Mahayana New Year falls on January 25th this year. The term Mahayana means ‘Great Vehicle’ in English. It refers to Buddhist philosophies and practices observed in Northeast Asia, in places such as Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia, as well as North America. Mahāyāna Buddhists believe that every individual can achieve enlightenment during his/her lifetime through service and helping others. The ultimate goal is to achieve nirvana, the absence of suffering.
The other branch of Buddhism, the Theraveda Buddhism, is commonly practiced in Southeast Asia, namely in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
How is Mahayana New Year celebrated?
The Mahāyāna New Year is different in each country. Some Mahāyāna Buddhists celebrate it on December 31 or January 1 along with the rest of the world. Others wait for the first full moon which usually falls mid-January. Mahāyāna Buddhists generally celebrate by honouring and praying to Buddha. They bathe Buddha’s statues as a sign of respect. People visit temples on New Year’s Day, sing religious songs and light candles to attract happiness and good luck for the coming year.
Celebrating Mahayana New Year in Tibet
The Tibetan New Year is known as Losar. It is a multi-day event in late January, February, or early March, depending on the Tibetan lunar calendar. The Tibetan celebrations include not only traditional, religious rituals such as hanging prayer flags and spinning prayer wheels, but also singing, dancing, gift-giving, and cooking special meals. A favorite Losar treat is the khapse. Khapse is a cookie made in various shapes, for example, a lotus blossom. Similarly to many New Year’s festivities in Buddhist countries, Losar dates back to the Bon religion which now coexists with Buddhism.
Celebrating Mahayana New Year in Japan
The Japanese New Year, Shogatsu, is a three-day celebration that the Japanese people observe on January 1. This is because the Japanese calendar was westernized during the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Hatsumode is the name of the first visit of the new year to a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine. It is particularly vital, because it sets the tone for the whole year. During the holiday, temples ring their bells 108 times—a sacred number in Buddhism. Number 108 signifies the number of misfortunes people strive to avoid. Moreover, people adorn their homes with ornaments, especially around the entryway. All ornaments must be new to symbolize a new beginning. Osechi ryori is the traditional food for New Year’s. It is a selection of dishes served in lavishly decorated bento box-like containers.
Celebrating Mahayana New Year in Thailand
The Thai celebrate the traditional Thai New Year, Songkran, in April. They take part in “water-throwing festivals” which are the celebratory mass water “fights” in the streets that signify the cleansing of misdeeds. People also participate in the ritual of washing Buddha statues. People visit temples and make donations to the monks to earn happiness and luck. In northern Thailand, people carry sand to temples, symbolically getting rid of the “dirt” of the previous year. People construct sand stupas, or chedi, outside temples and decorate them with sacred flags.
