The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the de facto international standard. Do you know it was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582. Apparently, its motivation came from Julian calendar, which itself was a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar and his astronomer, Sosigenes of Alexandria. ermmmmm…..I am sure their wives would have made them two men to get to work; otherwise it seems to be slightly over the top to think of two such organised men! :p Anyways….the story goes that it probably was designed to approximate the tropical year representing different seasons.
I believe the universal calendar has to be one of the greatest achievements of our species. Like the lingua franca (English for us), the calendar has made the world more flat, more accessible for everybody. I, for one, would most definitely struggle to keep up if I had to remember one date twice because of difference of calendars in the two countries I have spent most of my life so far.
But, that’s not important. The most important part is that it brings us to this time of the year, which all the people irrespective of their country, caste, creed and religion-celebrate in an incredibly tasteful manner. The collective celebration around seems to unite the world better than any major festival. It is the ‘happy new year’ time :)))))
So, here’s wishing you a wonderful, exciting and most charming new year ahead!
नव वर्ष की ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएं आपके और आपके परिवार के लिए!
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