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Friday, September 25, 2009

Puja musings


Durga Puja is among the few religious festivals that have a universal appeal among the masses, cutting across the confines of community or creed. This is largely because its religious essence notwithstanding, mirth and merry-making get precedence over the religious fervour as the Puja spirit embraces one and all. Probably no other religious festival evokes the kind of spontaneous and universal participation as the Durga Puja does. A general feeling of bonhomie and camaraderie pervades the Durga Puja ambience, making it truly a festival of the masses. The all-pervasive spirit of zest and merry-making finds its best expression through the beautifully-decorated Puja mandaps and the rush of the people dressed in their colourful best. But amidst all this zest and jubilation of Durga Puja, we should not be oblivious to the harsh realities confronting us. The unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities, particularly foodstuff, has hit the commoners very hard. Add to this the increasing vagaries of flood and drought, and a sizeable section of the populace would not be able to be a part of the celebrations. Then, it is also essential that we reaffirm our pledge to fight the forces of evil as symbolised by Goddess Durga in her demolition of the evil demon, Mahisasura. The society is passing through trying times, with violence and disturbance taking a serious toll on the age-old unity and harmony of the different communities inhabiting the State. Mistrust and tension among the people are slowly but surely casting a shadow on the ethos of peace and bonhomie that has been a hallmark of the composite Assamese society. If we take pride in the Durga Puja being a unifying force, it is for us to ensure that this unifying spirit is carried beyond the days of the festivities.

While the Puja festivities have naturally undergone changes in recent times, some of these are not in consonance with the true Puja ethos. Businessmen are compelled to make big ‘donations’ to meet the Puja extravaganza, with the common man ultimately bearing the burden. Some of the so-called cultural programmes during Puja-time are a nuisance and noise pollution. Too much of anything is unacceptable, and a total sacrifice of the occasion’s sanctity at the altar of modernity and commercialisation is far from desirable. The celebrations also expose our lack of self-reliance, as we are totally dependent on outside to meet everything – from idols and flowers to dhakis (drum-beaters) and technicians. ASSAM TRIBUNE

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