MY VISION OF A HAPPY NEW YEAR

As the clock strikes midnight, the year 2024 slips into the archives of history, making way for the optimism of 2025. It’s a seamless transition, like two images flashing across a screen: one dims into the past, while the other brightens into the present.

But do we feel any tangible change between the last seconds of December 31 and the first light of January 1? Or are these just numerical markers, printed on calendars to delineate the flow of time?
The routines of December 31 echo into January 1. Coffee still carries the same familiar aroma. The leftover biryani from the previous night might even taste better the next day. Hummingbirds flutter as usual, pausing for sweet sips on our deck. The snow on the mountains remains steadfast in its wintery cloak, untouched by the calendar’s turn.

For those on the margins, life continues unchanged. The homeless still gather cardboard for shelter. Street warriors of the back lanes persist in their battle for survival, their earnings from empties unchanged by the promise of a New Year.

Meanwhile, the world’s conflicts refuse to heed the ticking clock. Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan—these names remain synonymous with suffering and destruction. The cries of anguish and the shadow of war do not vanish with the dawn of 2025.

Yesterday’s issues simply morph into today’s realities, for nothing in this universe truly expires; it only reshapes itself.
So, what’s the big deal about the New Year “hungama”—the excitement, the noise?

Our frenzy and motivation lie in decisions, declarations, resolutions, and optimism. We exchange greetings, wishing one another a “happy, healthy, and peaceful” 2025. While these rituals may feel formal or ceremonial, they inspire us to consider new beginnings. They nudge us to reflect, review, and realign our lives—our health, relationships, commitments, and aspirations.

The New Year injects vitality into our thinking, and thoughts, as we know, shape our actions. The law of karma reminds us: “What we sow, so shall we reap.” Good thoughts give rise to good actions, and these actions ripple outward, fostering well-being not just for ourselves but for others, humanity, and the planet.

When individuals act with goodwill, the impact extends to communities, nations, and the world. Together, we can build a global village free of poverty, where no migrant is forced to risk life on treacherous waters or face towering border walls. A world where violence and wars are relics of the past. A world led by wise, selfless leaders who prioritize peace and happiness for all.

With that vision, I resolutely say: Happy New Year. May 2025 marks the beginning of global peace.

— Promod Puri