Vijaya Dashmi, the symbol of victory of good over evil, has
gone off the hood of festivity, and it seems the zeal has weakened among
the wide span of people. Nine days of festive mood took the turn otherwise
and led the grudge sprawl across the eastern India in form of cyclone Phailin. Other
than the major devastation which the devil with more than 200kmph speed caused
in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, now decreased at the speed of 45-50 kmph is
moving across Bihar and affecting the region with heavy rainfall. The end to
these nine days of celebrations, bestowed with offerings in form of vrat and
worship, will result into a dull day full of hopelessness in a closed room was
never expected by me.
It has been more than 35 hours, proper supply of electricity
has not been restored in Patna. Last night we compromised with no electricity and
scarce supply of water left in our tanks. Today too, with two hours of
electricity only, the compromise continued. I have made a notion, which at this
situation seems so apt. ‘The Good has certainly stopped winning over the Bad.’
:D Unburnt residuals of giant Ravana at Gandhi Maidan today in this weather, might
infer the same. :P
5 years back, those days when I was still in school, the
zeal for Puja used to be different. The height of festivity was not only high
for me, but I could sense that among the masses on the road too very easily. Time
has changed now, interests have been manipulated. I roamed half of the Patna on
Maha-Ashtami, but couldn't find the essence that still lingers at the back of
my mind. Where has the honesty crept in? Why do the rituals at the front appear
superficial on the thick coat of disguise?
In the state/nation where the status of women is jeopardized,
I am confused why so much of pom-pom for Durga Puja? On Navmi ( the ninth day
of Durga Puja), the devotee invites Kunwari Kanya (maiden) to feed them as a
ritual which completes the nine days of worship. Whats the need for such a
falsification outside, when no respect and dignity stays inside. Be it a
regular day, or within the crowd of Durga Puja on the road, eve-teasing and
illicit comments are very much common. The intentions in the eyes
and glances itself tell the whole story. I pick up my previous notion and refine it a bit. ‘The Good
is not left to the extent that it can win over the extolling Bad’.
Electricity is yet to come. It’s raining hard outside. The laptop power I saved is almost over now.
I pray
everyone stays safe, and for them who suffered the blows of Phailin in Andhra
and Odisha may get rehabilitated soon. I pray the mother to bestow kindness,
and help us stay honest to ourselves.
