REVERENCE LOST IN RELENTLESS FESTIVAL NOISE

n the first day of the Vikram Samvat 2083 (the Hindu new year), I got up a little early.

- SHASHI SHEKHAR

In the red-hued sunrise, I suddenly remembered Sanskrit poet Kalidas, long lost in the memory vaults. In his literary masterpiece Ritusamhara, he beautifully narrates the spring season:

Drumah sapushpaah salilam sapadyam, streeyah sakama pavanah sugandhih|

‘Sukhaah pradosha divsashch ramyaah, sarvam priye charutaram vasante||

The meaning of the verse is as follows: Oh beloved! everything has turned so beautiful during spring time. Trees are laden with flowers, ponds are full of lotuses, air is scented, evenings pleasant and days are delightful.

I entered my housing society park with a lot of enthusiasm to meditate, but failed. Why? Incredible decibel assault was on from the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway in the vicinity. The devotees were moving with the “flame” of the goddess expressing their religious fervour through thousands of watts of boom boxes.

I am a practising Hindu. My grandfather used to be a dandi swami (ascetic of advait vedant tradition). My father was a poet and discourses on religion and literature shaped my early childhood. I thought of confronting these “decibel devotees”, do you have any idea what the “flame” represents?