I see the entire world fighting over religion. Obviously, each thinks that their own religion is better.But I don't understand why is there a fight over it and why can't everybody just make peace with following whichever faith they like, because ultimately they are different religions.
If at all there should be a problem, it should be in India. There are 1.2 billion people out of which approximately 80% population follows Hinduism. Now out of those 80%, each state, each region, each sect has their own version of a God. Here are billions of people following the same religion yet following different forms, and still they somehow manage to coexist. No, this isn't a post about hard hitting questions about religion or if there is a God or whatever. This post is just about the beauty of India and the power of festivals, traditions and our Deities to unite us all.
Today, I went and attended Durga Puja for the first time in my life. I must say here that i am not a religious person. I don't know the religious songs nor have I read any religious texts. But since the time I came back, I have been questioning myself as to why I never went for it before. The entire spiritual feel of standing in front of the Pandal and looking at the evening Puja was surreal, almost dream like. The entire place was filled with this energy of positivity that made you want to believe in the power of Ma Durga. Standing there, mesmerised by the Puja, by the beauty of the pandal and by the smiles on everyone's face, I realised the power that these festivals have of bringing everybody together.
If at all there should be a problem, it should be in India. There are 1.2 billion people out of which approximately 80% population follows Hinduism. Now out of those 80%, each state, each region, each sect has their own version of a God. Here are billions of people following the same religion yet following different forms, and still they somehow manage to coexist. No, this isn't a post about hard hitting questions about religion or if there is a God or whatever. This post is just about the beauty of India and the power of festivals, traditions and our Deities to unite us all.
Today, I went and attended Durga Puja for the first time in my life. I must say here that i am not a religious person. I don't know the religious songs nor have I read any religious texts. But since the time I came back, I have been questioning myself as to why I never went for it before. The entire spiritual feel of standing in front of the Pandal and looking at the evening Puja was surreal, almost dream like. The entire place was filled with this energy of positivity that made you want to believe in the power of Ma Durga. Standing there, mesmerised by the Puja, by the beauty of the pandal and by the smiles on everyone's face, I realised the power that these festivals have of bringing everybody together.
Different regions have their own deities, their own huge festivals. In West Bengal, Assam. Odisha and the areas around believe in Goddess Durga, in the northern part, Diwali is the biggest festival, while Mathura and Vrindavan have Holi as their biggest festival, even though they are a part of northern India and not to forget, Maharashtra on to the south Ganesh Chaturti is the biggest festival.
We all have our own God, we have our own ways of celebrating them. I might not be a bengali, yet I loved being there in the Pandal and being a part of the divinity. The entire feeling of belonging and the aura of the power that Ma durga has could be felt at the evening aarti. Looking at the statue of Ma Durga, never did the thought came in my mind that 'This is a bengali version of a deity I believe in' and I am very sure, someone from any part of India other than the north, celebrates Diwali doesn't think twice.
We all have our own God, we have our own ways of celebrating them. I might not be a bengali, yet I loved being there in the Pandal and being a part of the divinity. The entire feeling of belonging and the aura of the power that Ma durga has could be felt at the evening aarti. Looking at the statue of Ma Durga, never did the thought came in my mind that 'This is a bengali version of a deity I believe in' and I am very sure, someone from any part of India other than the north, celebrates Diwali doesn't think twice.
The number of Gods and Goddesses we have, the fight should be between us, as to which one is better which one should we follow, yet somehow the beauty of this country is that we all know how to enjoy our festivals, we know that ultimately its just three God, Vishnu, Bhrahma & Shiva along with their women counter parts who, we believe, gives them the power, are our Goddesses. There could be a thousand names given to these 3 Gods and we all, a country of a billion people, will find a way to believe in each other's belief and keep alive the traditions and have the statues or photos of all the Gods even if we believe in one specific form a little more.
And as for my first time at Durga Pujo, all I can say is that if getting everyone together and creating that sense of belonging and divinity isn't a proof of Gods existing, then I don't think anything else is.
And as for my first time at Durga Pujo, all I can say is that if getting everyone together and creating that sense of belonging and divinity isn't a proof of Gods existing, then I don't think anything else is.
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