Diwali Days!

 Vasu Baras! The first day of Diwali! In a way, it is such a glorious tribute to the cow and her calf, the staple pillars of an agrarian community. Personally, I like the quiet, deep eyes of the cow full of profound feelings. Animals have that lovely silent adorable communication through eye contact.

This evening, in the market, there was this bull who clearly was suffering from arthritis, and his master was up to silly tricks at the cost of the majestic animal, poor soul suffering hugely. I gave a little amount to that clown, and kindly patted the  animal's forehead. Oh, like the Birbal story, did he look up, and stared long after me! 

Every year, Diwali begins with a circus called "go pujan", praying to the cow. I attend it as a tribute to my parents' belief system and for honouring the traditions they loved. So i give the usual dakshina and eats which hopefully reach the cow and her calf, may be, next day.

 However, when you see the actual puja, it is sheer punishment for the poor animals, especially the young calf. For some three or four hours, the poor cow and that small little calf have to bear all sorts of people throwing cold water at them, touching them, forcefully feeding them. 

Well, animals are super sensitive about touch. What a shudder it must be to have cold water constantly splashed at the small little calf! The owner every year thousands of times tells every one not to throw water, not to feed the animals forcefully, not to touch. Who listens though? Imagine the cow's distress for herself, and especially for her calf. We are safe just because luckily she is tithered strongly!!! 

Traditions ARE important. They MUST be followed. Divinity, however, resides in humane-ity, right? The beautiful cow with a crescent moon on her forehead and the cute calf nestling next to her would bless all better, and more, if they are not so uncouthly troubled, right? 

Pratima@Another equally cruel and crooked trouble that Diwali brings in its wake is people fancying themselves to be authors and poets. Actually, with the AI, being one is very easy. So they believe! After all, it is artificial, and shows that up intelligently. Why the need, I have never understood, to dabble in most all everything, and, much worse, to coercively contend that one is better than the best! Tough times! Truly!