BestuVaras, meaning New Year in Gujarati, was celebrated by visiting friends and family with exchange of gifts.
The greeting used on this day is NutanVarshnaAbhinandan or Saal Mubarak, which means Happy New Year in Gujarati and Hindi.
Homes are decorated with flowers and rangoli (the traditional Indian art, which could be designs or writings in Gujarati/Hindi).
Bestu Varas in Nairobi was celebrated with Governor Evans Kidero visiting BAPS temple.
He accepted a tilak on his forehead – the red dot that signifies members of the Hindu community.
He wished the community a happy New Year.
The Sunni Muslims celebrate the beginning of their New Year as well.
Male members get together on the first day of the month of Muharram for a parade commemorating the life of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
A feast is prepared in some families and warm greeting exchanged in the community.
Sunnis fast on the ninth and tenth day.
The day signifies the rescue of the people of Israel by Prophet Musa from Pharaoh of Egypt.
It is believed fasting on this day with pure intentions erases all the sins of the past year.
Some Shia Muslims mourn during this perdiod. The Dawoodi Bohras and Ithna Ashariya communities mourn for ten days commemorating the battle of Karbala in which, Imam Hussein ibn Ali- grandson of the prophet, was killed by Yazid I of the Ummayad caliphate.
Ashura marks the day the Imam was martyred.
Gatherings (majalis) are held at the mosques where the teachings and the story of the battle of Karbala are reviewed and mourning is observed.
One of the most common forms of mourning is Matam- beating of the chest in remembrance of the suffering of the Imam. This is practiced with either bare hands or equipment such as chains, swords and blades.
By CHANDNI KHAN, The Standard
Courtesy: in2eastafrica dot net
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