I remember an instance from my school days, when I was on a day leave and stayed back in my room. When I joined back next day, the classmates were very curious and eager to know about "how was my valentine?". They were abviously teasing me. That was the time, when I got to learn that 14th Februaray is being dedicated for love and romance and popularly known as Valentine day (I was on leave on 14th feb). At first, I was surprised to know that people in city have dedicated a day out of 365 for the love. Isn't it strange? May be they have an excuse to celebrate.
Being brought up in a middle class orthodox family, and belongs from a smaller town such things was a new experince to me. But the situation does taught me something new. Celebrating romantic relationships and friendship, People around the world spend Feb. 14 as "Valentine Day".
I was new to city, and was adjusting to the new atmosphere where the lifestyle was completelly different. Life in Small towns have a lot of difference in social status unlike the city. The city are more quick to get influenced with the western theme of celebrstion, which were never been part of Indian culture. The difference in the lifestyle and culture are very much still been prevalent in Indian society. After so many years, I still easily see the difference that exists between the city and the rural people.
Saraswati Puja
Few days ago, when the world was celebrsting the big day (feb-14), I have seen people in my village dedicately worshipping Goddess Saraswati. According to the Hindu calendar, Saraswati puja is celebrsted every year on Basant Panchami. It is the celebrated every year on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Magh month. Saraswati is Goddess of Knowledge is duly worshiped on this day. This days gets so special for students and art lovers. She is believed to bless people with the power of speech, wisdom, and learning. Devotees seek blessings for academic achievements, artistic endeavours, and the pursuit of personal growth.
This year this festival was celebrated on 14th February I.e the day of Love and Romance.
(Goddess idol at one of the pandals)
Contrasting Choice.
This year on feb-14 i get to see two sides of the coin. Infact two completelly differrent Contrasting lifestyle.
The craze in rural areas was to celebrate the Saraswati Puja. Kids of all ages as well as the young and adults activelly participated in the celebration. Prepation underwent 10 days ago when they started collecting money from every houses. They organised different mini pandals, bought the idol and staged a day of worshipping. Nobody was seen interested in talking about valentine, or carrying roses, or partying or roaming hands in hands. Like the village, even our town was hardly been influenced with the western celebrstion. Everyone was dedicately enjoying the festival and taking the blessing. People putting up Goddess Saraswati pictures or selfies on their social media to mark the occasion.
At the same time, cities have a different choices. My friends in cities were very much active in celebrsting the day of romance and friendship. While I learned , one of my friends proposed his lady love, the other went out on holiday to spend some private moments. Many were putting up pictures of their romantic dates, lavish restaurants, and their expensive gifts on social media None of them shown any respect for the Goddess Saraswati. May be they have the romance as high preference in life than taking the blessings.
The difference
My WhatsApp status was the good place to clearly show the differences in the people choices. The city contacts were full of glamour and style while the rural contact have sign of faith and belief. On Saraswati Puja, students place their textbooks, notebooks, pens, pencils, and reference materials under the eyes of the goddess, believing in her blessings for academic success. On the occasion of Valnetine many people are offering Roses, Gifts, Cakes to the loved ones to take their loves.
The vast difference made me to wonder, what is the correct approach to life. People always wanted to bring change in life. But changing to such a glamorous lifestyle is good? Leaving behind all the old traditional touch of faith and customs. Do we really need to bring in so much change in our life and make way to western celebration more than what we have in our culture. I am pretty sure those who are dedicating day for love and romance are not even aware of the story behind the Valentine day celebrstion. But still they do that just being influenced with the lifestyle that exists in cities. This is what made me to find village far better as people are still been rooted to their tradition and culture.
What would you have chosen, in case you were in this situation. Romance vs Worship?
Peace!!
Namaste @steemflow
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