Happy 2026 to our CR Park Family!
As the first few days of the
Gregorian New Year settle in, there’s a distinct freshness in the air. 2026 has
officially arrived, heralding new beginnings and that familiar sense of hope we
all carry into January. To every reader of CR Park Speaks, we want
to wish you a very Happy New Year! Whether you spent your
countdown at a quiet family dinner or joined the bustling crowds at the Mandir,
we hope your start to the year was filled with warmth.
The Turning of the Sun: The days
have started getting longer and brighter. What does it signify? That we are
going into Uttarayan from Dakshinayan.
So, what is Uttarayan? Uttarayan
is a time of 6 months when the Sun God decides to move up north of the planet.
The Gods who were asleep for the last 6 months during Dakshinayan are finally
waking up. This is the time when warmth, life, sustenance, abundance, freshness
start coming into our lives. The universe turns its face towards growth,
expansion and clarity. What was lying weakened and shrivelled during
Dakshinayan is waking up to victory of light over darkness, energy over inertia
and warmth over cold.
New harvest is welcomed all over
India during this time. The country wakes up to fragrant and pulsating new
harvest of rice, fruits, and numerous other food products.
According to the Shastras, the
dishes that are made during this time across the country, are extremely
beneficial for the entire human body. Rice and jaggery provides immunity,
warmth and regrowth of cells. Sesame, peanuts offer that much needed strength,
resistance to cold and infection, skin and hair replenishment, fibre and good
cholesterol. Milk with dates, dry fruits, ghee is simply irreplaceable for over
all immunity, strong bones, teeth and joints.
So you see, how scientific our
ancestors have been and how they have actually tried to study and understand
the cycle of seasons and the possible harvest that our Mother Earth so caringly
gives us every season! Is this any less than magic? When our dear Mother
Earth so beautifully produces the same harvest every year which protects all
life forms with every changing season? How the Almighty has so carefully
bestowed such beneficial bounty every season, which helps to grow life on this
planet? How meticulously the clock functions on this planet and the universe
where not a second lapse can happen, which can otherwise lead to total chaos.
Every year, the same fragrant
rice comes out of the muddy, soft and life infusing soil. Every year, the same
irresistible date palms give us the warm, gushy, sweet juice which are so
lovingly cooked over wood fire by farmers in Bengal to churn out the stunning
“nolen gur”, which brings the whole world on its knees with the endless
varieties of sweets made from this wonder of nature.
Every home in India, warms up to
the heady fragrances of new rice harvested fresh from the fields, cooked
languorously with fresh jaggery, dry fruits, and endless love by the mothers
and grandmothers. Warm peanuts and sesame tightly hug boiling jaggery to become
yummy “chikkis” to be savoured around large bonfires in front of houses where
everyone gathers with large cups of steaming milk tea.
Rice cakes dipped in jaggery
flavoured milk, or even baked leisurely, and then served with gooey, warm
flowing jaggery juice can give any chocolate sauce a run for their very
existence!
This is India ladies and
gentlemen! The world watches as India warms itself with its endless bounty,
beauty and brotherhood. No other country celebrates the turn of seasons and
harvest like India does.
Join us at the Poush Mela: Jan
9th – 11th
To experience this magic
firsthand, we invite you all to the Poush Mela at the CR
Park Mela Ground from January 9th to 11th, 2026.
It is the perfect place to
witness this "victory of warmth." As we enjoy the Baul sangeet and
the steaming cups of tea, let’s also take a moment to reflect. How can we not
love this planet? How can we plunder nature so mindlessly when she gives us so
much? This year, let’s think before we cut down a tree or waste a drop of
water.
On this Uttarayan, let us pray
that the Almighty and Mother Earth continue to bless all life here forever. See
you at the Mela!
Team CR Park Speaks
#chittaranjanpark #crparkspeaks #chittaranjanparkspeaks #crparkspeakdelhi #aninditaroy #jayaray
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