Every year, the festival of lights brings cheer to the
masses. Vast rural population is happy due to whatever harvest they have got
after monsoon, vast urban population is happy with good earnings in terms of
salary, bonus, capital gains, profits or whatever. Because the vast population
is happy, the markets and companies are happier as they see good business being
done without any much effort. They distribute their happiness to their
employees and shareholders thereby compounding the effect of happiness in the
society in general. This keeps on happening year after year, generation after
generation.
Sure, this kind of festival is there in every part of the
world and every religion in the mankind. It is Christmas for the western part
of the world and it is Ramadan for the Islamic population. Then, a pleasant
question arises in the mind – isn’t there a common design behind such a
festival in every culture? What might be the purpose of defining such a
festival by the founders of each of these cultures? Looking at the very nature
of these festivals, it is purely to enjoy, to share and to relax. There are no
processions of God, no folklores of martyrdom, no crusades. In short, no hate
and pride show, no superiority versus inferiority debate. The unique concept behind
such festivals has been to enjoy the humanity! The great founders knew that
there was abundant merriness in everyone’s life, but they also witnessed the
gloom created by one’s deed and greed. Hence they designed this one festival
for each human being to experience the joyfulness for a while, if deprived of
for the remaining time.
Indeed, look at the message in our festival. Irrespective of
who earns what, everyone is asked to be merry, spend something, eat delicious,
wear new and decorate home as possible. Someone who harvests one-thousandth of
the big landlord would still feel richer than earlier and someone who gets
one-thousandth of a big boss would still fulfil some of family dreams. Why?
What is the impetus for everyone in celebrating this festival? What makes each one feel
richer and wealthier than previously? Two reasons – first, no one compares with
another being, just oneself; and second and most important, the great feeling
comes from within every one! This is the great feeling of achievement of
certain objectives in the human life. This is the great feeling of realizing
self-worthiness after so many losses. This is the great feeling of resounding
success after fighting a struggle of life for the past year. Anyone who is in
doubt about whether to celebrate or not, just looks up and down. He or she finds
those higher up lighting the hundreds of lamps and those lower on the rung too
gleaming with satisfaction in their two lamps of eyes. So, doubts get
dissolved, no if-but-then, no logic nor philosophy.
I think these lights lit in the heart of everyone make the
festival of lights so amazing year-after-year and generation-after-generation.
For, this is the very festival to celebrate the humanity, celebrate the eternal
joy that resides within everyone.
Happy Deepavali!
Blissful writing Nishi & Sandhya. The pleasant question that arose in your mind is indeed valid. It must be informed celebrations of all the festivals. If not then many unwarranted things creep in. During yesteryears, there used to be samaj sudharks who used to educate the masses about does & don’ts. Agarkar, Gadgaebaba etc are few names for example. Unfortunately, educating samaj has become a matter of ridicule because it is not a gainful activity. Bit blogs, writings in newspaper etc. must continue to bring the real meanings of our traditions in front of masses.
ReplyDeleteI think all the festivals have become rituals. People celebrate because other people celebrate. There are always very very few people who "listen the distant drummer." How many people you can count celebrating 'eternal joy residing within everyone'?
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ - not ALL festivals have become rituals. That is the point in my blog. Diwali has no specific god or ritual - just joy. And indeed that is what all people do without any frenzy like Ganesh festival or Durga pooja. Knowingly or unknowingly, everyone projects the happiness outward as well as within. Job done, purpose served.
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