Gone are the days when festivals were affairs of colours and gala moods. These days, no festival is complete if not preceded by a cacophony of ‘social activists’ and ‘intellectuals’ asking for a ban on something or the other. Ban on animal slaughter, ban on water wastage, ban on crackers/fireworks - in the pretext of pushing for social causes, we have turned our festivals into cheap opportunities to settle political vendetta and serve our vested interests.
In childhood, Ramzan and Bakr-id were chances for me to learn about the five pillars of Islam. Christmas made me aware of Compassion as taught and practised by Christ. Puja holidays and Pongal (Sankaranthi) were occasions that taught me the value of labour and the importance of gratitude. Diwali, well, there was no other festival that could ever match the grandeur and fun of Diwali for my innocent little mind.
But these days, TV channels and national media is ablaze with debates, discussions and dizzying offerings of hatred, paranoia and information on bans of some kind or the other. Is this the way we want our children to celebrate their festivals? Is this what we have learnt as human beings? If all the religions are teaching only love and peace, are we truly the practitioners such graceful religions? If all our religions point to only one god in reality, are we being the worthy followers of such a compassionate, merciful god?!
Show compassion to all the animals on all the 365 days of the year. Not just when another religion is about to celebrate its festivals based on animal sacrifice. If you want to save water, do so by creating awareness, preventing wastage of water in your home and neighbourhood before asking for a ‘ban’ on other’s festivals. If you want to avoid pollution, ditch your costly sedans and swank SUVs that guzzle fuel by gallons and start using public transportation. Plant trees, clean your surroundings, and spread awareness on cleanliness.
Festivals are all occasions that were created for the purpose of uniting people, to develop in them a sense of solidarity, to bring out the love and to spread euphoria all around. Let’s stop using such auspicious occasions as a launchpad for our hateful campaigns, please. Let’s all learn to live and let live.
May the lamps that we all light today dispel the darkness of our homes as well as our hearts, fill them both with a pleasant warmth! May the crackers and fireworks blast away our egos and petty thinking to pieces! May the gifts that we share today act as symbols of our love for each other and the fresh garments that we wear today brighten even our souls and fill them with colors.
Compassion, happiness, care and love are all not mere words to be exchanged on any single day but principles to be practised throughout our lives. Let’s learn the same this Diwali.
Here’s to all of you and your family members, hearty wishes on this auspicious day. Live long, in good health, in absolute peace, with abundant happiness and unwavering love!
In childhood, Ramzan and Bakr-id were chances for me to learn about the five pillars of Islam. Christmas made me aware of Compassion as taught and practised by Christ. Puja holidays and Pongal (Sankaranthi) were occasions that taught me the value of labour and the importance of gratitude. Diwali, well, there was no other festival that could ever match the grandeur and fun of Diwali for my innocent little mind.
But these days, TV channels and national media is ablaze with debates, discussions and dizzying offerings of hatred, paranoia and information on bans of some kind or the other. Is this the way we want our children to celebrate their festivals? Is this what we have learnt as human beings? If all the religions are teaching only love and peace, are we truly the practitioners such graceful religions? If all our religions point to only one god in reality, are we being the worthy followers of such a compassionate, merciful god?!
Show compassion to all the animals on all the 365 days of the year. Not just when another religion is about to celebrate its festivals based on animal sacrifice. If you want to save water, do so by creating awareness, preventing wastage of water in your home and neighbourhood before asking for a ‘ban’ on other’s festivals. If you want to avoid pollution, ditch your costly sedans and swank SUVs that guzzle fuel by gallons and start using public transportation. Plant trees, clean your surroundings, and spread awareness on cleanliness.
Festivals are all occasions that were created for the purpose of uniting people, to develop in them a sense of solidarity, to bring out the love and to spread euphoria all around. Let’s stop using such auspicious occasions as a launchpad for our hateful campaigns, please. Let’s all learn to live and let live.
May the lamps that we all light today dispel the darkness of our homes as well as our hearts, fill them both with a pleasant warmth! May the crackers and fireworks blast away our egos and petty thinking to pieces! May the gifts that we share today act as symbols of our love for each other and the fresh garments that we wear today brighten even our souls and fill them with colors.
Compassion, happiness, care and love are all not mere words to be exchanged on any single day but principles to be practised throughout our lives. Let’s learn the same this Diwali.
Here’s to all of you and your family members, hearty wishes on this auspicious day. Live long, in good health, in absolute peace, with abundant happiness and unwavering love!
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