happy new year!

no i'm not crazy, nor am i two months early.. in terms of the hindu calendar it's the new year. actually, there's a slight difference between that wikipedia article and the vikram samvat calendar. i believe the biggest difference is when the year begins. most businesses use the vikram samvat calendar because "new year's eve" falls on a day when you pray to lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.. so it's pretty obvious why today is the first day in terms of the financial year. and no, we didn't put on our party hats and get our noise makers ready to usher in 2062 at midnight :P

my parents took the day off today. one of my cousins in england, who's a teacher, got yesterday and today off - apparently the school districts give a certain number of holidays to be used specifically for religious days so that you don't need to cut into your alotted vacation time. how politically correct..