AGARTALA, October 2 (TIWN): Centuries back in 1632 Shakespeare wrote “Much Ado About Nothing”. Now what prompted that legendary icon of English literature to compose such a book is beyond our intellect and intuition. But yes! The synchronization perhaps can be brought about when one looks at the grandiose, splendid, extravagant and zestful preparations, celebrations and aftermath of the Durga Puja. Involving atrocities in subscription collection marks the preparation while obscene and vulgar dances in the tune of Bangla and Hindi songs on the roads with probable tussle among the youths mark the aftermath.

Sharadotsav or Durga Puja is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Nabami and Vijayadashami. But the exaggerated zeal of the people, sometimes, stretches the Puja days to even post Dashami and pre Mahalaya.

The prime dictum of devotion to the goddess Durga and Durga Puja festival actually epitomises victory of Good over Evil. But Now-a-days Durga Puja seems to be optimally utilized as a colossal commercial tool by all the section of traders and alikes. Not only the traders, all the sections of the larger society remain busy to make the most of Puja whether for some professional sake and/or personal amusements and fun. Amidst the late night traffic jam, the bikers blazing through the streets and Police patrolling infront of all the foreign liquor shops seem to engross this holy Durgaa Puja in itself. As the time is passing by the definition and dimension of Puja has become more superfluous and out of context. Puja clubs and committees, every year fight for the ‘Sera Sarod Somman’ organised by some rich business houses and lakhs and crores are spent for showing supremecy over others. And the same is being imposed on the common men for collecting huge amount of subscriptions. The information age (Technologically we are in information age, at present) has introduced a paradigm shift in the observance and thoughts regarding Durga Puja too. The same has become a show business. Couple of days ago, a local electronic media aired a news which showed a boy committed suicide as his parents were unable to buy Puja dress for him. What conclusion one can draw from this? Where in Hindu mythology it is written Durga Puja means new dress?

The man made rules are now acting as a boomerang for them, where the sole religious message of relinquishment to the goddess is getting distorted. The Durga puja has been celebrated since the medieval period, and has evolved and adapted to the world as time passed. From the medieval period up through present day, the Durga puja celebrates the goddess and brings the Hindu community together by integrating modernised aspects of entertainment and technology.

An irony here is that-The third line of Durga Sloka “Ya Devi sarva bhutesu Shanti rupena samsthita” is translated as “The goddess who is omnipresent as the symbol of peace”. But to maintain overflow of devotion (read as maintaining peace and order) in Puja the Police administration has deployed more than 3000 security personnel with other electronic and non electronic surveillance equipments and facilities.  

This undue commercialization of the devotion acts as both blessing and boon during the Durga Puja days and for some the Puja days are not so joyous because they can not afford Puja.  At the city outskirt’s Pratapgarh slum area, this correspondent made a visit to talk to some people about their Puja preparations. When asked about Puja plans one of the farmers (showing not so interest in the conversation) uttered “Puja Puja Korle Pet Cholto Na Re Baba” (If I get involved in Puja I would not be able to support my living). Why only in city outskirts, in the city heart too opposite of Rabindra Satabarsiki Bhawan on roadside few women with their children have made an Electronic transformer’s beneath place as their permanent home. Now What does Puja mean for them?

The TIWN correspondent has achieved same reaction from a brick field labourer, who works in a brick field at Kalagachia area along Indo-Bangla fencing area. Manjari, a girl at her 20s, told this correspondent: “Yes! I want to go to Agartala with my friends to see Puja but after a tiring day I don’t fell moving anywhere”. Manjari (While remaining busy in her work) said it was six or seven years ago when last she and her father went to see Puja at Agartala. But as her father was sent to jail for being convicted in a robbery case her father’s sole business of vegetable selling came to a halt, since than she started working in a nearby brick field.  “No … no dress this time, my mother has promised me but I know she has just told me to make me happy as she can not afford her own medicines even”, she said while looking and sounding not so sad over her life.

 “I and my mother need to support my younger sister’s study”, she was telling in a low voice.   Having no other words to say, the last question was – You did not buy any new clothes and neither you have the time to see Puja but still how do you find the days of Durga Puja ….. Do you feel a bit joy inside during the Puja days?

The reply was- “Yes! I try to celebrate the Puja but …..(after few moments) .. even I do not have time to be sad for not watching Puja because if I do not earn my family have to starve 10 or 12 days a month. So Puja days are nothing but just another days for me at the brick field with my regular work.”