A recent blogpost from a blogger friend is an inspiration for this blog post. As we all know, come September and the festival season is upon us. One after another, festivals follow. We may not celebrate all of them but willy nilly we are exposed to all sometimes due to the loud band baaja or song and dance that happens unabashedly. Festivals signify rituals for most of us. We no longer understand the significance of why something is celebrated and why each ritual is followed. We just know that for a certain festival, this long list of delicacies has to be prepared, this fast must be kept and this puja must be performed. Many of these rituals might have had spiritual significance that has certainly taken a backseat. Most times, festivals mean eating and eating, pujas and new clothes. Many festivals pollute the environment when visarjans take place or firecrackers are burnt. Can anyone actually put a stop to that? No, that would be anti-religious, so things continue along the same lines no matter how polluted our water table or air gets.
The most bugging part to me is this overwhelming expectations from others to conform. Some people look down on others who don’t “fast” or don’t show religiousness the way they are expected to indulging in loud pujas or sporting certain finery. Most times, people gather at these aartis or pujas just as a roll call. Where is the piety associated with fasting or pujas? People openly talk and exchange gossip while sitting in a puja. Many eat all kinds of fried stuff and sweets in the name of fasts. Surely, these fasts were meant for detoxification and not overloading of stomach. And, then they look with raised eyebrows at someone who does not do things the way they do it. I, for one, am not religious in that sense. I wouldn’t fast just because there is a Satyanarayan katha at home. I need my breakfast in the morning. And, why do we consider punishing our bodies and suppressing our hunger in some way as a means of pleasing God? I find the whole logic foolish. Also, why is all this fasting only dictated for the women? Oh, men need to eat their food on time not women?
My belief is simple. I do what I feel is right in my opinion. I will certainly not do something because you tell me that this is the way it should be done. I respect your right to fast, make noise, do what you have to do. It is equally fair that you respect my right to not do any of these things and yet be a good human being :).
The same here, but till now I have not been bugged by anybody to do this or that. I just don’t do things which I don’t believe, and I have been okay.
Yes it really irritates me when people say they will not eat rice in the night, but would eat idlies made out of rice as Palahara,or some other rice dish like rice upma and so on. Then they will say they will not eat anything salty, means they are supposed to be fasting , but they will prepare kesari and eat.
If you want to fast then fast properly, with will power, don’t find ways and means to satisfy yourself with something.
Most of them are hypocrites.
And all these band baja is very irritating whether it is the Hindu, Christian, festivals or the calling to faithful to pray by the Muslims, they should strictly ban such nuisances.
Why care! Just do what is comfortable. Nowadays with work and such pressures; festival holidays are a welcome break to eat and sleep. Sad but fact!
God has given us a mind a brain and iwe are supposed ot use it and think of logic ..
all these are myths that are continuing since era gone by and some one made it and we are continuing with them ..
I dont beleive in all this how can remaining hungry make God happy ..
Eat drink and be merry jsut be a good human being is what I am sure every god says
Bikram’s
Very well Rachhna..
I love it girl..
those are Guts…
Respect and get respected…
all these pious n divine we respect But to …make somebody do that out of her wish is not understood…
Women …suppressed for no reason!
love the post!
@rama Luckily for me, no one has ever bugged me. My husband and I share the same feelings about these rituals, and my mil has always been very understanding and non-intrusive. I agree about hypocrisy prevailing in many of those fasting. My dad used to say that in olden days, most women would only get to eat leftovers after the menfolk. So, they came up with the ingenious idea of fast foods and festival foods, so that they could indulge once in a while :). It is an interesting observation. I hate the excessive noise too where no one cares for anyone else, and if you raise a voice, you are labelled a spoil sport or a non-believer.
@Insignia True, I don’t care because no such people in my family. But, I do come across aunties who pointedly ask why I wasn’t present for so and so puja as we have so many celebrations in my community. Holidays are always welcome :).
@Bikramjit I know! Be a good human being. That takes a backseat. No God is going to be happy by needless punishing of body and soul, opulence, or large contribution to hundis. Clean up your act and be a good person — that is the path to your God.
@Harman thank you! Aren’t we glad that so many of our generations are doing away with these unnecessary things whether it be lack of time or logic. It is a good change, in my opinion.
I dont know about others, but my hubby does a better fast than me, though he works 10 hrs a day, whereas I am a housewife.
We fast in navratris for 9 days and no..we dont make fried items and everything…its religious and spiritual too for us..we dont use onions and many other vegetables..its only certain fixed items we take and we ar every happy, we feel so good….
so each to his own….most of the people in my family do it..not all just the first and last one, and most of them do it on etheir own choice..I dont think today one can compel any girl to do anything:)
This festival season brings so much happiness and festive mood in our home that my son who loives abroad, always misses this period…now if I didnt enjoy doing all this will he do so?
Renu has left a new comment on your post “Festivals — A rant!”:
I dont know about others, but my hubby does a better fast than me, though he works 10 hrs a day, whereas I am a housewife.
We fast in navratris for 9 days and no..we dont make fried items and everything…its religious and spiritual too for us..we dont use onions and many other vegetables..its only certain fixed items we take and we ar every happy, we feel so good….
so each to his own….most of the people in my family do it..not all just the first and last one, and most of them do it on etheir own choice..I dont think today one can compel any girl to do anything:)
This festival season brings so much happiness and festive mood in our home that my son who loives abroad, always misses this period…now if I didnt enjoy doing all this will he do so?
@Renu I don’t know why your comment disappeared from here. That’s wonderful! My husband cannot fast, and I am not much good at it too. It is wonderful that you do it in the way it is meant to be done without forcing others. Definitely, festivals are joyous occasions even for us with the cheer and the love.
I have never ever fasted and never been asked to. In my family and community, certain days like ekadashi and janmashtami etc, we eat certain foods. Rice, onions, garlic are not eaten those days. Thats it. Maybe in the olden days people made this rules for a change in the routine.
But I really don’t understand when ppl say they are fasting and gorge on sweets or on fried things, I feel it destroys the whole purpose of fasting.
Rachna I agree, why punish yourself in the name of fasting.. Its insane.. Eat healthy and be comfortable in what you do. Nice post.
Rachna I agree, why punish yourself in the name of fasting.. Its insane.. Eat healthy and be comfortable in what you do. Nice post.
Rachna I agree, why punish yourself in the name of fasting.. Its insane.. Eat healthy and be comfortable in what you do. Nice post.
Rachna I agree, why punish yourself in the name of fasting.. Its insane.. Eat healthy and be comfortable in what you do. Nice post.
Rachna I agree, why punish yourself in the name of fasting.. Its insane.. Eat healthy and be comfortable in what you do. Nice post.
Rachna I agree, why punish yourself in the name of fasting.. Its insane.. Eat healthy and be comfortable in what you do. Nice post.
Rachna I agree, why punish yourself in the name of fasting.. Its insane.. Eat healthy and be comfortable in what you do. Nice post.
Rachna I agree, why punish yourself in the name of fasting.. Its insane.. Eat healthy and be comfortable in what you do. Nice post.
I am always a little bemused by the number of different festivals – esp. over here with all the different ethnic groups. It’s very interesting but at the same time by Chinese New Year I am “festivaled-out” and look forward to Lent a period of fasting (well for me it is) and quiet reflection!
You are so very right, Rachna! Now a days Fast = Feast! And performing rituals just for the societal stamp is just not done.
Oh boy…
Today was yet another fast which means I need to watch my oil intake more carefully after all these fried only food being eaten.
What is the logic of these fasts. In fact I was reading an article by Devdatt Patnaik on fasting and he says one should fast in order to give back to nature in the form of one day as opposed to all these days that we have been taking from it. He goes on to explain that, we should have only those things, even if we do eat, we will not cause any harm to the source of the food. Like having fruits, any vegetable… Cereals he says destroys the plant, hence not done.
I do not know whether this is any sense at all, but either way I really hate all these festivals. And the worse thing… as your say.. if you do not do any of it… you are looked down upon… and for what.. thinking with the brain that you have!
I presume I am the blogger friend you mentioned at the outset? 😛 Actually as days go by, we are losing all sense of piety and propriety. In olden days, fasts and feasts had their place and significance and were not empty rituals as they are today. I am one of those who even tells my DIL to do what she thinks best. When I do the same, how can I impose anything on her?
@Bhagyashree That’s good. When I was growing up, I heard of girls fasting on Mondays for some God or a good husband, Tuesday for something else, Thursday for something else… Of course, no one in my family did that, and I used to find it humorous. I even remember that when my mom fasted for Shivaratri, Janamashtami and Karwa Chauth etc., she did it alone. For all of us all the food with delicacies was prepared :). Dad used to find these rituals rather foolish and so we sisters were spared the agony.
@Ashwini Exactly! Do it if you have to for the right reasons not for dikhawa.
@Jane You are right! By the time Diwali is upon us, I am actually tired of the continuing festivals.
@Shilpa And, so many of us feel the same way. At least, our generation being more educated, logical and reasonable has a mind of its own and the voice to speak up.
@Aathira Yes, the continuing overload of sweets and fried stuff prepared during festivals is quite putting off. I have an aversion for sweets and end up giving away most of the mithai at home. Perhaps, having fruits and veggies and milk for one day might be good for the system. But, where will the carbs come from? It is not like one can just lie around, one needs energy too. Thus, I don’t understand this fasting business one bit.
@cybernag.in Of course, you are the inspiration behind the blog post :). I tried to include the link to your post but blogger was giving me trouble. Feel free to put in the link to your last blog post here. You are also an inspiration for people like us because you are so normal. You feel and behave just the way I do. And, you make loads of sense in what you say and do.
I so agree with you! I remember the time when I was in school, during every Durga Puja season, loud speakers would blare the latest chartbusters – oblivious to how it might inconvenience people. Yes, festivals are for enjoying but why this way?
I strongly feel that religious festivals are better enjoyed in private, do what you want, keep it private. Why do people need to poke their nose into other people’s business to ask if they fasted, or performed this or that puja, etc etc etc? I find the rituals associated quite annoying too in some cases.
I steer clear of rituals that don’t make sense to me 🙂 And thankfully people close ot me know better than question 🙂
Respect choices and beliefs…you are right…festivities have evolved with changing lifestyles…to each his/her own…you are right.
I agree. Poojas, fasts, etc. are personal things. And you shouldn’t have to defend your beliefs.
roll call!!! hahah yeah
Thanks for the compliment Rachna. Actually I am the bane of my generation, I think. I am practically the only woman my age, who is not all agog at the community prayers organised at someone’s home in our locality every morning and evening during navaratri. I prefer my personal communion with God and do my prayers alone. 🙂
Well I am taking up your offer and posting the link here. http://cybernag.in/2011/09/feasting-through-festivals/
@wordsndreamz Welcome to my blog. And, you and I really think so similarly. Agree with all that you say.
@Alka Yes, with changing times, no one has hours on end to prepare for one festival after another. Frankly, so many of the rituals are just handed down and make no sense at all.
@Agnes Exactly! Why should we need to defend what we believe in?
@Sujatha 🙂
@cybernag I can quite imagine what the other ladies must be feeling about you. But, I am proud of you that you stand for your convictions and do what you feel is right and not as dikhawa.