Editorial

NAVRATRI–DASSERA – IN PRINCIPLE AND IN PRACTICE

Most of the Indian festivals have significant spiritual and moral messages to convey. Take for example Navratri and Dassera festivals. For nine days Mother Goddess is worshipped in Her different forms of Laxmi, Saraswati, Durga, Kali Parvati. Many persons fast for these nine days, coupled with performance of various religious rites. Fasting for the purification of the body and performance of religious rites is for purification of mind, heart and the intellect. Thus, these days are for purification of body and the mind, to put us firmly on the path of Divine destination. We pray for Her grace, to guide us in our path of Spiritual development, in our path towards the ultimate Divinity, for the gradual development of our spiritual qualities like love, kindness, humility, purity, truthfulness, compassion, courage, sense of service and sacrifice. In the form of Kali Durga, to help and guide us in our fight against our devilish qualities like anger, lust, desires, jealousy, pride, envy etc. as a Mahishasur Mardini to demolish the demons of devilish qualities, which are dominating our living. In short, to develop our Divine qualities and to destroy our devilish qualities, is the purpose and object of worshipping Mother Goddess in her various forms and facets.

Tenth day comes in the form of Dassera, Vijaya Dashmi to celebrate our final victory in the form of overcoming all our negative qualities, and the victory of Divine qualities over our animal and demonic qualities, our march from darkness to light, from unreality to reality, Like Mahabharata, Ramayana is highly symbolic. Here, Shri Ram represents our Divine qualities and Ravana represents our demonic qualities. Assassination of Ravana signifies victory of Divine qualities over the demonic qualities. By burning the effigy of Ravana, we are signifying that all our demonic qualities have been eliminated from our lives. Seasonwise, from gloomy rainy season, we are entering the cool winter season. We must determine to come out of our gloomy, cloudy, animal form of living to march towards the spiritual Divine living. This is the real significance, purpose and object of these festivals.

Well, if this is the real significance of these festivals, how are we celebrating them? Go and attend any one of these Dandiya dance programmes, the songs, the tunes, the beats, the way of so-called dancing, the loud music, one would wonder, is it a religious festival? The tragedy is, the present generation feels that these festivals are meant for sensual unlimited enjoyment. These bizarre celebrations have been so debased and degraded that, Government authorities have to make a rule that the organisers of these dance shows must compulsorily supply condoms. How disgusting it is! It is just the opposite of the real purpose and object of these festivals. My objection is not against these young spoilt children enjoying themselves. Let them enjoy as they wish. It is their money, their life, who am I to advise them? But my only request to them is, please do not do what they are doing in the name of religion and religious festivals. They may not appreciate or honour the spirit behind them, but at least, let them keep these religious festivals and religions away from their naked bizarre enjoyment. Let them not make mockery of them.

Really, I cannot blame the young generation. They are misguided. The elders themselves who do not know the real significance of these festivals, and who themselves do not perform them in their real spirit. How can they guide the younger generation?

However, I have tremendous faith, and confidence in the present young generation. It is extremely capable of doing anything under the sun. Only their inexhaustible energy must be properly channelised. If properly guided, they will do wonders. I am sure if properly focussed, they will definitely see that this country of ours regains its past glory, and would again become a model state for others to follow.

I am sure, from the present young generation, to quote from Swami Vivekananda:

"A hundred thousand men and women, fired with the zeal of holiness, fortified with eternal faith in the Lord, and nerved to lion’s courage by their sympathy for the poor and the fallen and the downtrodden, will go over the length and breadth of the land, preaching the gospel of salvation, the gospel of help, the gospel of social raising up the gospel of equality."

Coming to our journal, I am rather disappointed at the indifference shown by our esteemed readers. With all earnestness I had prayed for their views in respect of our new features ‘Amritwani’ and ‘Divya Jeevan.’ I had also asked for their suggestions for improvements in our journal. I am extremely sorry to note that we have not received a single comment, in praise or by way of criticism, nor a single suggestion. Frankly I did not expect this cold indifference from our readers. Criticise if you like but react, please do not be indifferent. The indifference really hurts us and throws cold water on our resolve to serve you at our best. Please send your comments, positive or negative but, please do not be indifferent. In all this indifference there has come one letter, from an unexpected quarter. A retired professor, from Delhi, accidentally chanced to read our journal and was good enough to write to us, commenting on these two features.

Coming to the subject matter of this issue, an important topic ‘Business Expenditure’ is covered in this issue. This important topic, is covered in its various facets. The learned authors have well covered the topics with which they were dealing, in an exhaustive manner, with learned touch. We are extremely grateful to all these authors. Our special thanks to dear Pradeep Shah, who not only wrote the lead article but also well-designed this issue.

In the earlier issues, we had announced that we would be restarting, the column on "Your questions, Our answers" and the answers to be given by a team of senior practitioners. Here also, I am sorry to note that we have not received significant number of questions to restart the column. Here also there is a stony indifference. Please do send your queries so that we may restart the column.