Yes, tonight is a unique night. For various reasons. Let us begin with the natural one first. Tonight is the longest night. The reason is scientific/geological. It is the winter solstice on December 22. The earth's axis is the farthest from the sun. The day hence is the shortest, and the night longest.
No wonder, it is the forefathers' night. That is to say, dedicated it is to the memory of forefathers in many a culture. 'Death, where is thy sting?', the night seems to ask. Well, death sure is the leveller. The king's crown must tumble down in the dust, and so must the yeoman's thinking, at times, unthinking, too, cap. Death thus is the leveller. It cannot be the destroyer though, 'coz long long after they are gone, they continue to be remembered with love and respect, right?
No less unique is December 22 as a day. This year, December 22 happened to be the Geeta Jayanti Day. The Geeta philosophy, the core principle of Hinduism, is a way of life, and this core principle needs to be remembered/reminded year after year, especially in the post COVID, pro AI days, right?
December 22 is the National Mathematics Day as well. On this day, the nation pays tribute to the Mathematics genius, S. Ramanujan whose life proves that years of extreme difficulties cannot wipe out the brilliant. Whatever may be the difficulties, often consciously created, in their path, they overcome it to burnish brightly.
At places, December 22 is the cookie day, et al. That brings us back to the special significance of the night. In Pune would be held a long march in which women would walk long in to the night, singing, dancing, what have you. Thus gets defeated darkness, the worst enemy of a woman! I would have liked to participate. How to get back home in the dead of night is the issue! Well, the night does thus matter, creates and constricts our circumferences. Long live this unique night!
Pratima@ "I have loved the stars too fondly to be afraid of the night," says Sarah Williams. Could not agree more!
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