BLIND FAITH

Every nook and corner donations are collected or extracted, well that’s done 4 all the festivals now. Gone are the days when it was restricted to Holi and Ganesh Chaturthi — later one started by Lokmanya Tilak to bring people together on one platform for spreading the message and views against then British Rule’s suppressive policies n ban on press.

Come Navratris cutting across the individual faiths and deities the citizens across the country are decked up and are in their best of festive mood. Why not? It is supposed to be post monsoon season when u just bid farewell to “Ganpati” with a request “Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar ya”. The weather is supposed to clear up, u bid farewell to dampness and start looking 4 light woolens as well. It is also a stage for ringing in the “Diwali” a festival of “Godess Lakshmi” n lights bringing in prosperity to all — so eagerness is understood one n all wants to be blessed by the Goddess. An idol is establish decorative lighting is set up pandals are erected and puja is performed collectively for nine days. So what? If the poor villagers have to still do with their lanterns if they can afford one. The haves must enjoy n celebrate (flaunt) in style.

Look at the positive side, with so much of diversity in Hindus with countless Gods n Goddesses encroaching on each others days, there is no consensus on a common or collective prayer day in a week. The Christians assemble for the Mass every Sunday morning; Muslims do so, on their Jumma. No we r secular and will maintain our freedom of religion. At least such occasions bring the community together.

Setting — Mhow a small cantonment town in Central India, had been buzzing with the celebrations for the past 9 days. Aarti n Maha Aartis in every temple and then the “Garba Dance” a prayer to the Maa Shera wali, Durga … call it what u like starts around 8 pm. Am sure in larger towns it must be starting a li’l later and lasts till mid night. Thanx to presence of sponsors for the events the Number of celebrations on a km long Main Street n numerous by lanes has increased many-folds. So has the level of celebrations and the amount of loudspeakers. The louder the music system better the function is the common understandings.
A group of affluent section of the society decides to have mercy on the residents and select a Marriage Hall of a “Samaj” in one of the bye lanes for the Puja and Garba. From day one till Navami, a day prior to Vijayadashmi the celebrations were in full swing. Every resident of the Mhow must have blessed the organizers for otherwise elusive orderliness of the traffic on the narrow streets of Mhow. Many were left wondering if things were alright? no communal tension etc…

On Navami the last day of Garba there was an extra enthusiasm in the celebrations n why not all the who’s who of Mhow, who in a larger township would have constituted P3P’s were present. The volume of the music system was touching a new high as if it sensed the mood of the Sensex. From a distance what one could listen mind u not hear! clearly was the felicitations of personalities who donated generously for the events and proceedings of the prize distribution, sponsored by some or other company. Come 1130 pm and celebrations get another boost by start of fire cracker show. A spectacular display and the event came to successful end at 1 am, why should the celebrations end? No nothing untoward happened, people must have got tired and gone home.

Did any one of them take a note:

• That the venue they selected was just opposite a private nursing home “Getwel Hospital”.
• The miseries the patients inside and their relatives would have suffered, the hospital I am told also has an ICU.
• The Garba was being played not to the religious arties or tunes but on the latest sizzling remixes of the movies.

No I was neither admitted or have anyone known admitted in the hospital. Sure enough there would be at least one incident if not more of the situation out here in every town.

• Is this religious faith good 4 the society?
• Under the garb of religion can we be so insensitive to the reality or our surroundings?
• When will we understand the motives of these MNCs who over a period 4 own interests r spending so much budget on promoting such functions.
• Do u think the spurt in so many Miss Universe n World being selected or the correct word would be — Nominated from our country was a natural phenomenon? Having achieved their aim of est market for cosmetic products of every brand in weirdest corner of the country, they have moved to greener pastures. When will we understand this aspect of eco n continue to be taken 4 a ride?
• Should we be so concerned with the issues of incr in sale of Condoms during Puja in select parts of the Nation, incr in hourly room rents in hotels, incr in no vacancy sign boards in Hotels along Highways, which most of the National Dailies r carrying. Sure enough the Weeklies will carry this debate forward and may be an opinion poll.
  

All the questions can be put under the carpet and conveniently moving the Goalpost — “today’s youth is not responsible”. Is the eminent society of ours, which should have the pious responsibility to mold them Responsible?