DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   While most in the United States gets ready for Thanksgiving in November and Christmas in December, there are many different holidays associated with the Buddhist religion, which are especially observed in Southeast, Central and East Asian countries.  Each year, throughout the world, various celebrations and festivals are held, often using the lunar calendar for exact dates.  It is not uncommon to find differing dates and traditions in regards to different countries.    Most of the holidays pertaining to the Buddhist culture often pay homage to the life of the Buddha, as well as various Bodhisattvas .  For those of you who don't know, a Bodhisattva is a future Buddha, who has put off their attainment of nirvana (no more suffering) on hold so that they may assist others in freeing themselves from a life full of distress.  It is the goal of those following Mahayana Buddhism to become a bodhisattva, in Sanskrit, the term stands for "one whose essence is wisdom".

   Beat your feet around the globe and all year long to enjoy fanciful, colorful kites filling the near horizon while partaking of the other festivities these celebrations have to offer.  Many that are typical and others that are unique to the theme or locale, at whatever time of year kite enthusiasts gather to fly. January    Getting off to flying start we have the International Kite Festival held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.  This kite extravaganza, held on the 14th of the month, is timed to coincide with the change of seasons celebration, Uttarayan or Makar Sakranti , that marks the end of Winter and initiates with joy and jubilation, the return of Spring.    It is a time of thanksgiving, the slumbering gods are awake and the portals of heaven are opened.  This is a time to celebrate and make merry with a multitude of bright sky-sprites lifted to the heavens from the millions of revelers crowding the rooftops.     Making use of the "firkees" or rolls of st