Day 2, Thursday, January 2, 2025
Happy New Year Greetings Continues . .
Happy New Year to All from Our and Our Daughters’ Homes!
Here is the auspicious platter to welcome 2025. Kashmiri families prepare a “thal,” to welcome each New Year. This is the first things each family member is expected to see after waking up on the morning of January 1. It includes bowls of milk and yogurt, sugar and salt, fresh and dry fruit, flowers, book/notebook, pen/pencil, gold/money and a mirror. The items are placed over uncooked rice. Other items may include hot chili, pods of tamarind or similar items. At the end of the day each ingredient is transferred back to its containers.
Rice symbolizes sustenance, and gold/money, abundance. The transformative process of milk turning into yogurt signifies the skill, method, duration and patience it requires for a task to bud, blossom and fructify. Fresh fruit and flowers celebrate the fullness of life, dry fruit, the passing of time. Sugar, salt, sour and spice signify inevitable emotions that are experienced through the year. The mirror reminds us to look frequently at ourselves during the year to assess who we think we are, who we really are and contemplate our thoughts and feelings. Finally, the things collectively nudge us to cultivate generosity, gratitude, forgiveness, contentment, kindness, patience and self-understanding to experience physical and emotional wellbeing and joy.
With love,
Madhu
Lorraine
I love this tradition and its symbolism. (And The Magic Treehouse is a fav of mine) Wishing you a healthy and prosperous new year with lots of laughter and hugs!
Jennifer D. Diamond
Good morning, Madhu! I love learning about the tradition of arranging a thal. Your descriptions and photos are so inviting to all of my senses! Thank you for sharing! Happy New Year!
Madhu B. Wangu
Good morning, Lorraine!
Making a Navreh (New Year) thali and in the morning showing it to all the family members has always been one of my favorite traditions. Our daughters have continued the tradition which makes me happy. I share the three thalis every new year with friends and extended families.
Madhu B. Wangu
Good morning, Jenn!
First I want to thank you for the hours you spent on closing OMWG Facebook page. Thank you so much!
Glad you enjoyed the description of the meanings of the various ingredients on the platter. At the beginning of each New Year (Navreh) they never fail to inspire me. Namaste!
Donna Lucas
Good evening, dear friends. Madhu, this is an amazing tradition that I have come to admire from your posts of making a Navreh thali. Such a symbolic and sensational creation shared. Happy New Year!
Madhu B. Wangu
Thank you Donna! Navreh Mubarak (Happy New Year!) to you too, dear friend!