Celebrations or Cultural degeneracy. Disturbing shift in the way we celebrate.
Editor's Note: The following piece is presented in the author's own words to honor a young Indian's sincere expression of cultural concerns. These views represent the author's personal perspective. We value providing space for heartfelt community voices on matters of spiritual and cultural importance
Be it kids or adults, almost every Hindu looks forward to mostly the second half of the year. Just as Sri Vishnu enters his Nidra, the cosmic order gets another protector, Shiva. From babies to old people, you see people walking with a Jal ka Lota in their hands, walking to the Shivalay. Post Shravan, the excitement heightens.
As, they are the months when people in Maharashtra stand by their windows, waiting for his glance. Just once glance. And a kid screams ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ looking at His divine Murti. The streets of Mumbai are filled with people. Well, they always are, but this is special. We celebrate, we dance and we don’t send him off, but rather ask him to come early the next year!
Then of course Mahamaya, Tripura Sundari, Maa arrives for 9 days and gives us the opportunity to serve her. Jaagrans are held everywhere. Just as one can impress Shivji with a single Belpatra, Maa gets impressed when we sing her glories. Post her departure, South India (mostly) celebrates their Son Kartikeya bhagwan. And then comes our dear Ramji with Siya maa.
But, there's something wrong with the way we celebrate! Have you ever heard a Sikh man saying ‘let's open the bottles, it's Guru Nanak Jayanti today!’? or have you ever heard a Maharashtrian say ‘Bappa is here, let's drink!!’.
Then how dare we host Diwali parties with 12 bottles of Jager, Hookahs and Wines! Why is it that Hindus themselves say ‘Diwali parties are empty without alcohol!’.
A sale of liquor worth 540 crores was recorded fifteen days prior to Diwali. Additionally, the excise department also noted a rise of 15% in the same as compared to last year. These figures are shameful.
Not only this, right after Sawan/Shravan, Bihar feasted on 130crore worth of Non-Vegetarian food. It doesn’t end here. The same happens during Navratri. To the one reading this right now, I ask you to put one prompt on google. Look up ‘Can we eat chicken on Dashmi?’ Look at the answer the AI gives, and also look at the type of questions people ask. Even Jains. Post Paryushana, there is a rise in the sale of onions and garlic.
Fasting has meaning only when one does it with intent. Mentally, it helps one to control their senses, desires and increase their willpower. Physically, it cleanses your digestive system, and gives the body a little rest, only to function better. Spiritually, you give up on something to connect with the divine.
Neither am I against any meat eaters, nor am I against an alcohol drinker. I am against every performative Hindu who runs to the next meat shop/liquor store just as a festival ends. If the desire to eat and drink has gripped us so much, why fast in the first place? Delaying the desire doesn’t make sense, denying it does.
Another trend seen in millennials and gen-z’s is the addiction of weed and alcohol. And their reason? ‘Because Shivji smoked and Kaal Bhairav ji was served alcohol.’
Our Shashtras talk about Panchamakara- Matsya, Mudra, Madira, Madya and Maithuna. These elements due to their intoxicating nature are often misunderstood. They are offered to a Tantric god, so that the person offering them can leave these desires forever. It does not mean the deity himself/herself lives in an intoxicated state.
Additionally, Shivji also drank Halahal, a poison. Will any gen-z or millennial drink that in the name of Shivji?
One can drink up all they want, without hiding behind the garb of religion.
So the way out?
Let's celebrate the way our ancestors did. Let's celebrate in a meaningful way. Look up Spiritual Jamming on youtube. It's a video of a bunch of youngsters in Gurgaon singing Bhajans. Instead of calling it Bhajan Sandhya, they called it spiritual jamming, and so many people showed up. Why can't our festivals be this interesting? We will have to make our culture interesting for the generation that will come from us.
Maharashtrians make Ukadiche Modak at their homes during Ganpati Festival. Plum cakes are made during Christmas. Biryanis during Eid. Why can’t we celebrate our festival the way it was always meant to be? With friends, family, good food, and an evening full of spiritual jamming?
