Jeuty Thakur
Come autumn, and the arrival of all things beautiful can’t be far behind. That nip in the early morning air, dewdrops on leaves, the whiff of sewaliphool strewn across the yard, and kohua bon appearing in our fields. We begin to realize that the season is changing, ushering in the arrival of Maa Durga.
The Durga Puja is a single phrase enveloping many meanings, metaphors, memories, emotions, and also responsibilities. A consort of Lord Shiva and an epitome of female Shakti, Maa Durga has been mentioned in the Vedas, the Puranas, the Epics and a variety of other religious texts. The Goddess comes on a visit every year for four days and is accompanied by her children – daughters Laxmi and Saraswati, and sons Kartik and Ganesha. The puja that we celebrate in autumn is called ‘Okal-bodhan’, which means, ‘untimely invocation’. It is believed that the Goddess is generally offered prayers in spring, and She usually sleeps during this time of the year. However, as the legend goes, Lord Ram invoked the Goddess in autumn to seek Her blessings in his fight to free his better half, Goddess Sita, from Ravan, who was himself a devotee of Goddesss Durga. While performing the puja, Ram noticed that one of the hundred and eight lotuses required for the ceremony was missing, and he decided to offer one of his eyes as offering. Appeased by his devotion and bhakti, Maa Durga appeared before him, and with Her blessings and aid, Ram won the battle of Lanka.
The Durga Puja triggers feelings of anticipation, happiness and nostalgia, and can be invariably described as a state of mind. On the dawn of Mahalaya, Birendra Krishna Bhadra chanting the Chandipath on the All India Radio had kept generations enthralled with devotion, and evokes goose bumps even today. In the innocence of childhood, puja signifies new toys and clothes. From the once available toy pistols with red rings of ‘bullets’, and candyfloss and puchkas, to the fancy balloons that glow with fairy lights, it encapsulates a gamut of joy and excitement. For the adults, it means a break from the monotony of jobs and everyday life, to soak in the festive atmosphere. Dressing up in your finest, and going pandal-hopping is a much awaited ritual during the puja days. The grandeur and uniqueness of every pandal, the beauty and divinity of its idols, each trying to weave a story or spread a social message through its architecture and aura, gives it a carnivalesque feel.
The Assam Associations of Delhi, Gurgaon, Bangalore and the likes, have made sure the Axomiyas never feel homesick even while being away from Assam. The sight of women dressed in traditional mekhela-sadors, offering prayers in form of Xarais, and the Assamese chatter all around while sharing prasad and bhog, brings alive the community feeling of Assam like no other, even amidst the bustle of Delhi or Bengaluru.
When it comes to the festive season and social responsibilities, a few seem quite apparent and are the order of the day. Firstly, celebration of the female form should not be restricted to ceremonial occasions. A woman should foremost be respected for the individual that she is. The roles that she takes on in society as a daughter, a wife or a mother, add further dimensions to her personality, which should simultaneously be given adequate honour and place. The mindsets, the patriarchal structures, and the customs and rituals which denigrate a woman’s identity must be discarded. A society where the Goddess is worshipped needs to be a space where every woman gets to know and speaks her mind; where women and men find an equal footing, thus making room for endless growth and possibilities. Instead of merely being the demand of a section of activists and policy makers, gender equality needs to be a principle that a society itself culminates in every sphere of life.
Another important duty is to be environmentally conscious and make sure we do our bit towards reducing our carbon footprint. With increasing signals of environmental degradation, the world is now rushing towards immediate damage control and ling-term solutions. It has been realised that only when ‘global’ (global and local) efforts come together, that we can hope to save our planet. While activists like Greta Thunberg are doing their bit on a global platform, environmentalists like Jadav Payeng and Purnima Devi Barman are working incessantly at the grassroots for a greener and sustainable future. Thus, we need to make sure that as individuals we contribute to this mission in every possible way. From 2nd October, the government has banned the use of single-use plastic throughout the country. This includes plastic cups and plates which have been invariably used in puja pandals. Thus, we need to come up with alternatives which can be safely used so as to curb the level of non-degradable waste. The disposal of waste after the festivities are over also needs proper management.
Similarly, it is crucial that we source and use biodegradable materials in the creation of our precious idols. On Bijaya Dashami, tens of thousands of idols are immersed into our rivers across the country. While keeping the religious fervour intact, we need to make sure that we do not cause harm to our river beds and the freshwater life. Environment-friendly idols are already being created by various groups and makers. What is needed is speedy and widespread proliferation of its use across pandals.
Finally, while the pomp and gaiety of celebration engulfs everyone, it becomes important to be humane and open our hearts to the less privileged. Any act of kindness that can bring a smile to someone in need works like catharsis and brings priceless joy and peace within. Sponsoring a meal at an orphanage, spending some moments at an old-age home or visiting an ailing relative, would go a long way in making the world a brighter place.
Like it is said, one can find God and divinity in every nook and cranny of the soul and the vast universe. Every year, with Her arrival, the Goddess ushers in a sense of hope, happiness and faith in every heart. In celebration of that festive spirit, may all our prayers be answered, and may Maa’s love and blessings envelop us all year round. Xaarodiyo Greetings!