Old Year/ New Year: It's all the same

Plans must have been made by now or may be in the final stages for the 31st of December, 2010 to say good bye to the year 2010 and welcome 2011. These plans would be ranging from bonfire dinners to hotel hopping and enjoying musical bands at clubs to a quiet dinner at home with family and watching programmes of various channels on the idiot box. Till a decade back a change in the years did not mean a celebration on a grand scale in Patna as it means now. None of the hotels lag behind in offering excitement and entertainment! Obviously one needs to cough up money for this excitement and entertainment. But we forget that there are people to whom the dates don't matter. it's all the same..2010 or 2011...the daily routine has to be followed, money has to be earned, children have to be fed! The change in years is just a marker of the passage of time; everything else remains the same. while I may fall in the danger of sounding pessimistic, I realise that the group I am referring to is becoming a part of the group which focusses on celebrations. So one hears of a break on the 1st of January..... a labour or maid may like to take the day off to spend with their family. Shops may be closed and one would find people flocking to different places for 'Picnic' on the 1st.
While in the new year everything else may remain the same, the first day of the new year is definitely different and each one tries to do things as differently as possible within their limited means!
So readers, what are you planning for the first day of the coming year?
Wishing you and your family a very happy and prosperous year ahead!

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