The major religious festival season is here once again. It
begins tomorrow with Ganesh Chaturthi, and
will pass through Dusserah, Diwali and Feast of St. Francis Xavier before
the year ends with Christmas. With Id celebrations included, the season covers
almost all traditional communities in
Goa. It is a long period of time for joyful interaction, peace and goodwill which
can have a salutary effect on us in Goa, if we allow it to.
Among all the festivals of Goa, Ganesh Chaturthi and Christmas
have two significant commonalities. Both being family festivals, members of
every family return home to be with their near and dear ones, to partake in the
religious ceremonies together, to strengthen family bonds, to enjoy delicacies
made with love and devotion, and have the pleasant feeling of being at home
nurturing their roots. In most cases it means returning to the villages where
nature still holds sway though in a receding way. And what better months than
beautiful September or cool December to be, oh to be in Goa.
Come September and the villages of Goa abound in flowers of
more hues than the colors of the rainbow.
The butterflies not only woo the flowers but compete with them for an
array of colors. The fragrance of flowers finds its way to the homes and to the
altars. And the birds sing their welcome songs to the season, partaking in
their own way in the festivities, occasionally disturbed, much disturbed by the
sound and smell of crackers.
Come December and the Goan winter is at its peak. Shorter
days and starry nights. The cold, starry nights can bring people closer together
and spark more romance than candlelight dinners. No doubt so many weddings take
place in December and so many babies are born in September. Don’t call me
naughty if I say it could be divine planning. However, I must add that the
tranquility of cool December does get disturbed by over commercialization,
excess tourists with “no room at the inn”, the consequent ubiquitous litter, and
the high decibel noise-cum-music at nights with or without deafening crackers.
The second commonality is more significant: synthesis of natural
elements in the divine depictions within our homes. Chaturthi comes when
nature’s bounty is at its peak, specially after a good monsoon as this year’s.
Natural products in the form of a variety of flowers, vegetables, fruits and
rare plants are brought home as an offering as well as to decorate the ‘matoli’
where the Ganesh idol is placed. We are
reminded of the mighty elephant and the tiny mouse which add the diversity of
the fauna to that of the flora. With the discouragement to the idols made of
the plaster of Paris and encouragement to those made of clay gathering momentum,
we are on the right track of returning back to clean and green celebrations of
Chaturthi. The celebrations undoubtedly have a deep religious meaning to the
Hindus. The cultural and social significance of the festival is not limited to
the Hindus only but is shared with them by other communities in Goa. The unity
and harmony that pervade the serene surroundings of the ‘makhar’ and ‘matoli’
touch human hearts irrespective of religious customs and beliefs. The goodwill
and the good wishes generated move beyond religious boundaries.
Christmas comes at the end of the year when the old is
passing and there is a yearning for the new. Our short winter soon gives way to
a short spring. In the midst of the cold we look for warmth, in the midst of
the dark nights we look for the stars. We find
the first in warmth of our family and friends, we find the second in the
star hanging over each crib in almost every Christian home. The shepherds
watching their flock by night, the bovine creatures in the crib, the wise men
guided by a star, the camels in the sand, the mountains touching the sky, the
green grass specially grown by children to place it around the crib, the dry grass or hay to place the image of
baby Jesus – all these remind us of the splendor of nature on a silent night.
The message of peace on earth is shared by Christians with all women and men of
goodwill. We need the simplicity of the child to appreciate the awesome beauty of
creation.
Festivals are a great time to feel inspired, and to share
delicacies, smiles and good wishes. Chaturthi and Christmas are also a great
time to restore our bonds with the divine, with each other, and with nature. I
am sure all other blessings will follow.
Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 08.09.2013
