I prefer not to miss my routine evening
walk because it is not only good for my health but also it gives new
experiences every day. Recently it turned into a very special learning occasion
for me on Shree Krishna Janmashtami day. There was a festive mood all around. Families,
friends and relatives were going to nearby temples in groups. Devotional songs were
being played through loud speakers as a spiritual atmosphere prevailed in the
place. A small Krishna Mandir is situated on my way. Since there was lesser
crowd I thought of going in there.
Overwhelmed
artificiality
The devotees had squattered on the
floor. There was a singer singing with a key board with a tabla artist to
accompany him. Mikes were given full
volume so that nothing else could be heard. All devotees were clapping with
lifted hands to the tune of music. Everybody was busy in following the song
that the main singer was singing. The idol of Lord Krishna was decorated
wonderfully with so many silver and golden coloured foils and other shining
artificial materials. They were glowing with LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs
and focus lights. But no original oil lamp was seen anywhere!
Having my roots in village India my
mind rolled back to the past. Traditionally people were decorating the idols of
god with variety of original flowers. Many oil lamps were lit which brightened
the decorated idol. Bhajans were sung by all in the group line by line as some
one with good voice pronounced the lines loudly. But today in cities the life
is overwhelmed with artificial things. As flowers became costly, the artificial
flowers have replaced them. However, the concept of decorating the lord is
still continued with a change in the material. So, whatever is the matter, Bhakti is important.
Biscuits and Chocolates
While the bhajans went on and the
devotees were engrossed in bhakti
there started the process of distribution of prasaadam. A lady started distributing small packets of Parle-G
biscuits. Every one held their hands out to get them. Then came the coffee-bytes!!!
The priest started throwing something from near the feet of the idol and to my
surprise they were chocolates. People started jumping to get the flying
chocolates. Instead of bhajans I heard the shrills “one for me”, “I didn’t
get”, “throw one here” etc. I didn’t get any as I was sitting in the last row
and no chocolates reached there. Now it was the turn of pens to fly!! A lady
devotee had brought some pens and they were thrown towards the crowd. Same jubilant
response from the devotees and same fate for me!! No chocolates, no pens but no regrets. It was
good to observe the new dimension of Krishna’s worship from the back of the
crowd.
Later bananas and mosambis were
distributed by the organizers. Then the most precious and auspicious prasaada
followed! It was a mixture of dahi (curd), butter, crystal sugar and poha. It
is believed that lord Krishna liked dahi, butter and poha very much. So it is very
sacred for devotees of Krishna. It was really delicious. Then an old lady came
distributing currency notes of Rs. 10 to everybody who was present there. My
mind went down the lane of memory when I was a kid aged 5 or 6 years. I remembered
the days when I was eager to take one rupee coin which was distributed during
ritual functions like marriage ceremony etc. Giving cash in the name of ‘dakshine’ to all those who attended the
function was a tradition. In those days one rupee coin was a great thing. Now, the
time has passed and Rs. 10 note has replaced the Re. 1 coin. In fact, the
tradition has continued with changed material value.
Continuity and change
In a sociological sense, all these
things can be explained as continuity and change. The traditional beliefs and
rituals are being continued. But the things are replaced by the available new
materials. In the earlier times, lamps with oil were the only means of glowing
the sculpture of the Lord. But with the availability of LEDs, halogens, the
means of brightening the idol are changed. People feel it easy to glow LEDs by
switching on the plug instead of struggling with the oil lamps which needs
frequent tending of the flame. On a lighter note, we may say oil has become
expensive than LEDs!!
Just a few decades back people used
harmonium as accompanying instrument while singing bhajans. It has been now
replaced by ‘key-board’ with the advancement of technology. Most innovative
idea is the addition to the form of prasadam. Even the packed items like
biscuits, chocolates and pens have been considered as prasaada and have got validated
to get that sanctity!! Thus the process of distributing prasaada is continued though
the form of prasaada is changed due to availability of the modern and ready
made materials. One need not wonder if the ‘teertha’
(holy water) gets replaced in the future by coca-cola or pepsi due to their
ready availability!!
Social integration
Mangalaarathi was over. Fortunately
it was with original lamp and not with the LED aarathi which is available in
the market! People started leaving the place and I too wore my footwear to
continue walking. Mind started wandering with thoughts. Sociology refers to the
concepts of continuity and change. Is this the same? Can this be evidence to
it? Well, after all with such continuity of collective worship and changes in
using modern materials, whether the purpose of festivals is really served? The
main purpose of Tilak, the fighter for Swaraaj,
who started the public ‘Ganeshotsava’ in Maharashtra was not to popularise
religion but to bring social integration among the people and harmony in the
society. But has it been achieved through collective worships is a curious
question. In fact, here too, apparently I didn’t see the difference between
poor or rich, high or low caste anywhere in the whole gathering. Everyone was
the devotee of Lord Krishna and was sitting in the group. But how long this sense of unity and equality
will remain in their consciousness? Is it only till they come out of that
mandir? Unfortunately yes. Soon after their exit from the shrine they adorn
their class and caste differences. BMWs, Skodas, Toyotas etc. crawl down to
pick the rich where as the poor continues to walk with torn slippers!! Still I
would prefer to look at the event with positive perspective. I feel that people
at least come out of their class and caste consciousness for some time at the
place of worship. There were no separate rows for higher and lower castes or
classes as it was found in the earlier times. Any one could sit anywhere and
near any other. This is a small but significant change at the place of worship
because the religion has sanctioned our social stratification. No doubt, at
least temporarily they had pushed their class and caste differences to the subconscious
mind. It is really a positive change, though a very
small step in achieving an egalitarian society. Social integration has to be
attained through small changes like this leading to break the prejudices towards
the people of poor and lower class and castes. Thank you Vaidehi akka, editor of Afternoonvoice http://afternoonvoice.com/
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