Come Ashadhi Ekadashi, and follows a deluge of devotion in its wake. Unlike other festivals, with this religious fest, there is not any possibility of the splurging of the monies, which we seem to love to distraction, if the Ambani wedding saga is any proof.
See, with Dasara and Diwali, there are thousands of things to buy. Rangpanchami and Holi need new white dresses! Why, even during the Ganapati festival, we tend to buy ornaments for the Lord.
There is no such splurging possible when it comes to Ashadhi Ekadashi. Vithoba is the lord of the down and out. For him, a basil leaf offered with love is more than enough. He is happy even if the devotee bows down to the pennant atop a temple. Why, with Ashadhi Ekadashi, begins the "chaturmas" which is dedicated to very many renunciations!
How to compensate the desire for splurging? You would hence see every blog, each status, each t.v.channel in Maharashtra bursting at the seams, overflowing on and on and on with pics of the Lord, with songs and abhanga's, not to forget the bhajans blaring on the loud-speakers, almost noisiest, and fast.
In other words, even this date with devotion, too, is a victim of tokenism, driven by the market forces. Marriages are now absolutely commodified, given the Ambani wedding whose various stages lasted almost six months. The only solace about the extravaganza was that it WAS tasteful, almost beautiful, and not gaudy. Moreover, as the Shankaracharya pointed out specifically, despite inviting firang's, neither liqueur nor non-veg was served. In a way, it was a kind of Indian soft power extravaganza. Let us discuss this point some other time.
In brief, hereafter, irrespective of whether the bride or the groom belong to the lower income group, whether either comes from the mofussil or the urban area, weddings are hence going to be celebrated big and long in India. See how the 'pre-wedding shooting' fad has spread like wild fire!
Tokenism of the "day card" variety it is, in other words. It is going to be blow big as per the dictates of the market. Nice hence to know that at least one festival would get celebrated simply.
Pratima@Deluges are delusional!
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