Last year, I did a post called “When is the right time to put up the Christmas tree?” and I want to talk some more about it today because all the malls and shops in Australia have had their Christmas lights and Christmas trees up for more than a month now.
I really think it is a bit too early to start the Christmas decorations but the business minded people don’t care about these at all. They think of all these festivals as a money making opportunity. The impact of commercialization has marred the real meaning of religious and traditional customs. The shops and malls here never followed the values but instead everywhere there’s a lot of hype. During festivals, malls attract you with discounts and people go mad shopping.
As soon as Christmas is up, the shops will be filled with Easter eggs and hot cross buns in January, almost 3 months before Easter.
No matter what religion we follow, any festival has significance and value but when one commercializes festivals, that basic aim is forgotten and everyone involved is thinking, “What am I going to get on this festival?” In fact, in some instances; the festivals have been commercialized so much, that kids do not even know the significance of the festival and consider it just another holiday or just another chance to increase their material possessions.
In this way, festivals lose their real significance since their aim was first, to spread love and peace and second, to celebrate the festival keeping in mind the reason why the festival was being celebrated.
It is not only in Australia, the commercialisation of festival’s happening in Nepal as well. Previously, festivals like Dashain and Tihar were family occasions. Dashain was all about family get together and family feast and Tihar was celebrated by lighting small diyos and candles, having a small puja and burning a few crackers to rejoice the homecoming of Lord Ram from his exile on this day. Nobody cared about what you wore or what you got as a present, but instead all that mattered was having fun and appreciating the day for what it symbolized.
But today, Dashain and Tihar is all about the show of money with what one has bought for the occasion or how big the party was in one’s house, what you got as a gift etc. If parents have their kids overseas, how much money children have sent for the festivals?
Children don’t even know why they have the day off from school to celebrate that day.
Festivals are not meant to be opportunities for financial gain for brands and companies. They are meant to be occasions for religious observance and for people to understand and respect the meaning behind them. I really think, children should be taught about traditional festivals in kindergarten and we should keep the valuable elements of the traditional festivals and preserve them for future generations.
nepaliaustralian 
its true…but we all need to think that there are lots of people who gain their livelihood from these festivals…new creative thoughts are brought forward to us..ancient and long lost arts are remembered through these festival…so in a way commercialization of festivals are also good.
I understand your point but I still feel that all these stores are playing with our emotions to make more money.
So true..competely agree..infact I have started to feel the pressure..I mean now I am undergoing the pressure of celebrating New Year..wht crap..
I m agree with you. In Germany there is a lot too. But this year I m in Nepal during christmas and so I m missing a little bit. I have some decorating things from Germany here and so I m going to start decorate now 🙂
I think it is more in Nepal during Dashain and Tihar but I have seen some during Christmas as well. Hope you will have a great Christmas in Nepal.
Agreed, M. I’ve often wondered if religious holidays – festivals – in other cultures were immune to the commercial bit. I guess I was naive to think they were! Still, like Tincup, I think we Americans are tops at forgetting the real reason for some of our holidays.
I think it is the same everywhere these days Sid. Money is the most important thing n the world now.
Whatever causes people to congregate will drive a commercial element, because there is money in crowds. I’m not sure how we avoid it, but I guess the solution or better outcome is up to us.
That is so true nelle. But they are so clever to use our emotions and play with that. Hope all of us will be wiser to see that soon.
he he..ha ha..those lights do look beautiful in the first picture…don’t you understand…the new religion world-wide is commerce.
True true and so true. Learning now 🙂
It might not be true…just my opinion…but come to America…go to New York…watch our TV…our movies…observe the ugly American on a daily basis…and you might understand where I am coming from.
I think it is true not only in America but around the world.
Oh well…let it run its course…things tend to go in cycles…
When I was a kid my parents could not afford to buy me Christmas gifts. They were too poor. Therefore, I never get worked over Christmas. As a matter of fact, I hate the festivities that come with Christmas. They leave many people deeply in debt.
That is so true and it is same in Dashain in Nepal.
Having lived in India through two Diwalis now, it’s actually funny how commercialized it is! You can buy gift hampers with everything from baby diapers to red bulls for Diwali!
I do miss Christmas though 😦 I’ve realized that I loved the decorations, the presents, the sales in the malls, etc, etc.
Looks like commercialisation is everywhere these days and it is so sad.
At least in US almost all festivals are commercialized especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. We should rather use this money and effort to give back to our society, that way all festivals has better meaning.
That is same here as well. All about making money .
so true !!
🙂