Celebrating a festival with family adds more colour and enthusiasm to each activity involved. We have all been talking about our festivals be it Eid, Holi, Diwali or Christmas but how many of us truly understand the importance of these festivals. Perhaps, very few-- I may be one of those few and so may be You. It is quite sad to see people are running away from their culture just because they feel it is quite sub standard. Holi has always been celebrated with zeal in India, it is festival which was born here on this land, but is unfortunately dying a slow death. More unfortunate is teh fact that the hands which nurtured the festival have turned murderous and are committing the crime.
Just ask yourself-- all you who are reading this mail, how many of you did not hesitate applying those colours on your face, did not look down upon the festival, did not fail to see the colours of life in form of gulal, did not consider it as a dirty festival... and the list goes on. A little soul searching and the answer is there. Why is all this happening? Why are we running away from festivals, can we not spare even a few hours to keep the tradition alive! Can we not prevent ourselves from becoming murderers of our own civilisation.
Ponder not for much but for a second, are you ashamed to be an Indian, if no then fill yourself with zeal and promise yourself that you would keep the tradition alive long after you are gone and pass it just the way you got it...pure and simple.
It is not just for Holi but For all Festivals that can Foster Faith...
Comments
Yup correct.. All of us,
Yup correct.. All of us, either knowingly or unknowingly have been drifting away from what we should do and what we want to do. Our actions are now more centred around what people do and what people think and not what we ourselves think. If i tell someone that i want to celebrate my birthday in a 'peaceful' manner then i will be scorned for not treating my friends. As pointed out by rajat sir we should do our own way to keep the spirit of festivals alive....
rahul
Mohit, I am glad that you have raised this topic. I recommend to all our readers to give this a thought.
Exactly about 2 years back I posted a forum on our site "Importance of Festivals in India" (http://sankalpindia.net/drupal/?q=node/221) and I got no replies.
We are more keen on celebrating Valentines and Halloween than lighting lamps and applying colours. Our nation taught us to treat birthday as time to think of the Supreme powers, use it as an occasion to help the suffering, light some lamps and seek blessings from our elders. Now we find solace in a cake, loud music and party.
We are changing. We are leaving behind the most essential part of us and moving in a direction that will leave us nowhere. Our generation looks for the happening and the cool things and these definitions are derived right from the West!
Family structure is breaking down and nuclear families are on the rise. These families have everything but time. They seek quick fix solution to everything.. Even festivals! The once elaborate and elegant celebrations give way to get together and parties.
As you said.. the list can go on!
Even though I myself love colours of all types on my face, but an un-biased picture will point towards one more reason for people to fear the festival of colours. Today you really have to struggle to find Gulal. what you find in the market is toxic chemicals that ruin the skin and the eye. This keeps many people away. Also, the mis-use of festivals by hooligans and the inability of the society to keep them under check adds to the problem.
To the readers of this, I have a humble request. Initiate!. please do not shy away from initiating the celebration of these festivals. there are many people hiding aroun the corners who really want to celebrate. Deep down in their hearts they are indians and they love the colours and the lights and all the other things that come with our festivals. Once you lead the way, they will join in and participate.
Yugadi is around the corner! The Baisakhi! Let's Celebrate