The Special Joys of Tihar|提哈节 ── 独特的喜悦

by Bruce E. Bagnell

A little-known South Asian festival will light up your life.

　　Festivals are celebrations that a whole country or culture joins in. They may be traditional, like the Lunar New Years _(1)_ in China or Israel, religious, like Christmas in Western countries or Ramadan in Muslim ones, or modern and secular such as Independence Day on July 4 in the United States or Double Tenth Day on October 10 in Taiwan. These special days are usually associated with special _(2)_ and food. Wherever and whenever they occur, they are very interesting and a lot of fun.

　　Nepal is a small country sandwiched _(3)_ its giant neighbors India and China. Its Tihar Festival, also known as the Festival of Lights, originates from Hinduism in India, but it has developed its own _(4)_ flavor. This five-day festival has specific practices and purposes for each day.

　　The first three days are reserved for honoring different animals. The first day _(5)_ around the worship of crows. In most cultures, crows are feared or avoided because of their association with bad luck or even death. During Tihar, however, crows are fed first to keep them happy. With full stomachs, they are less likely to _(6)_. The second day is devoted to _(7)_ dogs, man's best friends. The third day is a very busy one. Cows are worshiped, a common practice throughout the Hindu world. In addition, each household burns candles to welcome Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, into the home. That evening, girls will sing a song typically sung on this occasion.

　　The next day, it is the boys' _(8)_ to sing. They go from door to door _(9)_ blessings with their neighbors. The final day _(10)_ brothers and sisters honoring each other with food, decorations, and gifts. It is hard for you to imagine a more colorful, loving, and meaningful festival!

(A) rites (B) honoring (C) observed (D) centers (E) sharing

(F) complain (G) local (H) finds (I) between (J) turn

 

提哈节 ── 独特的喜悦

一个鲜为人知的南亚节庆将会点亮你的生活。

　　节庆是整个国家或文化会一同参与的庆祝活动。它们可能是传统节庆，象是中国或以色列会庆祝的农历新年；可能是宗教性的，象是西方国家的圣诞节或回教国家的斋月；也有现代化、非宗教性的节庆，象是美国七月四日独立纪念日或台湾十月十日的双十节。这些特别的日子通常都和特殊的仪式与食物有关。不管它们在何时何地举行，都非常有意思且趣味横生。

　　尼泊尔是一个小国家，夹在两个巨大的邻国印度和中国之中。尼泊尔的提哈节，又称灯节，虽然起源自印度的印度教，不过已经发展出属于它自己的在地韵味。这个为期五天的节庆，每一天都有特别的习俗和目的。

　　节庆的前三天是用来崇敬不同动物的日子。第一天以敬拜乌鸦为中心。在大多数的文化里，乌鸦是令人畏惧或避之唯恐不及的，因为牠们会让人联想到厄运或甚至死亡。然而，在提哈节期间，人们会先喂食乌鸦，让牠们保持心情愉快。乌鸦的肚子填饱后，牠们就比较不会吵闹了。第二天则致力于敬拜人类最好的朋友──狗。第三天是非常忙碌的一天。人们会参拜母牛，这是一整个印度教世界所拥有的惯例。此外，每户人家都会点上蜡烛，以恭迎吉祥天女（亦称财富女神）进入家中。当天傍晚，女孩们会唱诵一首歌，这首歌通常都是在这种场合上演唱的。

　　隔天，轮到男孩们唱歌了。他们会挨家挨户地用歌曲将祝福与邻居们分享。最后一天，兄弟姊妹们会以食物、装饰品和礼物互相礼拜。你很难想象还会有比提哈节更多采多姿、更充满爱且更有意义的节庆了！

答案： 1. C 2. A 3. I 4. G 5. D

6. F 7. B 8. J 9. E 10. H