A Special Day yet again, but in the public sphere

 Our blog yesterday, uploaded late for sure, dealt with a special day. It was in the private space. Let us today talk about a special day, but in the public sphere. In other words, let us discuss the celebration of a few events as they  typically take place "publically ".

Let us begin with the ascension to the throne by Shivaji Maharaj. Maharaj ascended to the throne on June 6, 1647. As is usual, thus began the endless arguments over whether it should be celebrated according to the "tithi" or the date. Ideally, it has to be the 'tithi', and for two reasons. To begin with, for such holy purposes, a special 'tithi' is always arrived at after consulting all sorts of astrological details, charts, and what have you. Yet another reason is that the 'tithi' and/or the date arrived at, often without documented  authentic source(s), could cause furores!

Now the crux of the matter! How to celebrate such a day? With the DJ and 'walls' led processions full of laser lights dancing (like the participants in the procession) to vulgar tunes? Through thrills deemed necessary for reel making?  By opening up contentious debates, often not validated  through authentic proofs, thereby pitting a caste against another? Of course, it is as usual easier to bash up Brahmins! Such is the intensity of the hatred that Sant Ramdas, despite his brilliant praise of the great king, is not spared! 

Is it enough to stick up a hologram or a pic of Maharaj on the rear glass of a swanky car, while violating with aggressive virulence every possible rule of traffic  or of decent behaviour? If one adores Maharaj, can one ill-treat an innocent woman who has not bothered you one bit nor has anything at all to do with you?

Thankfully, there are exceptions to such general behaviour! Compared, anyways, to such vulgar displays of toxic masculinity, Ahilyabai Holkar's birth anniversary on May 31 is celebrated more meaningfully. In my opinion, here is a woman leader who broke effectively many invisible ceilings, and centuries ago.

It is hence necessary that the precepts of such great people are actually practised, and neither in retrospective nor in a regressive mode. That would be the real tribute to them as they believed in genuine 'action' than in any show-shaw or empty verbosity!

Pratima@This morning a very happy announcement was shared. It seems a peak in the in the Spiti Valley in the Baital area is named after Veer Savarkar, often consciously misunderstood and misrepresented!