Why celebrate Sankranti in the third decade of the twenty-first century, so ask the supposedly progressives or the 'urban naxals' to quote a rather notorious term. Well, the reasons are very many. In our blog today, let us list a few.
To begin with, in the post-globalised world, despite the downward slippage of the American economy, McDonald-isation of the world continues. In such a scenario hellbent on wiping out the local, there is a huge need to hold on to roots, to the unique traditions.
Next, the Sankranti festival teaches us an important lesson, that is, the need to be kind and generous with all the beings, especially the farmer's best friend, the bullock. Surely in the rural area, the farmer does offer a sweet, at least some jaggery, as a token of his friend's lifelong services.
In the cities, I suppose, the birds need such a kind gesture. Do you want to know which contraption I am referring to!?! Well, yes, I am talking about the glass splinters mixed thread of high flying kites killing the poor things. Sure we should avoid such cruelty and celebrate Sankranti without any harm to any being, and with lots of positivity.
There is yet another centrally important reason why Sankranti MUST be celebrated. Currently, family interaction is depleting hugely. Behind the closed door of each room resides a lonely person lost (in)to himself/herself, extremely egoistic, rude, self-centred. It is necessary that such a banal individual learns a few basic lessons in courtesy and decency. Sankranti is the best festival for such basic training.
In brief, Sankranti with its simple and elegant message teaches everyone to be generous. No wonder, it is such a favourite festival, the very first in the new calendar. Long live Sankranti! "तिळगुळ घ्या, गोड बोला!"
Pratima@ Newly understood, old practices yield novel meanings.
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