Medium Vs. Idea

Diwali is the festival to celebrate the slaying of a demon by Goddess Kali. And there are lights all around us, laughter and so much of fun.

Let me examine what Diwali means to many of us:

a. Loads of discounts on mobiles, clothes, consumer durables – and hence days of shopping
b. Some sort of a gift coupon from the office
c. Bonus and reveling in spending
d. Crackers
e. Sweets
f. Loads of movies – Diwali special programs, special movies
g. Friends get together and party

The media and industry have hijacked every festival and probably gone on and created new occasions to actualize sales forecasts and aid economic growth. Dental health week?

The pressure on an average family to celebrate these festivals in the ‘proper’ way is enormous. We see a frenzy of spending in the weeks leading up to diwali. The richer shop a week or fortnight in advance and the poor in the last week.

Diwali is the triumph of good over evil. But what evil, in myself, have I defeated this year? In the end, the medium always seems to defeat the idea. We are more worried about religion that God. More worried about how to celebrate than why to celebrate.

Even Goddess Kali is not able to set an example for us!