13 things to do for Christmas in New York

The New York City scene turns truly spectacular at Christmas time, the Big Apple is worth visiting

at other times but particularly during the Christmas season, the city is more live and vibrant with

vivid lights,decorations and the festive markets that attract thousands of international tourists

and locals.

You can have your perfect holiday time in New York at Christmas time. Stick with us to explore

our favourite picks for you from among the many to-dos in NYC.

1 . Gaze at the Spectacular Christmas tree decoration at Rockefeller Center

One place you don’t want to miss is the Rockefeller Center. The Rockefeller Center is famous for

its astounding Christmas tree lighting and is one of the top visited places during Christmas in New

York. In addition, you can shop to your fullest and go gaga with ice skating at this place.

2. Ice Skating at Bryant Park

The next Vox populi, in New York at Christmas is having a wide range of experiences at Bryant

Park. The ice skating here is one of the experiences you cannot skip. Yeah, you can fulfil your quest

for holiday shopping while you enjoy your skates along with hot chocolates in Bryant Park.Who

would not want this?

3. Watch the Rockettes at Radio City

The Rockettes are hailed for their synchronised dance moves and high kicks. They will amuse

anyone with their dancing spirit. This popular show will fill your heart with dance and songs, but

remember to book your tickets prior.

4. Stroll to see dazzling household lights at Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

The neighbourhood competition here turns this place into an amazing lavish festival lights

spectacle for anyone visiting during Christmas. Christmas has been getting bigger and brighter

out in Brooklyn every year and the households here spend thousands of dollars fixing their light

decorations. Gear yourself to go for an amazing night walk in the streets at Dyker Heights.

5. Shop at holiday markets

If you are either looking or not having a single thought to go shopping, paying a visit to holiday

markets is a great idea. The Winter Village, Union Square Holiday Market, Columbus Circle Holiday

Market, Brooklyn Flea and Chelsea Flea, Grand Central Holiday Fair, and many more are there to

help you shop your needs to please your dear ones. You can find the complete list of holiday markets here.

6. Visit the Times Square

The iconic Times Square is a must-see place for the Christmas holiday. The crowds here become

unbelievable with packed sidewalks and we can see lots of bright lights in stores. You can enter

any souvenir shops, book a show, enter a restaurant for good food, or just take your time walking

outside.

7. Singing Christmas Carols

Is Christmas complete without Christmas Carols? You can join the crowds and sing your heart out

in some of the famous avenues for Christmas Carols. There are plenty of places where Caroling

events will be taking place like Washington Square Park, Jackson Heights, and Judson Memorial

Church among others. So, plan yourself ahead to be part of it.

8. Music at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, which is also the world's largest Gothic Cathedral, will hold

a broad spectrum of musical offerings annually at Christmas time. If you want to immerse yourself

in the true Christmas plethora, you are recommended to visit the church.

9. Lavish store window displays of Midtown Manhattan

Almost all of the stores go for window displays for the festive season, some go beyond that

draping the whole of the building with LED lights and ocassional music plays. It is a sight to see,

isn’t it?. Better if you go for an hour- long Bus tour ride to witness the displays.

10. Hang out at Central Park in NYC

If you want to skip the Christmas crowd, there is a way. You can have a quiet time walking in the

iconic Central Park. It is known for its beautifully designed landscape with playgrounds, fountains,

statues, sculptures, gardens, lakes, and ponds. You wouldn’t want to miss a peaceful night walk

at the Park in Christmas.

11. See Santa Claus at Macy

Macy's Santaland is the place you or your kids should not miss. It is one of the few magical places

where you can see Santa. The place is usually decorated with an enchanted forest and Christmas

trees, animatronic toys, a train display, artificial snow, stuffed animals, and many Santas.

12. Go to the Restaurant of your choice

The NYC sightseeing will not fill your stomach hunger, right? You need a place where you can

order your favorites. There are thousands of restaurants nicely decorated in the Christmas theme

in the city where you can enjoy your holiday time. We recommend choosing the restaurant considering your time, budget, and food choice. It is wise if you enter nearby restaurants from 

the places mentioned above, where you can enjoy your fun activities.

13. Revisit any popular places

Offbeat to any other to-dos you can visit the iconic landmarks in NYC. There are so many of them 

that choosing a few is hard. However, you should not miss the Empire State Building, the Statue 

of Liberty, Ellis Island, the New York Public Library Main Branch, The Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Bridge, 

the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and so on. Each one is unique in its way, so choose your taste 

for the holiday time. If you have been to New York but happen to miss this places , you may have 

no stories to brag!

As Christmas is one of the busiest times in the city, be sure to make a plan yourself to enjoy your 

time to chock-full. And, one definite takeaway is don't pass by NYC at Christmas time. This is all 

we can say in nutshell. If you have any favorite experience at Christmas in New York ,feel free to

comment below.

Covid, Karma and Bhagavad Gita

 The corona pandemic can be seen in another way from a more higher dharmic perspective. Dharma states that each one of has a purpose and there is  a reason on why we exists? There is a optimal path for each one of us that is specifically designed for our soul which aligns with the cosmic order. But when number of us has moved away from our path , nature reacts to restore the balance in the cosmic order. Does this corona pandemic  imply vengeance  and wrath upon  the human society? No, It simply demands change from us. But can't this be done in less harsh way ? The truth is transformation only happens when we are challenged. Superficial understanding does not lead to core transformation.

We can see that the corona pandemic has caused  catastrophic scenes all around the world since more than a year. Each one of us are facing different challenges , some are realizing the value of life due to fear of death, while others are having immense financial difficulties, anxiety and many other difficulties. But , these challenges are designed to bring us back to our true purpose, to reflect on what is more important , make us more spiritual conscious.

Although the spread of corona virus is a global event, each one of us are bound to face it according to our individual karma. Karma is anything we do that produces results. Karmic activity sets context of our life over  which we have no control and  dharmic activity is the  correct way to navigate through these context, it is the best path to walk given the circumstances and to grow spiritually too. 

People are destined to die through any means be it virus, old age or other diseases, So , instead being  anxious, Gita teaches us to  contemplate on; What is actually death? Why we die although none of us wish to die? Can’t we become deathless? Why we get diseased although none of us like to get diseases? Why are we getting old day by day although none of us like old age? Who are we actually? How do we get out of this  temporary , miserable world ? Anyone who truly contemplates and seeks to understand is assured of realization of the reality of  our existence and death.

Krishna says ; That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.  The body we have is made of matter and is destined to get diseased, become old and die out one day. And the good news is we as a soul are eternal, deathless. Living entity keeps on changing bodies and getting new births. What we have to endeavor for; is to be out of birth, disease, old age, death cycle.

 

 

Theory of everything and Bhagavada Gita

 

The theory of everything is that which  would explain everything in the universe, from quantum particles to spiral galaxies or a hypothetical framework explaining all known physical phenomena in the universe which researchers have  searched for such a model ever since the development of quantum mechanics and Albert Einstein's Theory of relativity.

But we can take this simply, as that which explains the cause of all causes or give answers to all of our Whys? 

We may be inclined to think that Theory of everything solely is the subject matter of modern physics and  quantum mechanics. To our dismay, we are less known and exposed to the profundity of Gita where Krishna explains the concept and nature of absolute reality, time and space, the nature  and origin of self and matter. Krishna speaks about the supreme cause of all causes and the purpose of creation.

Literature like Bhagavatam goes further as well, describing in detail the stages of creation, the age and dimensions of the universe, the purpose of the creation, and the origin of the material elements. It is  with much additional information and scientifically sound principles, such as the interrelatedness of space and time, cosmic events ranging over billions of years, and different time measurements on different planets. These points should evoke interest in any inquisitive person to take up the study of the Bhagavatam. It not only proclaims  how it is created but also why it is created.

Modern science is mute on this  aspect, but the Bhagavad has the answer. The ultimate goal of the Gita's teaching is to not only give us the knowledge about the reality of universe but to take us from this temporary material existence limited by space and time to the spiritual realm, where we live our spiritual existence eternally. For this self contemplation and realization is essential and the spiritual injunction from the self realized soul is required as stated in Gita.

Goal, Success, Happiness and Bhagavad Gita

 

Setting goals, which is important to achieve success and happiness; without knowing who we are is an incomplete and incompetent approach. That is why we can see a lot of example in todays' world ; despite achieving huge success , wealth and fame that one has desired , one is not equipped with happiness. 

Gita  remind us that it is futile to think that material advancement will reform our life. The real happiness is in being self-satisfied and in controlling and tolerating the countless demands of mind and senses. We today want instant gratification and is ready to do anything and everything to get what we want. What we need to understand is that happiness and material opulence is not synonymous. 

Gita tells that we are eternal spiritual beings beyond body, senses and mind. Since our identity is not material but spiritual, worldly things can’t bring the soul happiness. The soul requires a spiritual atmosphere to realize their completeness and fulfillment. The above, is one of the central  teachings of Bhagavad Gita.

Only when we know who we are then we can know our purpose, set true goals and achieve success and happiness.

Our ultimate goal should be to seek answers to; the ultimate cause of the creation, our position in the cosmos and what is our ultimate duty to perform. When one seeks answer to these question , one is sure to be exposed to the source of eternal happiness and success.