NEW TARAJAN CELEBRATES THE BIRTH OF JAHAN
Concorde Bridge, linking Astana Old and New cities, with fireworks. Astana.
As every year, today New Tarajan celebrates the Birth of Jahan, the most important religious celebration of the country and probably also the most ancient one. All over the Kingdom, crowds fill the temples, the houses, and the streets, in order to remember the birth of the God-warrior Jahan, son of the gods Kilijali and Yaligham, who unified the nomadic Ajans, leading them to the conquest of the Plain of Kashair and what is actually known as Tarajan, their new land.
"Jahan is a fundamental character of Ajanic mythology" commented Professor Uriel Van Dijk in a recent interview on the subject
"because he is a symbol of unity, above all. And also because his figure is felt as a very familiar one in the Kingdom. Every kid, during his own childhood, get accustomed to the stories and tales about Jahan: his conquests, his rides through the steppes, his love for the beautiful Shraman, his thirst for revenge, his final redemption."This could partly explain why such a religious festival kept its strong importance in a much secularized Kingdom like New Tarajan.
The celebrations will last for the whole week, until New Year's Eve, and, this year, the authorities and privates alike have made them great: only to make an example, in Astana, alongside the classic fireworks all over Concorde Bridge, parties will be organized in every noble palace of the city, including the Royal Palace and Palace Van Geldern, seat of the Landsraad. On the streets of the Old City, traditional Ajanic dances and musics will be shown, with games and food and drinks for everyone for the whole week.
Foreign governments and ambassadors at the celebrations
Following the long-standing tradition, the government and the Royal Family will have as their special guests representatives from all over the world: Heads of State and Government, and ambassadors from all countries recognized by New Tarajan will gather at the Royal Palace, for a series of banquets, grand balls, and a spectacular military parade that will take tomorrow morning.
From Antanares, Prince Valerian Sebastian Higencourt and the whole Antanaresian government have landed yesterday in the afternoon in Astana, personally welcomed by King Friederick Wilhelm and Queen Beatrice, with whom they attended a luxurious banquet at the Royal Palace which lasted until midnight.
After the parade, tomorrow, the King and the Queen, together with the Crown Prince and other members of House Van Vinkel (Grand Duke Conrad and Princess Elise Angelique reached the capital two days ago) will distribute presents to all their guests: to the members of the Tarajani government and the Landsraad, and to foreign ambassadors and representatives. The gifts given by House Van Vinkel in this occasion are famous: they could be yachts, airplanes, palace. In case of noble families and friendly monarchies, even whole fiefs and land estates; statues, paintings, and so on.
All foreign representatives will also attend the religious ceremony in the Temple of the Seven Gods, officed by the King himself.
A pictures of the show Jahan and Shraman, classic opera performed in the Van Goethe Opera House of Astana for the celebrations. The King and the Prime Minister also issued a message
"to all States of the Kingdom, the overseas territories and colonies, to all members of the Empire, to all our faithful and loyal citizens", wishing them a joyful Birth of Jahan. During the speech, the King called for
"serenity and joy to be felt inside our families" and for
"a celebration shared by everybody, to keep our country united and prosper."Only a taste of the New Year Speech which will be traditionally delivered next week.