The traditional festivals have been celebrated for ages and the rituals are being followed generation after generation. However, many rituals eventually become unknown and some transform. The way we celebrate festivals today is not closer to the traditions, but, to our convenience. Their meaning and grandeur is diminishing day by day and the metropolitan style of celebrating festivals is the new trend.
“Slowly and eventually, importance of everything fades away”
During the olden days, parents taught their children the importance of each festival. Whereas, today’s kids are not aware of the significance of festivals, and why we celebrate them. It is crucial that the value of them is made familiar with, to preserve the their true essence. Also, due to the lack of knowing, commercialization and many other reasons, the festivals which were intended for a good cause are not fulfilling their purposes. As a consequence of it the traditions might be long-forgotten.
For example, let us consider ‘Diwali-The festival of lights’, which has been celebrated since the era of Ramayana. The five-day festival signifies the victory of good over the evil. The day starts with awakening at dawn and taking a bath. Puja of deities is performed and traditional food is relished by the family. The younger ones burn few crackers and diyas are lit in the clean home. But, is this really how we celebrate Diwali? Diwali is meant to bring a scent of freshness to the air, but, contradicting to that smoke and noise pollute it. There are a lot of reasons why Diwali is losing its essence. To mention a few, the increasing craze of commercialization during Diwali is one and the madness of burning harmful crackers is another, they must be done in certain limits. Anything done beyond the limits is bad, and so is the case here. Another festival is ‘Holi’ where evil is burnt and victory is celebrated with flying dry colors. Today, drinking Bhang, playing with colors and water is the new definition of it. Ganesh Festival was meant to bring people together. During the British time, the only way the government allowed the gathering of crowds was through religious ceremonies. As the consequence of that, people gathered for Ganesh Puja. Whereas, today every house has their own idol.
“Tradition should be the illusion of permanence”
One may argue that, traditional beliefs must be changed in the course of time. On the contrary, until they cause no harm and do good instead there is no need for a change. Changes must be good, but, the irony is that, due to the new ways of celebrations the negative sides are increasing instead.
Festivals are a celebration of life and goodness, but, traditional beliefs are eventually vanishing. The importance of the spiritual thoughts, Pujas, gathering of families is being neglected. A sigh of relief is that, in some villages the traditional customs are followed even today. The people outside of such villages must start following these ways. They should be aware of the importance of festivals. Only, then the true spirit of festivals may be preserved.
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