It is 20 March 2023, the first day of spring this year, the mellow sun is rising into a sky that is quickly lightening into a pale blue. Rays of sunlight glint and sparkle on the glass of the magnificent skyscrapers towering over the grounds. As you overlook the city, your eyes are drawn to the gardens that adorn the dull pavement. The rich brown soil enriches the air with a mild, pleasant fragrance of earthiness and freshness. The cold has melted away, softening and nourishing the soil so it is once again able to nurture new life.
A promising green stem shoots its way out of the ground, two little leaves sway in the light breeze as the delicate bud blossoms into a single flower. Lush pink petals call to a stunning bright orange butterfly that gently settles itself on the flower as it searches for its first drop of sweet nectar. Sated, the butterfly tries to fly away, unknowingly taking with it clusters of pollen that fall gracefully over the ground. Soon enough, the gardens are ablaze with the colours of spring as grass covers the soil, interspersed with beautiful flowers in striking yellows, flaming oranges, vivid reds and romantic pinks whose lovely scents sweeten the air.
Spring has finally arrived
20 March is the day of the Spring Equinox 2023. “Equinox” is latin for “equal” (aequus) and “night” (nox) as on this day, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive roughly the same amount of light. Our earth rotates on a tilted axis as she makes her way around the sun, which means that one half of the world has more sun for certain months of the year than the other. In March, the earth finds itself tilted towards the sun allowing the sun to pass over the “Celestial” equator which is an imaginary line in the sky above the earth’s equator. As such, the sun moves from the south to the north, marking the Spring Equinox, and ushering in more sunshine and longer days for the northern hemisphere which now finds itself closer to the sun. As far as the astronomers are concerned, spring has begun.
Just like us humans, the moon and the planet too have their phases, their ups and downs, all part of one intricate cycle in allowing life to flourish. Spring weathers storms of bitter adversity, harsh winds and dark skies to bring to us sweeter fruits, bright flowers and warmer days. It harbours patience as it trusts the universe to create the right conditions for it to bloom and when it's time arrives, it seizes it with gracefulness and fills our world with beauty.
Given spring brings with it such wonder, its arrival has become a cause for celebration across the globe. In India, the festival of colours, Holi is celebrated by smearing colours on family and friends and enjoying music and dancing. Holi signifies the triumph of good over evil and the beginning of spring. In Thailand, the beginning of the Thai New Year is celebrated from 13 April to 15 April by sprinkling water on the hands of Buddhist elders as a sign of respect. The festival is named Songkran which is Sanskrit for the “passage of the sun”. Spain celebrates Las Fallas from the 15 March to 19 March, a festival marking the beginning of spring with music, food and stunning paper sculptures that are burnt in a great bonfire on the final night of the festivities. On 20 March, Zenia, a Bosnian town, celebrates Cimburijada, the Festival of Scrambled Eggs, wherein a giant breakfast of scrumptious scrambled eggs is cooked and served to the public.
Spring symbolises a fresh start, the hope for betterment and an abundance of opportunities for us to seek joy and contentment. As we usher in this wonderful season of renewal and beauty, we wish you all the exciting goodness that accompanies new beginnings, wholesome appreciation for the countless blessings in our individual lives and the blissful wonder of seeking peace and contentment above all else.
Happy spring and new beginnings.
