Today, around 7-8 little children, girls and boys, aged between 8-12 knocked on my door and exclaimed “Happy Halloween”!!!! They were going from door to door to collect gifts. And they were dressed in black and colourful clothes. One girl was dressed as witch, another carried a conical cap on her head and her face smeared in black, one boy had a pumpkin in his hand, other girl had sparkles sprinkled all over her face! To them, I asked why do we celebrate Halloween and they went blank and just smiled back! I asked why do we celebrate Diwali, thankfully the boy answered that Lord Ram came back to Ayodhya on this day. I gave them some chocolates and they went back happily. Before departing, I told them to Google it when they get back home.
The moot point here is this- slowly and steadily in the fast-paced and show-off culture, we are slowly forgetting the “core” and “soul” of the festivals! We, especially the new generations like Gen Z and Gen Alpha, do not even know why we celebrate some festivals. We just know that we “have to celebrate”! That’s it! We have a FOMO that if we don’t celebrate, then what will people think about us. And atleast we should have some pictures to put up on social media handles. Nothing wrong in that. But, the problem starts when the festivals become just a medium to show-off celebrations to other people, even without knowing what the festival entails and what good things it wants to usher within us and in our society!
Now-a-days, consumerism has spread its tentacles to each and every aspect of life and how can the festivals remain untouched by this consumerist culture. Festival can be many, but unless we spend thousands or lakhs on costumes, decoration, gifts, makeup and all, the celebration seems mundane. Take for example, the recent Navratri festival. Many people wanted to show-off the dance celebrations, including playing lewd songs and all sorts of songs and partying till late night in the name of festival. Some people artificially abstain from eating and drinking some types of foods and drinks, which otherwise they take pleasure eating all year round. Is this what navratri festival teaches or is known for? I seriously doubt that! Instead, of devoting to the good cause of abstention and fasting, people indulge in all sorts of culinary pleasures even during the festival. They eat new types of food in the name of fasting and sometimes eat even more during fasting days! And what after the festival is over? We are back to normal, eating and drinking all sorts of stuff. The quintessential question to ask here is- to whom are we wanting to show-off- to Goddess or to ourselves or to the society? The answers can be unsettling and uncomfortable to many, but the questions have to be asked!
Now, take the example of Dusshera and Diwali. There are few people left, who celebrate these festivals for the core reason for which they started. Dusshera ,and Ravan dahan has become like an exercise without the intent. While we say that it is to celebrate the victory of good over evil, but do we even try to emulate Lord Ram in his ideals and values? If we actually did, the world would have been in a much better shape today, in all aspects. Then, take Diwali. People have now started Diwali bash, in which they drink whole night, they go to bars and clubs, they do all sorts of stuff which I don’t need to name here! And they call it Diwali celebration. What a shame! Then, bursting crackers and frightening children, animals, and elderly has become norm. Some anti-social elements spread hooliganism in the name of festival. Some tie crackers to the tail of animals, some burst loud crackers ignoring the pollution and health concerns, and some play loud music all night round! Is this what Diwali is celebrated for? I am afraid but in the madness of consumerism and show-off culture, we have come very far off from the actual customs and traditions of our festivals! And I don’t even want to talk about Holi! The vulgarity, hooliganism, use of drugs and molestation is at its highest display during this time.
And what is the reason for that? Because following the customs and traditions in actual form is difficult, mundane, cumbersome and doesn’t sound “rocking”! Remembering Gods, chanting mantras, performing pooja, solemnly devoting oneself to the good cause of charity to poor, seems very boring and difficult. Festivals, bring happiness, good omen and prosperity in our lives. It is a time to be among our relatives and friends and share good wishes. It is a time to reconnect with the almighty and re-dedicate ourselves to the good cause and purposes in life. But, it is easier said than done! And also, because this “core of the festival” doesn’t support buying all sorts of stuff and extravanganza, the market economy or consumerism doesn’t support this form of celebration!
Again, there is nothing black or white! India is a free country, and we are free to celebrate the festivals as we like. But one thing is clear, if we forget the core of the festivals and emphasize on the façade or peripheral show-off stuff, then the day is not far away when the festivals will slowly lose their actual significance and we will have a generation that will say that “Holi= hooliganism and Diwali= crackers”.
Now, read on why Halloween is celebrated!
Till next time….
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