Western style of Birthday Celebration

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Bhutan being the Buddhist country, the tradition of birthday celebration was confined to only prominent spiritual figures like Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche characterised by religious rites. The history narrates that the birthday celebration of Kings dates back to late 1970s and 1980s. To grace the special occasion, people all over the country celebrates day by staging cultural activities and religious dances. This are in line with our tradition and culture. However, the debate here is with the Westernisation of birthday celebration in Bhutan. Well, there is no account of birthday celebration for lay people in our tradition, yet the tradition of inviting astrologer to grace the new born and the purification rituals( Lhab Sang Thruesoel) are long been embedded in our culture, this is also a birthday celebration from my perspective. 

The cake cutting ceremony according to the above note considers it not a good omen that would likely invite ill-lucks to one's life. The cutting of name written on the cake with razor-sharp knife might religiously mean cutting off the life line, the distribution of cake pieces to one's kith and kin would mean distributing your flesh and the candle lighting and blowing off would signify celebrating the end of one's life. These are however the religious sentiments . 

To opine my own stand on westernized birthday celebration. I look to birthday celebration as my rejoice over little achievements in a year, reminding myself of the racing age, celebrating my healthy growth. For me the celebration itself is a positive look ahead to my life. The cake is the fruition of my endeavors, cutting the cake amid my name on it mean cutting the evil spirits attached with me, blowing off the candle to get ride of ill-lucks from my way and the sharing of cake is the shared fruits of my hard-work with my near and dear ones. Though refutable, these are few thoughts i give it to the modern rite when faced with religious sentiments. 

(Disclaimer: The opined views in no ways refute the religious sentiments and does not represent the opinion of others. This are fully my thoughts to an almost inevitable trend of birthday celebration)