Festival

On this blessing occasion of Onam festival, I would like to share my views on some related topics.

I believe that always there are some moral values connected with any festival. Festivals come to remind us about these moral values. If we do not recall these values during the festival then the festival remains just like a body without soul.

According to my knowledge, Onam is a festival of prosperity and generosity. It teaches us that we should earn much more but at the same time we should be equally generous to distribute our things among those who are in need.

At this time, I remember two more festivals which are celebrated for the duration almost equivalent to Onam. These are Ramanavmi and Vijayadashmi. Navaratra sadhana is connected with both these festivals. People are involved in sadhana for 9 days.

At present, I would like to discuss with you just one ritual associated with Navaratra. On the last day of Navaratra, nine girls are called at the place of worship. Prasad and some other gifts are given to them and then, the persons involved in sadhana have to get their blessings by touching their feet.

I got my involvement in these sadhanas for the first time when I was in middle school. The girls who were being called at my home to perform the ritual were just from the houses nearby. Most of them were regular in our street games and quite obedient to me, as I was elder to most of them and was among captains of the daily games which we played together. When I was told by my mother to touch their feet, I did that only for those who were elder to me. Then, I was instructed to touch the feet of those also who were same aged or even younger to me. I had to do that unwillingly but I started questioning my mother, Why should I touch feet of these girls who are even younger or same aged to me? She gave me some philosophical answers but that didn't satisfy me.

Years after, I could realized that it was all about "yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah". The ritual was added in the worshiping process just to convey the message that we must respect all the ladies around us as goddesses irrespective of their age even. And, the same ritual conveys the message to girls to consider their dignity and maintain their behaviors according to the position and respect they had been given in the society.

These days not many persons have time to think on these kinds of matters. As a result, the environment is getting polluted day by day. If the things are moving in the same way then what time is going to come that can not be imagined. These days we very often encounter such persons who wanted to be called 'good in bad deeds', who take it as a pride to use such words which must be said uncultured, who can make such comments which any person having some morality can not do. We must think on these matters if we need a healthy society.

In my view, It is not much significant that where we are, but the most important thing is that, in which direction we are moving? Obviously, Everyone has some goods and some bads, but we should always be starving to be better and follow the path which makes the world a better place to live.

Wish You a Very Happy Onam..

Thanks &Regards.

Ravi Kumar