Celebrate with all your zeal and fervor, but celebrate with a meaning-don’t let these celebrations become hollow, devoid of the true meaning and essence…and I feel that is what is happening these days….
One of my friends told me that on the local train, enroute from Churchgate /CST to Andheri, between the santa-cruz station and vile parle station, there are certain very small hutments, adjoining the railway tracks, which have mushroomed in the last 6-8 months, he saw Ganpati Sthapana in a common pandal-like how these “Sarvajanik Ganpati Mandals” operate during this festival. Our point of discussion was something different-but it struck me, on altogether a different tangent-that watever the limitations, whatever be the constraint-here everyone tries to participate in the Ganesh festival-in whatever manner they can-limited resources-be it, but what matters is the spirit behind it! Frankly speaking, this example too can have extremely opposite/contrary interpretations. One, we may argue that all this just shows that who live in those handful of hutments are not all that poor-imagine they have hosted Ganpati celebrations like the rest of us-so may be its just too much waste considering giving them alms, if at all-after all it’s OUR hard earned money that we give them! Second and which is what is more convincing to me-that whatever it is, they have every right to participate in whatever limited scale they can and the small beautifully decorated pandal with Ganpati idol-where these people gather twice everyday to offer prayers (I am presuming that they do1) is probably one of the beautiful examples of triumph of faith/devotion over everything else-it’s surely a beautiful expression of one’s optimism, of the wonderful ability to be happy, to share the happiness-of the need to be happy-of the spirit to celebrate- indeed a beautiful example of the undying spirit!
Another such striking example is near Andheri East highway-on the way to Malad, just after you have crossed the airport flyover, proceeding towards the next flyover-on the left hand side at the highway, there are I guess 5-6 hutments-more shabby and in extremely dilapidated state-but you’ll observe- Ganpati Pandal, which is made using torn clothes, some dry big leaves, some colourful newspapers etc and a small Ganpati idol, with a lamp and lots of flowers-just ask yourself what could this be-a sham or spirit worth acknowledging and respecting! I have regards for them…
Ultimately what matters is ones sincerity and honesty in whatever one does-and am a firm believer that work is another form of worship-that service to mankind is one sure way of expressing one’s regards to the almighty! But who cares-what I see today, (and let me now take you through some disturbing facts about ourselves) is that we have forgotten the very context, the very reason for and most importantly the very manner in which we must celebrate such religious festivals!
Nowdays it appears more like a competition, where each pandal would want to and infact does everything possible to display the “wealthier” side of its celebrations-of bigger and bigger Ganapti idol, of “added attractions” for the so called “devotees”, of its affiliations with the VIPs, (look at the hoardings that are on display, with pictures of every possible politician with the organizers of such pandals!)
Yesterday I saw people literally drunk to death, dancing like maniacs on loud raunchy song tracks-on there way to the visarjan!!! Disgust is what I can associate with this-nothing else! This is complete sham and is a natural consequence of the all pervasive commercialization and politicization of virtually everything around us! If this isn’t hypocrisy then what else can be a better example of our double-standards!
Just as few years back, when Mr. T.N. Seshan, the then Chief Election Commissioner endeavored to regulate the regime of political parties and candidates, particularly with respect to the money that is spent in election campaign, the manner in which campaign is being run, the do’s and don’ts of CAMPAIGNING for election-which is why now we have strict guidelines, a code of conduct which every political party has to abide by-in contrast to those harassing days when the loud speakers would rattle weird slogans throughout the day and night-not sparing a single hour of the day, when the political parties would freely demand ransom in the garb of party contributions-with no cap on their expenditure- making all of us dread those days of elections approaching! Just like this, in the context of these celebrations, I guess its time we regulate our conduct and celebrate with responsibility!!!
Following are the few things that call for immediate adoption:-
THE DON’TS
1) Guidelines to set up the upper limit/maximum limit of expenditure by each Ganpati Mandals
2) Guidelines to state that for every X kms, there would be only 1 or 2 Ganpati Pandals
3) Guidelines to ban movie songs from these pandals and also during any procession for visarjan.
4) Guideliness to penalize those who drink and participate in or get associated with these pandals in any manner whatsoever
THE DO’S
1) Let every sarvajanik ganpati mandal compulsorily discharge atleast one civic duty/ responsibility, it could be anything ranging from offering community service, adopting the locality for community service- I mean why not, after all service is the best worship!
2) Engage the children in interesting discourses, conduct sessions of bhajans, of chanting shlokas, of meditation-why can’t these mandals think in this direction!!!
This and much more, but lets start thinking….if we truly have any regard for the almighty!!!
I would really appreciate if you could let me know your views and loads of suggestions-if this seems convincing even a bit-lets try and build a charter that can be a value add and lets put this through!
I’ll leave you with a very touching coincidence-on Saturday, August 22, 2009, one the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, I was busy preparing for Ganpati at home and at around 8:00 in the evening- I heard something like chanting of shlokas from a far distance and I thought to myself that this may be coming from one of the pandals or temples nearby- it was extremely pleasant to hear and later I realized that in a mosque nearby it was the beginning of Mahe Ramzaan!!! I couldn’t believe it-it all sounds so similar-there is striking similarity! The absence of clarity in what was being chanted-as I was at quite a distance from the mosque, gave me the opportunity to feel and appreciate the inherent harmony! I mean, it had the same effect. So pleasing to ears, after all prayers aren’t about RELIGION as they are about peace with oneself, harmony with everyone else!!! Indeed a beautiful coincidence!
