Festivals: what rules them? Individual attitude? Religion? Or money? Is discussing the essence of festivals today a vain attempt, because it’s beyond restoration? Or is a debate valid, because people now realize that there is still hope to revive the sanctity of these festivals? This contrast in belief regarding religious festivals has been a topic of discussion over centuries and even today, people have a mixed opinion.
On one hand, people think that the spirit of festivals today is lost and the real meaning has remained confined in history books. While on the other hand, some are of the belief that a festival is still and will always be a sacred occasion and a symbol of their devotion to God.
If you take a look at the former part of the debate, and see it in context with a few religions like Christianity, Islam and Hinduism, you will realize that in a sense it is partially true. Festivals have become a business and many companies have now realized their commercial potential. It has become a time of spending money on worthless needs and the idea behind giving gifts to one another is not love but only to show the measure of their love in the amount and value of the presents they give.
If you talk about Christmas, for instance, there are people who are under the impression that it is merely an occasion for merry-making combined with cake, drinks and gifts. The true spirit of Christmas is lost amidst the special offers of the season by various companies, loudspeakers at D.J. parties echoing rock and pop music not even close to Christmas carols and drunken youth roaming the streets yelling “Merry Christmas!”
Fr. William Carvalho, the parish priest of Rosary Cathedral states, “The scenario today is very different from what it used to be, say about 15 years ago. Christmas is celebrated on a more grand scale, with elaborate decorations, serving liquor at homes and going for parties. The influence of western culture has had a negative effect on the spirit of the occasion outside church. People from different economic strata, whether the owner of a super market selling non- Christmassy things or the common man selling homemade cakes and delicacies, all have found a way to make money during the festival. Even in some schools it has become a day of entertainment with Santa Claus the main highlight, thus completely misunderstanding the true meaning of the birth of Christ.”
Festivals like Diwali, Holi, Ganesh Chaturti and Navratri have also taken a commercial turn. Newspapers, television and even street stores are flooded with advertisements and everyone is out to make the most of the festivals by earning a quick buck. It has become a time of celebrations that may or may not have anything to do with the religious aspect.
“Even though I don’t think festivals here in Vadodara are as commercial as some of the big cities and people have still maintained the devoutness of these occasions, I do think that the government and private sector alike make huge money during this time”, claims Aadhya Shah, a resident of Akota area and a student of Economics. “All the publicity and hype done by the government during Navratri is a mere means of attracting tourists to the city. The separate seating stalls for the VIPs during Navratri, charging money even from spectators, stalls of restaurants and mobile companies put up at the venue, etc are all money making tactics. Diwali time is a battle between those selling crackers, trying to earn more money than the others and also between those bursting them, and the exchange of gifts between people have nothing to do with the sentiments of the season but a way to show their status and wealth depending on the kind of presents they give.”
Even though the festival of Eid might not be as commercialized as some others, it has nevertheless become an occasion for shopkeepers to earn huge bucks at the time of the breaking of the fast. Market places are flooded with traders trying to lure the people with mutton, poultry, ready-made garments, bangles, toys etc and making money out of it.
Commercialization and consumerism have merged with the festivals and cast a negative impression on age-old beliefs.
Now, if you consider the other half of the debate, that religious festivals have not been completely commercialized, you will find considerable proof in this regard as well.
Fr. Roy Miranda, from the Shrine of the Mother of the Forsaken, states, “The sanctity of Christmas is still maintained today, as far as the Eucharistic Celebration goes. People come to church with true faith and devotion to witness the birth of Christ. It is still a festival of love, hope and miracles. What goes on outside on the streets is beyond our control; that is not what Christmas is about. ”
People even today celebrate festivals not as a mere tradition but with pride and reverence, keeping in mind their sacredness.
Maulana Ismail, the Imam of Taif Nagar Masjid in Tandalja area, claims, “The festivals of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha are celebrated not because it is mandatory, but because people have supreme faith in Allah and his Will. Nothing can be more holy than the fervor with which Eid is celebrated. ”
Dr. Shariq who is basically from Mumbai and now based in Vadodara rightly supports this view. With utter conviction he states, “Eid has nothing to do with commercialization whatsoever. The devoutness that people possess for Allah can never be tainted by the evil of money. It is not a festival of receiving but one of giving; giving to those who are not as blessed as us; not because Allah has commanded us to do so but because the virtue of sacrifice is deep rooted in every Muslim. Zakkat(charity) is part of our faith and without this, there is no meaning to our religion. As it is stated in the Quran, ‘what you choose for yourself, choose for your brethren’.”
Every religion teaches you to spread peace, joy and hope around you, which is what people are now trying to focus on. Religious festivals are occasions to reach out to those people who are not as fortunate as many of you but nevertheless deserve to experience the feeling of the festivities. It is a time to put to practice what religion truly preaches.
This year, Saharsh India organized a morning Education Awareness rally in the city appealing to citizens to spare whatever they can voluntarily from their Diwali spending on firecrackers and sweets, and use the charity money to support education of the underprivileged.
Fr. William Carvalho agrees that festivals are a chance to give the oppressed a reason to smile. “During Christmas, we request the people to help the poor in any way, be it cash or kind. Food grains, food packets, clothes etc. are given not only to Catholics living below the poverty line but even the helpers of the church like sweepers. We find a way to enable even the poor to enjoy Christmas with laughter and love.”
So who’s right and who’s wrong? Which side do you choose to support?
This is not a matter to be weighed on a scale to see which side is of more value. Nor is it a battle of two parties to decide who wins over the other. It is a freedom of opinion, a preference of a particular point of view. It is an endless debate; the two sides of a coin. As George J Carroll once said, “For what do I lose if I lose this world and in doing so I find my god?”
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