Deepavali festival is celebrated by the so called ‘Hindus’ widely throughout the country and that celebration is also continued by the Indian diaspora in other countries who does possess the belief and faith. But the basis and the background puranic stories are not uniform throughout. According to the mythological fables that are popularly in vogue, the Deepavali celebration is varying. For instance, in the South, Deepavali is remembered in co-relation to the epic Mahabharatha and its heroic depiction Krishna. Krishna is known to have killed Naragasura. In certain areas in the North it is connected to the other epic Ramayana, the killing of Ravana by Rama. All these epical depictions have been revealed by renowned historians and statesmen as nothing but the Aryan – Dravidian struggle held in ancient periods in the land. In South, especially in Tamil Nadu, there are antagonists who are not celebrating Deepavali, the festival which they consider an insult to their Dravidian cultural heritage. As a mark of protest to Ramleela after Thanthai Periyar, when Annai E.V.R.Maniyammaiar led the Dradivar Kazhagam, Ravana Leela was conducted in Chennai in 1974. At that time, the north based print media covered the story of the event under the caption, ‘Why not Ravan Leela?’
Any celebration may continue as a mark of jubilation without insulting any particular regional people of the country. But till date ‘Ram Leela’ is celebrated in the capital of the country with the participation of Prime Ministers and other dignitaries who are at the helm of the state governance, which is not fair to the equal treatment of the diverse cultures of the country. Let it be a persistent demand for the noble principle of secularism in the preamble of the Constitution, i.e. the basic law of the country. Whatever may be the supportive base behind the celebration of Deepavali nothing superstitious is to intrude and sustain against the well off and well-being of the people who celebrate the event.
Recently an unbelievable, worshipping practice went viral in the social media as the follow up event of Deepavali. It was in a village Bhidarwada, of Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh. In fact, the ludicrous practice was very peculiar to hear at all. But how that practice is being adhered to and how the government machinery is passively looking at it, is a matter of surprise.
It is said to be the practice, adhered to by the people on the next day of Deepavali which they claim as Govardhan Puja. The practice is this: Many in the village would lie on the public pathway of their village. Cows from their household would be allowed to step on them and trample. After the trampling over the devotees, they would be worshipping the holy cows. The entire village would be watching the event.
What will happen if the people who had lain on the path, are severely injured and if any disability occurs permanently. In the name of any prayer or worship there should not be anything injuring the body of the worshipping mass. Why do people fall in line to cause injury to their own body under the practice of celebration of a festival? The belief behind such practice is that, the practising people would prosper with wealth afterwards. For how many years this practice is to continue anticipating wealth? Can such practice be allowed to continue periodically? Besides the enforcement of law, may the progressive movements of the area come forward to enlighten these ignorant people. The government may support the initiative of such movement but ultimately the people, practising this bizarre deed would realise their stupidity. Early attempts in this direction to avert any permanent disability caused to the people of the village, would be very much appreciated.
