India ,Let’s Celebrate Phir Se But Dil Se (enjoy & relish again but wholeheartedly), says an advertisement in a prominent national daily. This depicts the current mood of the nation which has seen plethora of restrictions and compromises during Covid period and many natural disasters that followed. Even now, there is no end to miseries ,casualties and resurgence in cases.
2) The present phase of festivities marks the end of summer and Monsoon and one is ready to welcome advent of winter. Pitri Paksh(Shradh) in between not only enables us to remember our ancestors but we pay our obesseince to departed souls as well. With festivals ,namely, Vishwakarma Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Navratras, Dushera/ Dasain, Babu Teeka, Diwali, Bhaiya Duj (also known as Bhai Teeka or Bhai Pota) and the magnum opus, Chhath, we tend to imbibe more freshness, vigour and vitality in the family. Apart from re-discovering our energy and inner self, these also help in cementing bonds within a family. Many foreigners realised the significance of a family set up during the tough and uncertain days of Corona pandemic.
3) When we talk of breathing fresh air or chilling out, according to a source, at least 30% of households wanted to be free from bondage of Covid restrictions at the end of first wave in 2020. In some countries their earlier attempts at swift Unlocking had resulted in setbacks or resurgence of Corona virus. But at the same time, some unfortunate lots in many countries still undergo sufferings due to denial of even first dose of vaccine.
GRANDEUR OF KOLKATA DURGA PUJA
4) Hindustan Times, New Delhi edition deserves to be appreciated for having reminded the country of Kolkata’s coveted entry into the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage due to grandeur of its legacy of Durga Puja “pandals”. Of the 40,000 of them organised all over West Bengal, share of Kolkata comes to a whopping 2,700. The honour has bolstered further the creativity, uniqueness and tilt to contemporary issues of the artists and organisers alike. Politics, however, has never been absent in these mega celebrations. When CPI(M) ruled the state, book stalls were common features at the pandals. It was also prominent at the time of inauguration of these 5 day festivities. When the ruling party at the Centre wanted to make an entry into the state, a pandal was inaugurated at level of the P.M.
STAR ATTRACTIONS OF 2022
5) This year’s star attraction of the metro is a gigantic replica of Vatican city’s St. Peter’s Basilica put up by Bhoomi Club of Lake town. The structure is 65 feet in height and over 50 feet in width. Colour choice, their combination and eagle’s eye of the artists for details are remarkable. These being beyond the ambit of any description, can be considered unique or incredible. It also has a replica of a dome supported by the famous artist and sculptor Michaelangelo.The same club in its 50th year in 2021 had created a replica of mammoth Burj Khalifa of Dubai.
CAVE ART, FOLK PAINTINGS, COINS & MISERIES
6) Some of other pandals depict cave art of Altamira in Spain, folk paintings of Gond tribe of M.P, commemorative coins issued in the country since independence etc. Even main statue of Durga Goddess has been shown over a huge coin. Also there is a “pet friendly pandal” set up by Atlas club of North Kolkata which has a special entry for pets through a V.I.P. gate. Is it an upheaval or downfall ? On the other hand, a pandal is also courageously depicting massive post- poll violence in the state. It is the only one covered with a black cloth and abundant use of red colour cloth depicts unfortunate blood shed. In place of usual Puja songs, recordings of screams of mothers of victims are being played to create an impact.
7) Crores of Rupees are spent year after year during so many festivities in the country. The economic value of creative industries around the pandals of West Bengal alone comes to Rs 32,377 Crores according to a study commissioned by the state government in 2018. Imagine the expenditure on other such celebrations in other states or abroad. Should not it lead us to think about working for scaling down expenditure by at least 25 to 30 % and diversion of same for fulfilling basic needs of the actually needy and disadvantaged of the area ?. But that does not happen. It is not allowed to happen. Also use of plastic, polythene, polyester cloth and any other inflammable material in erecting pandals as also statues needs to be monitored drastically. Due to carelessness on this count, five devotees/ visitors have been already perished in the blaze and 64 have been severely injured or burnt in a Puja pandal at Bhadohi in U.P. Also act of sacrificing a six year old boy in a temple of Lodi Colony of New Delhi was most gory and uncalled for in the name of pleasing a deity. Can’t we prevent such anomalies and misuses ?.
For civic authorities, it is impossible to keep a watch and regulate non Puja activities at every celebration but certainly a fixed number of pandals can be thought of, in view of carrying capacity, population load and ethnic mix of a town or city.
EVENING CULTURAL SHOWS
8) As far as these shows are concerned, the Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati and a few South Indian communities deserve all credit for keeping the country’s cultural ethos alive and kicking both in India and abroad. But western influence on song , musical tunes and dressing patterns, emerging in a big way, may have to be checked. Ideally, selection of songs and dances on such occasions should be in tune with the spirit of worship and overall message intended to be conveyed.
9) In the same way, filthy display of money power by the novo rich and black marketers should be checked. Once profit making enters the fray, the spontaneous feeling of “Bhakti” is bound to take a back seat. Also there are Hippocrates who can do anything for the sake of invoking God. In this regard, increase in number of Non Vegetarian stalls at Puja venues shows that there is ample scope to deviate and sustain.
10)Punchline ,perhaps could be full participation of Muslim artists in a Hindu Cultural Night. Also can we think of effigies of Ravan and his sons without fine workmanship of Muslim artists? Those bent upon creating a religious divide lately need to think and look at day to day social developments in a correct perspective.
ANNEXATION BY RUSSIA LEADS TO GLOOM & DESPAIR
11)At the other end of spectrum is a news of acute mourning and desperation caused by announcement of annexation of four “regions” of Ukraine by Russia after seven months of latter’s “special mission”. It is very sad indeed. When Russia denounces U.K. for its imperialist actions of the past, should not we say that “land grab” of 20% of Ukraine’s territory is not only in bad taste but makes Russia a confirmed neo imperialist ?
12) After signing treaties of annexation with Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporizhzhia ,subsequent to a doubtful and coercive Referendum, Russia would be in a position to create a land corridor with Crimea, annexed by her in 2014. But suppressed and subdued people of these five regions can never forget their humiliation and wounds. Large scale exodus of Russians in the last few days shows that President Putin will have disturbed sleep as long he wields power. Surprisingly, no lawmaker has opposed Russia’s latest move in the lower house of Duma.
BUT CAN ANY ONE RULE FOREVER IN THIS MANNER ?
About the Author : Dr. Aaloc Srivastav, Ex CS , Sikkim is a Senior Retd Bureaucrat and passionate about writing on his favourite subjects . The views shared by the author are his personal.
