What do you think about it?