A few days ago, some one wished me "Happy Poojas".
I didn't understand and asked her,"'What do you mean by that?"
"What do you mean 'what do you mean by that?'"
With all caution not to hurt her I asked, "What do you mean by "Happy Poojas""
Her reply was simple "I don't know. If its navratri, you wish people like this. Isn't it?" and she left without waiting for a response.
Its interesting, I thought.
In a way, what she said was true.
If New year, you wish people, Happy New Year.
If Birthday, Happy Birthday.
If Marriage Anniversary, Happy Marriage day/x/y/z....
Good. I don't have any complaints.
But why to use the same format for a cultural celebration?
If its Eed (Id), we wish people Eed Mubharak - probably none of those reading this know the real meaning of this.
If Christmas, its Merry Christmas (Though the Bible mentions Christ's birth on march, we still don't have complaints either celebrating or wishing)
I don't have any complaints or am expressing any views about the above mentioned. But, the followers of the respective religions follow their protocol right. Why are we not so? Are we indifferent to the fact that we are today's living oldest culture?
Or are we ignorant about the right way of wishing people as how it should be?
In a few days, we are to celebrate a very old fesival Diwali/Deepavali. Is an exchange of Happy Diwali ok or should we say something else?
People who are still attached to the living roots know what and how the wish is to be.
On the day of Diwali, before sunrise, The Holiest River Ganga (The same river whose holy water was used to consecrate the US Parliament house's yearly beginning earlier this year.) is considered to be present in the water which we use to take bath (before sunrise.)
This is supposed to take place in a proper way-
- Wake up atleast 90 minutes before sunrise,
- Pray to Sun, Kuladevata, Ishtadevata, the elders in your family(alive/dead) and your parents
- Anoit oil in your head
- May the lady in your family or your mother pray and bless you for the Ganga Snaan and
- Have an oil bath (Though my friend suggest Head&Shoulder, I prefer Arappu and Shikakai)
And then, ask people if they have had "Ganga Snaan"
Ganga Snaanam Aaiducha?
Ganga Snaanam Aiyindha?
Ganga Snaanam Aayo? (Correction needed)
Ganga Snaana Aaithaa?
Ganga Snaan Ho Gaya?
Ganga Snaan Thai Gyu?
Have you had the Holy Ganga Bath?
This is a very small step which shall reconnect you with our culture - OUR culture.
I'm sending this to very very sensible people in my mail list - whom I respect.
My way is the way of Truth,
My way is the way of Vedas,
My way is the way of Justice
May Indra always be victorious.
May God Be With You,
Baladheepak AC
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Baladheepak AC
Chairman - ---------MindcrafT ASI---------
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