Festivals In India | Indian Festivals| Festivals Culture Blogs India

Navratri: Are these the only days to bestow your love on a girl child?

2009-04-01T05:22:00.000-07:00

Chaitra Navratri, also known as Chait Navratras, is observed during the Chaitra month (March – April) in a traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Shakti and three of her most popular forms– Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati – are worshipped during this period.

Chaitra Navratri begins on the first day of the Chaitra month and ends with Ram Navami. It is known by different names like Ram Navaratri, Vasant Navratri, Basant Navrathri and some people also refer it as Spring Navaratras.

Chaitra Navratri is observed when Mother Nature undergoes an important climate change. It also marks the beginning of the summer season. There is a popular belief that the fasting during Chaitra Navrati is to prepare the body for the ensuing summer season.

The festival of Navratri culminates in Mahanavami. On this day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. The little girls who are invited to be worshipped are known as ‘kanjaks.’

This ritual is held mostly in Punjab and Haryana – two states famous for female foeticide. Since last few years, many household in these states are finding it difficult to get girl children to worship as Goddess Durga.

Is is not an ironical situation where girls are treated as Goddess on one hand and killed on the other?
And it is not the uneducated class that is practicing female foeticide. The act of female foeticide prevails more in the educated and affluent society.

It is a disgrace for the Indian society which considers the birth of a girl child as a bad investment in future. This narrow viewpoint of the Indian patriarchal society has led to horrid practices like female infanticide and female foeticide. A present study reveals that Punjab has one of the lowest sex ratios in the country.

Escalating demands of dowry are cited as the main reason for this heinous crime. And what are we doing in return, instead of removing the root of the problem – the dowry--, we are killing innocent girls for no fault of their's.

I need you to answer some questions. Do we now have a right to celebrate Navratri? Do girls hold importance for just nine days in a year? What is the use of worshipping a Goddess when you cannot protect her children? Do you think Goddess Durga will forgive you for such an act and accept your prayers?

I feel it's high time to curb the practices of female foeticide. The government has already declared January 24, 2009 as the national girl child day that focuses on targeting the scourges of female foeticide, domestic violence, and malnutrition.

Men without women are not human. This transformation of the male into animal if the world were to become womanless is the theme of "Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women". The movie is not imaginative (fact: over 35 million girls have gone missing in our country in the last decade; killed while still foetuses, executed soon after they were born, or murdered because of sheer neglect) but depicts what our future will be if we do not curb the practices of female infanticide and female foeticide.

The movie shows that in a village without women, confused and sex-starved men hanker for release, through pornography, bestiality, homosexuality, and violence. And when they find a girl then begin exercising their physical rights over her, turn by turn by turn! It's time we take some action.

Gudi Padwa: New Year Wishes to All of You

2009-03-26T04:43:00.001-07:00

Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month as the New Year day by Maharashtrians. Also known as Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, this festival marks the beginning of the spring season. People celebrate this festival with great spirit and joy.

Houses are cleaned prior to the festival. Colorful rangoli are designed at the entrance and people wear new clothes on this day. Maharashtrian delicacies like puran poli or sweet rotis, soonth pak, and usal are prepared.

On this day, gudis are hung outside the houses or in the localities. A 'gudi' is a pole on top of which an upturned brass or silver pot called a kalash is placed. The gudi is then covered with a colorful silk cloth. It is decorated with marigold flowers, mango leaves, and coconuts. The gudi is a symbol of nature's bounty. It is worshipped by offering sandalwood paste, turmeric, and vermilion. Then, boys and young men of the locality form a pyramid and the person on top of the pyramid breaks the coconut which is in the kalash.

My neighbors are Maharashtrians and every year on Gudi Padwa, they bring sweets or some kind of goodies to our house. Even though I am not staying in Maharashtra, my neighbors give me a feel of the Maharashtrian culture. I am very glad that my five year old child, who knew January 1^st as the New Year, has learned that New Year according to Hindu calendar is different. It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month.

Traditionally, families are supposed to begin the festivities by eating the leaves of the neem tree. Sometimes, a paste of neem leaves is prepared and mixed with ajwain, jaggery, and tamarind. All the members of the family consume this paste, which is believed to purify the blood and strengthen the body’s immune system against diseases.

Taking Gudi Padwa to be the suitable occasion to sensitize people towards trees and environment, the Maharashtra State Social Forestry Department has planned to sell saplings of Neem trees through 300 stalls across the state on this auspicious day.

The festival of Gudi Padwa is considered very auspicious. People begin new ventures and also choose to buy gold, silver, or property on this day. With the launch of Tata Motor's Nano, auto dealers are all excited and are looking forward to a huge demand for the product. They expect a number of inquiries for bookings to come in on this day.

Celebrate Holi in Its True Essence

2009-03-10T01:36:00.000-07:00

As a child, I took a special delight in the festival of Holi. Going out with friends with pichkaris in hand filled with different hues of gulal (or aabeer, as called in Bengali), it was indeed great fun. It all used to get started in the morning and continued till afternoon (although we wanted to continue it till the evening). After coming back home, completely drenched in colored water, we used to get a good bath. My mother had a tough time bathing me. Today, I do not play Holi anymore. In fact, I find it as one of those festivals which are celebrated in complete contrast to their significance.

Holi is a festival to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. However, today I find every bit of Holi celebration no less than an evil. To elucidate, I can begin with the use of colors in today's time. In most cases, we find people celebrating it with colors having strong chemical base. These chemicals can simply ruin somebody's life by causing strong allergies on skin and even, in the eyes. These colors can also destroy your hair. Some colors are so strong that your skin and scalp bear them for many days. We all know that there is an alternative to these chemical rich colors in the form of herbal colors. But, how many us really buy them. However, we are not alone to be blamed. This is because there are many shops that charge exorbitant price for the herbal colors, making them out of reach for the common man. So, if you have a sensitive skin, playing Holi is completely a “no”.

Let us now talk about the second evil that you witness every year during this festival. Holi, for many, is simply a festival where you can drink openly with your friends. Perhaps this is the reason why I could find a huge rush in every liquor shop, while on my way back home from work, just two days before Holi. The shops were flocked by men of every age- young, middle aged and old. No wonder, we get to read so many cases of drunken driving around the time of Holi. The cases of eve teasing are also on rise during Holi. In fact, drinking and misbehaving with women and young girls can be seen as a favorite way of celebrating Holi for many. However, molesting girls in the name of Holi has become quite a trend for many years now. Whether you are drunk or not, who wants to miss the opportunity of being close to girls and touch them? The countless number of television reports on all major news channels depicting the stories of helpless girls just after Holi simply brings tears into my eyes. This is the prime reason why girls stop playing it after attaining an age. They rather enjoy being at home with their parents and feel safe.

Holi is a festival that signifies truth, goodness and bravery. Can't we celebrate it in its true essence?

Let Us Abhor What Is Wicked This Holi

2009-03-05T03:34:00.000-08:00

The slogan which says`Bura Na Maano Holi hai' is being completely misused by people nowadays. This slogan is being treated as an excuse to do anything like playing Holi forcibly with girls, molesting girls, throwing water balloons and stuff like that. It’s both sad and ridiculous that all our festivals are being celebrated in the wrong way.

When the festival of Holi began, it was meant to be celebrated with safe colors, but now it has become a sadist festival where people are deriving pleasure out of troubling others. Instead of good wishes and harmless colors, bad behavior and stuff like rotten tomatoes and eggs, grease, and permanent colors have come into the scheme of things.

Most of us have forgotten the first rule about Holi: Don’t play Holi with the unwilling. I remember the incident that took place with one of my friends after which she completely stopped playing Holi. Just like any other excited kid, my friend was out with her pichkaari to play Holi, when a big bully came and covered her entire face with grease. She went back home crying because there was no possible way to take it off. Finally, her mother had to resort to petrol to wash her face off. It was a complete nightmare for her and she never plays Holi after that. This is just one incident. Hundreds of such incidents take place every year during Holi.

Not only this, rowdy elements treat Holi as an appropriate time to get close to girls, some even trying to molest them. They indulge in all sorts of dirty acts like forcibly rubbing color on the faces of girls and misbehaving with them. The same thing was depicted in a serial where two girls from an NGO-house were shown walking when a group of guys forcibly rubbed colours on their faces. One of the girls slapped one of the guys. In retaliation, the group surrounded and forcibly molested her. It was broad daylight. The girl’s companion asked for help from the passerby, but none paid heed. This is not just a reel life incident, such incidences happen every year during Holi.

Adding to the woes is the trend of throwing water balloons. You will find groups of young boys at every nook and crevice of a road throwing balloons, full of water, weeks before the festival. They are not even bothered of the consequences it would lead to. So, when Holi approaching, you have to think twice before going out of your house.

Is this the kind of Holi we want? Just think. Are we not losing on the significance of the festival. If you agree with me, just watch yourself before taking any step and the result will be good for all.

Make Holi Fun: Use Herbal Colors

2009-02-26T03:16:00.000-08:00

Holi, also called the Festival of Colors, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India, Guyana, Trinidad, the UK and Nepal. In West Bengal, Holi is also known as Dolyatra or Boshonto Utsav ("spring festival").

The festival begins by burning of the demoness Holika, Hiranyakashipu's sister, in huge bonfires at night. The next morning is the time to rejoice and celebrate. People move out of their houses to play Holi by throwing colored powder and water at each other. They greet each other and eat lots of mouth-watering delicacies, such as Gujiya, papad, sweets, and various other items that are a treat for everyone's taste buds. A special drink called thandai is prepared, sometimes containing bhang.

The day passes off in celebration and rejoice. It is only the next day that we get to see the newspaper full of heart-breaking news like a five year boy lost his eye-sight while playing Holi, many children developed temporary blindness, some people complaining about severe rashes all over their bodies, and so on. These are some of the harmful effects of playing Holi with chemically produced industrial dyes.

Gone are the days when people used to play Holi with natural colors and flowers. Now synthetically produced colors are being used to play Holi. These colors are associated with severe health hazards. The black pastes used in Holi is found to contain lead oxide which can result in renal failure. Silver color contains aluminium bromide and is found to be carcinogenic. Red color, on the other hand, contains mercury sulphate. The prussian blue used in the blue paste has been associated with contact dermatitis, while the copper sulphate in the green has been documented to cause eye allergy, puffiness and temporary blindness.

The colorants used in the dry colors, also called gulals, was found to be toxic, with heavy metals causing asthma, skin diseases and temporary blindness. Both of the commonly used bases in gulals—asbestos or silica—are associated with health issues.

Have we completely forgotten the meaning of the festival of Holi? Or have we turned insensitive towards others and even our own self? Holi is the festival when even the enemies unite and become friends again, and we are making this festival our own enemy. Colors, which are meant to spread brightness and joy all around, are being used to take away all the light and joy from someone's life. This is not what Holi is all about. Just ponder on this for a few minutes.

If you think that you want your Holi to be a festival of joy, start using natural colors. Herbal colors are safe for playing Holi and also have a medicinal significance. The colors are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Āyurvedic doctors. So, no skin disease, no asthma, no temporary blindness, and no bad news on Holi this time. Play Holi with herbal colors.

Too Much of Media Attention to Valentine's Day

2009-02-18T03:20:00.000-08:00

For past few years, no other festival has ever attracted so much of media attention than the Valentine's Day. In the era of globalization, the whole world has become one common place, with people of one country openly welcoming the culture of other nations. As a result, no festival can be considered as unique to one country or religion anymore. Like Christmas has become a universal festival, similarly, Durga Puja or Ganpati Puja are also celebrated with much pomp and show in many foreign countries. In such a scenario where people are no more prejudiced towards those belonging to other ethnic backgrounds, it is quite common for a festival like Valentine's Day to find acceptance worldwide.

In late nineties, some Hindu and Muslim activists did protest against the celebration of Valentine's Day in India. However, it did not have much impact on our society. Couples were free to express their love for each other. There were also many who did not want to celebrate this day because they did not attach much importance to the day. Whatever be the case, it was completely an individual's decision to celebrate it or not. It is only in recent times that we have started witnessing a lot surrounding the celebrations on this day. In fact, many state governments have started taking stringent steps to curb any kind of social unrest on this day. Why all this is happening? The answer is simple: too much of media attention to those handful of extremists who have been trying to gain some kind of political mileage by protesting against the V-day.

Who knew Muthalik ( the head of Sri Rama Sene) before his goons thrashed some young girls and boys sitting inside a Mangalore pub? For 1 week, we found all news channels showing detailed news reports on that episode, not to forget, the entire bio-data of this so-called Muthalik. Attracted by the wide scale media coverage on the nuisance created by Sri Rama Sene workers, many other big and small, extremist groups (both Hindu and Muslim) started raising their voice against the V-day. They were least bothered about protecting the rich Indian culture and heritage, their sole aim being able to gain some kind of media attention and publicity.

It's really pity that the Valentine's Day has been used by some groups for their political interests. Who is to be blamed for all this? It is only we who have given so much of attention to these groups for no reason. Second on the row to be blamed is our media for there is much more for them to capture and present to the viewers. The audience as well as the media need to be least bothered about groups like Sri Rama Sene and soon we will find them fight for better causes.

Changing Trends in The Gifts Meant For Your Valentine

2009-02-09T03:03:00.000-08:00

14th February is a special day for the lovers. Known as the Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day, this day has always been celebrated as a special occasion where two people freely express their love for each other and exchange Valentine's Day gifts.

In earlier times, this day was celebrated by sending mutual love notes. However, since the 19th century, sending of valentines in the form of greeting cards became a common phenomenon. Amongst all forms of greeting cards, the heart-shaped cards have always been the most popular. It is a true symbol of the passion that two people share. The real story, however, is the sacrifice made by Saint Valentine for his beloved. On being rejected by his mistress, he was so heartbroken that he sent his still-beating heart to her as a token of his eternal love for her. However, cards depicting doves and cupid along with the heart symbol are also equally liked by people. During mid 19th century, hand-made Valentine's Day cards also became immensely popular. In fact, till date, Valentine's Day greeting cards are being considered as the most ideal gift for this day. This is the reason why this day is the second largest card-buying day of the year, worldwide, after Christmas.

As time passed by, the celebration of this day of love started involving more interesting gifts. People started clubbing flowers, stuffed toys, perfumes, and even confectionery with attractive greeting cards as a gift for their beloved. While red roses are considered just perfect for this day, people have started experimenting with other flowers as well, such as orchids, lilies, tulips, and many other exotic varieties. However, no one can deny the charm that is offered by red roses. In fact, even today, a red rose is considered synonymous with Valentine's Day.

Gift shops all across the world have also started offering various confectionery items as Valentine's Day gifts. The most preferred of them all is a wide assortment of chocolates. Heart-shaped chocolates have always been a favorite with lovers. Those who want to go to that extra bit for their beloved also love to team up a bottle of champagne with creamy lemon tarts, scrumptious brownies, luscious tirramisu and tasty yule logs. Wow! It's heaven in a box! This, however, demands quite a good budget. One can also impress his/her partner on Valentine's Day by simply gifting a good perfume brand. Of late, gifting perfumes has also become no less than a trend.

Another popular trend in Valentine's Day gifts is giving of soft toys such as teddy bears. Although, you are not a kid anymore, you can still get a cute, little teddy bear from your partner on Valentine's Day. What if you get a box of chocolates along with it! Won't it be the best day of your life?

At the end of the day, everyone wants to offer something different on the Valentine's Day. This is the reason why gift shops are coming up with new ideas every year for the Valentine's Day.

Why Should You Feel Scared on This Valentine's Day?

2009-02-05T02:32:00.000-08:00

Celebrated on February 14, Valentine's Day is a special day on which lovers express their love for each other. On this day, people exchange mutual love notes in the form of “Valentines”. Every year, over one billion valentine's cards are sent worldwide, making it the second largest card-selling holiday after Christmas. This day is also marked by the exchange of flowers, confectionery and various other valentines day gifts between lovers.

Couples make great plans for this day. They want to make this day truly memorable. This is true for the people of not only Western countries, but also India. Today, Valentines Day is more of a universal festival. Back to my hometown, Kolkata, which is known as the “City of Joy” (more rightly, “City of Love”), Valentine's Day has always been very special. Couples there are free to express their love for each other, and that too, well in front of the beautiful Victoria Memorial. People there are hardly interested in bothering these love birds.

However, not every place in India is as liberal as Kolkata. In recent times, there have been many incidents in different corners of India which are enough to terrorize love-bound couples. A handful of troublemakers who claim themselves to be the so-called guardians of “Indian Culture” have been protesting against this day. They label this Day as a Christian celebration that erodes our cultural foundation. If someone can ask them, “Who has given them the authority to assume the role of a moral police?” Where are these people when a girl is gang raped? Is this not against our rich culture and heritage? What these people do when a woman tourist is molested by some sick Indian? Does such an act not defame our nation? In most cases, they do not have any answer. Their sole purpose is to gain some political mileage at the cost of the festive mood on the V-Day.

The recent horrendous pub attack at Mangalore is enough to speak about the awful situation in India which is no better than Taliban. The attack was carried out by Sri Ram Sena that is led by Pramod Muthalik. In his recent interview, he felt no remorse on the incident (some young girls and boys were publicly thrashed and molested; their crime being only that they were sitting in a pub). He has proudly announced that his Sena is all ready to stop the celebrations on this Valentine's Day and will continue to do so even in future. Now, with that being said, how many of you can really gather the courage to celebrate the day with your beloved?

Although, the Chief Minister of Karnataka has assured that no one will be allowed to take law in their hands, the pub attack followed by the nation-wide outcry against the incident has encouraged groups like Ram Sena to create nuisance on the V-Day as well. Shouldn't government ban such terrorist groups, when they are doing nothing except terrorizing young girls and boys? Shouldn't the task of moral policing be left to parents? Shouldn't our government deal with a tough hand with these goons? If the answer to all these questions is “Yes”, I can once again start believing that we are living in a democratic country where showing your love for someone is not a crime.

India celebrates 60th Republic day amidst high security

2009-01-27T02:27:00.000-08:00

Although, India gained independence from the British rule on 15 August, 1947, the declaration of the spirit of independence became a reality on 26 January, 1950. It was this day when the Constitution of India framed by the Constituent Assembly of India came into force. Ever since then, this day is celebrated as a Republic Day all over the country with much fervor and enthusiasm.

In New Delhi, kaleidoscopic images of India's rich cultural diversity and the might of its military forces are displayed on the Republic Day. The spectacular celebrations include march past by the three armed forces, massive parades, traditional folk dances, and aerial shows by the Indian Airforce, and much more. Participants are selected from different parts of India.

However, the celebrations this time, which happens to be the 60th Republic Day, were not as grand as usual owing to the security concerns. Thick security was positioned at all the strategic places across the country and a surface-to-air shield was put in place in the national capital.

Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharp-shooters of the elite NSG were deployed at various locations while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos kept a tight vigil along the route of the Republic Day parade. Furthermore, nearly 20,000 gun-toting policemen fanned out across Delhi, stepping up the security measures especially in the backdrop of Mumbai carnage. Owing to the security concerns, even the Republic Day celebration programs were cut down. This is the reason why we could see only a few tableaus and traditional folk dances this year.

The Republic Day of 2009 was also different in a way because this is the first time a Prime Minister skipped the January 26 Republic Day celebrations. While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh watched the celebrations from the hospital, Defence Minister A.K. Antony performed all his customary duties.

A complete strike was observed in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) on the Indian Republic Day, with businesses, offices, banks and courts remaining closed. On the other hand, the tainted promoters of Satyam Computers, Ramalinga Raju and Rama Raju, and the former chief financial officer Srinivas Vadlamani were ordered to stay away from the flag hoisting ceremony and other celebrations of the Republic Day.

Lohri: A festival to be Celebrated with love and equality

2009-01-14T02:30:00.000-08:00

Lohri is fundamentally an agricultural festival, and is celebrated on the 13th day of January, a day before Makar Sankranti. Lohri is filled with fun and merry-making. While, it is essentially a Punjabi festival, it is celebrated in many states of North India as well. It also marks the culmination of winter, and people also believe that it is the time after which the biting cold of the winters begins to taper off.

For Punjabis, Lohri is not merely a festival, but is an example of a way of life. People gather round the bonfires, throw sweets, puffed rice, and popcorn into the flames, sing popular songs and exchange greetings. During the day, children go from door to door singing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, the Punjabi version of Robin Hood, a thief who helped the poor and fought for their rights.

Lohri holds a special significance for the newly weds and the newborns. The first Lohri celebrated by a new bride or a newborn represents a grand occasion. It is celebrated with great fervor and on a larger scale. Females attire themselves in heavy clothes and jewelry, while men wear attractive clothes and turbans. The festival is then celebrated with traditional dancing and singing around the bonfire. This was my first Lohri after my marriage and the celebrations were huge. Song, dance, fun, frolic, food, decoration, gifts....the list was endless. The entire atmosphere was filled with exuberance and excitement. As for my friend, it was her son's first Lohri and the celebrations at her place were also grand.

There is however, a sad story behind the celebrations of Lohri which tells us the intensity of the still prevailing gender bias in our society. And I became a witness to this discrimination because it happened in my own neighborhood. I was surprised to see that the first Lohri of my neighbor's daughter was not celebrated on a grand scale. When I questioned them, they sternly replied that it was only a girl child, and so it did not demand a big celebration. It is painful to see that people still discriminate between a boy and a girl child. They make their actions so apparent that even a tender mind receives a wrong message. When my cousin's daughter asked me why our neighbors were not celebrating their Lohri in a grand manner in spite of the arrival of a newborn, I had no answer for her question. I did not want to tell her that even a joyous festival like Lohri is targeted by people to display how they discriminate between the two sexes.

If the alarming trend of gender bias against female children is not arrested immediately, it is bound to have dangerous repercussions on the society. So not just a family, these notions need to be changed on a wider scale for creating an unbiased society for women. Let us all pledge on this auspicious occasion of Lohri to eliminate gender bias from our minds completely and make this world equally desirable for both a girl and a boy child.

Muharram: A festival of commemoration of the martyrdom of the good

2009-01-07T02:12:00.000-08:00

I did not know the essence of Muharram until one of my Mohammmedan friends helped me understand the deeper meaning embedded in it. The word Muharram, as I have been told, is derived from 'haram' meaning forbidden and is considered the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar – which comprises four months.

And yes there is an interesting story behind Muharram like any other festival. It is said that Muharram festival is celebrated to honor the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet. The festival begins on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar and lasts for 10 days. It is said that during this month only, the soldiers of Yazid, a Muslim ruler, surrounded Hazrat Imam Hussain, along with his family and followers at a place called Karbala in Iraq. In the days that followed, they were denied food and water and many of them were even eliminated. It is to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Iamam Hussain that some people of Islamic faith also hit themselves with a sharp metal tied to chain to express their pain and sorrow.

Now, before you start wondering about the significance of this festival, Muharram is one of the four months of the year in which fighting is prohibited. So can it have more significance than in today's times when the Islamic faith is under scanner for all the wrong reasons. Personally, I do not think any faith that propagates hatred would have wider acceptance among the general public – be it Hindus, Muslim, Christianity or any other for that matter. Or else why do we take pleasure in wishing people across all faiths on the festive occasions. Why do we await those get-togethers and the sumptuous meals that are arranged during Id, Christmas or any other festival.

But while on the one hand, we are united by these religious celebrations, on the other hand we are also becoming witnesses to bloodbaths and war crimes that are carried out in the names of religions. The impulsiveness and hatred, that have its genesis in the wrong interpretations of the religious doctrines has led to horrendous and dastardly killings among people across all religions.

The ongoing war between the Israeli forces and the Hamas for instance is over a piece of land that each party claims to be the birthplace of their respective prophets! And how else are we to forget the recent terror carnages that India has been a witness to. And the recurring theme that runs across these carnages is the religious aspect – the terrorists taking pride in their brutal acts of mass murders.

The legends, cutting across all faiths, speak volume of the triumph of the good over the evil and I feel this ongoing tussle will continue and it is upon us to take on the baton of living with the good messages and yet be adamant when it comes to fighting the evil within us as also those outside. Or else that day will not be far when Muharram or for that matter any other religious ceremony will be marked by bloodbaths and fratricides.

Let Us Welcome 2009 Constructively by Saying “No” to Wild Celebrations

2008-12-31T01:35:00.000-08:00

People all across the world have started making arrangements for the New Year. Year 2008 may have been a good year for some, however, for many it has not been so good. The reason being global recession resulting into large scale lay offs and pay cuts. As a result, for many the celebration for the New Year may be a low key affair. Back home, we are also going to witness less celebration owing to Mumbai terror attacks. In fact, most of the New Year shows which were supposed to showcase famous Bollywood actors and actresses have already been called off. This is indeed a great way to pay our salute to those who laid their life for the nation. In addition, security concerns have made the police more vigilant and so, most of the celebrations have been cancelled.

But, the thing that concerns me the most is the celebration that is planned for the New Year by the youngsters. Every year, we hear of some wild celebrations around this time. The most common feature of such celebrations is the involvement of young children. They smoke, booze, and dance the whole night, forgetting our old age value system. Celebration is not a bad thing, however, it has to be within the acceptable limits. How often we hear of sexual assault and sometimes, even molestation at such celebrations? The worst case is when young boys and girls drink and drive. By doing so, they not only pose a threat to their own lives, but also that of others. It is not surprising that most of the road accidents in India are the result of drunken driving. This is not restricted to only youngsters, but also grown-ups, who think that drinking is the only way to celebrate and rejoice.

In the past, we have also seen cases where indecent dance parties have been arranged by some influential people in their farm houses or 5-star hotels. For such people, these dance parties become an integral part of celebration. By hiring bar dancers, who in most cases come from financially weak families, they mock openly at our tradition, culture, and most importantly, our value system.

Are all these the right way to welcome the New Year? Instead of promising a great future for ourselves, we celebrate it wildly, without paying any heeds to our and that of others' well-being. This is high time that we all should start thinking constructively, and make our efforts to make 2009 a great year, full of prosperity, good health and growth. This is even more important as we are going through a bad phase characterised by economic slowdown, coupled with terrorist attacks on our soil. Let us all pledge to make 2009 a prosperous year for our nation, away from all insecurities that we have been living with during the last few months of 2008. This is possible by focusing on the current problems, and not wasting time in all those irrelevant wild parties.

New Year Resolution 2009: Learning From the Past Mistakes to Shape up The New

2008-12-24T03:25:00.000-08:00

Come Dec 31 and we are all set to step into a New Year – year 2009. There will be celebrations, booze parties and all other pomps that each one of us would love to indulge ourselves. The reason is simple – bidding the past a wonderful adieu as we gear up to embrace the New Year. But, does year 2008 leave us with enough scope for celebration? Year 2008, indeed, has been not a very delightful year in India. What with the dastardly terror attacks in two of the nation's major metropolis? In retrospect, the series of five blasts that ripped through the national capital on September 13. The ghastly terror strikes in Mumbai, which took place on November 26 added salt to an already wounded nation.

The “finesse” with which the terrorists, who apparently belong to our neighbours carried out this barbaric strike is indeed a big question mark on our administration. Then again there is the global recession that is showing its ugly face even in India – even as our ministers are trying their level best to project an optimistic image of the same. Leave alone the small scale business, even the big corporate houses could not remain unaffected from this phenomenon. The result - thousands amongst us losing jobs at the snap of a finger. Not to forget the drastic pay- cuts!

Can we really slip into a celebration mood with so many of our fellow citizens succumbing to blasts and some being stripped of their daily bread, thanks to recession? May be yes, may be no. And even if it is yes, we need to analyse as to what are the reasons that we can celebrate the by-gone year for. No doubt, the terror attacks have left a dent in our national conscience, but there was a positive sign too. I found it amazing how the common man has taken the centrestage to get his heard voice through various mediums.

I was reminded of the historic sights that filled my history books – of a mass holding processions against the tyrannical British regime. It really touched me when I saw people taking to streets, posting blogs, holding mass protests to take up the cause of the safety and security of the common man. Such was their impact that even a crucial anti-terror bill was unanimously passed in Parliament – which is otherwise a house of the hooligans.

The government will be faced with a tough task this New Year. First, to come out of the question marks that is posed on the security scenario of the country. It has to adopt stringent security means to ensure that every individual feels free to move in any part of the country and rather not sleep on the threats posed to the nation. Second, on ensuring that recession does not mar the new hopes that the common man hinges on. This will happen only when there are more economic opportunities.

But I also feel, you and I have a major role to play when it comes to better ourselves as citizens as well as individuals. So, this New Year, let's all make the resolution – raising hopes in the minds of the people of a tattered nation by being an active and responsible citizen.

Ongoing global recession may cloud the Christmas Celebration

2008-12-18T02:29:00.001-08:00

Christmas, also known as Christmastide is one of the major festivals of the Christian population that marks and honours the birth of Jesus Christ. Every year, it is celebrated on December 25 with great pomp and show. The celebration takes the form of gift giving, special prayers in the church, and not to forget, display of attractive decorations, including lights, mistletoe, Christmas trees, and so on. The popularity of this festival is growing everyday. This is the reason why Christmas is being celebrated with equal ecstasy by many non-Christians. For many, it has become a secular, cultural festival.

Exchanging gifts is the most important part of the celebrations surrounding Christmas. In European countries and other nations with Christian population, people begin to make preparations for this festival at least a month back. They start buying gifts for their loved ones. There are also many people who plan to go on a vacation to some distant place during this time. It would not be wrong to say that this is the time when they love to be extravagant. However, this year, the scenario has changed.

Global recession has resulted into large scale lay offs. Some global giants have already announced even more job cuts. Those who are fortunate enough to continue in their jobs are facing the threat of pay cuts. In fact, some big companies have already resorted to the path of pay cuts by a significant amount. As a result of all this, the heightened economic activity that we have always witnessed during Christmas holidays is likely to be missing this time.

People are not as excited as they always used to be during Christmas. The ongoing global recession, which has already hit the budget of every common man, is likely to restrict the celebration. People living in both developing and developed countries are equally hit. The retail industry which has always made huge profits on Christmas is all set to make huge losses owing to the declining purchasing power of people. Even the elite class that has always thrown big parties on the occasion of Christmas are feeling the crunch in their pockets.

A common man has already started looking for less costly alternatives for Christmas gifts. This is the reason why most of the companies are offering their products or services at highly affordable prices. With this low pricing strategy, they are hoping to attract buyers who are facing a tight budgetary constraint this time.

Id-ul-Zuha (Bakr-Id) Celebrated to commemorate those who lost their life in 26/11 Mumbai Terror attack

2008-12-10T02:13:00.000-08:00

Id-ul-Zuha or Bakrid is one of the major Muslim festivals celebrated all over the world. It is celebrated in honour of Prophet Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to sacrifice his son for God. Thousands of Muslims offer their prayers for peace and prosperity on this auspicious day. Exchange of greetings and gifts is also a common feature of this festival, besides the sacrifice of goats.

This year, although Bakrid has been celebrated all across India, the celebrations have been kept much low profile. This gesture has not been shown by a handful of Indian Muslims, but every single Muslim in India, who strongly condemns the recent 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Addressing the attacks as unholy and completely non-Islamic, Indian Muslims joined their hands to fight against terror. They chose the auspicious occasion of Id-ul-Zuha to express their condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this barbaric attack.

Different news channels also captured images of people wearing black bands to show their protest against those handful of lunatics who kill innocent people in the name of Islam. They were also processions arranged by the Muslim community at many places to show their protest against terrorism and also to demand justice for the martyrs.

Special prayers were also organized in the mosques for peace. Some even went to the extent of waging a war against Pakistan. Although, this day marked the sacrifice of goats (an integral part of this festival) by Muslims all across India, preparation of special delicacies, exchange of gifts and a festive mood- all were missing from the scene. Like every other Indian, they too showed their support to the government to fight terrorism. Such a gesture by Indian Muslims show the greatness of our country.

This is the land where people from different religions live in peace and harmony. This is a big slap on the face of our enemies, sitting in different parts of the world, who think they can create unrest and tension in the name of religion. Likewise, this incident should also be taken as a learning experience by those who have formed a hatred towards the Muslim community. They should realize that by hating the people of their own country (on the basis of religion), they are destroying the foundation of our nation. Till date, all Hindu-Muslim riots were politically motivated, killing innocent people. Let us say 'No' to such irrational incidents. This is the moment of crisis, and we all need to stay united for the sake of our nation. We all are Indians and love our country equally, irrespective of our religion.

Dec 1, 2008 Celebrated as the 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day

2008-12-03T01:55:00.000-08:00

Like a demon, AIDS has killed more than 25 million people worldwide between 1981 and 2007. It has been recognized as one of the worst diseases for the mankind. Seeing the severity of the disease, Jonathan Mann, director of the Global Programme on Aids at the World Health Organization (WHO) propounded the concept of World AIDS Day. Consequently, WHO declared December 1, 1988 as the first World Aids Day.

On Dec 1, 2008, the World AIDS Day completed its 20th anniversary. This gives us an opportunity to assess how much progress has been made by India in the direction of AIDS awareness and its prevention. I must admit that our government, several NGOs, and charitable institutions have made AIDS awareness campaign a big success during the last two decades. This has been possible also due to the involvement of international organizations and WHO in the various campaigns related to AIDS.

Today, it is common to find numerous TV advertisements that are aimed at making every common Indian aware of this deadly disease. The most interesting feature of these TV Ads is their boldness, which until recently was considered to be unacceptable for the Indian audience. Now, condom ads are no more a taboo in our society. Today, every Indian has understood the importance of AIDS awareness. Big hoardings and posters, informing people about different ways of contacting HIV and preventive steps for the same, are found to be displayed at bus stations, railway platforms, streets, shops, medical stores, hospitals, and so on.

The success that we have achieved so far, however seems small when compared to that achieved by the developed countries and many other developing countries. We may have become tolerant towards advertisements featuring the factors that cause transmission of the deadly HIV virus, but somewhere deep in our heart, we do not acknowledge the fact of getting our children know about it thoroughly. Even today, there are many families that either switch off their TV sets or press the mute button whenever there is an advertisement related to AIDS. For them, viewing such advertisements with the whole family is against our culture or tradition. This is only one aspect where we need to work upon. There are other issues as well.

Even today, an HIV positive person has to undergo social boycott, and that too from his/her own people. Recently, there have been also a few instances, where an AIDS victim has been beaten up or thrown out of the village by his neighbours. And, who will forget the controversial Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty kiss? It was sad to see that our media gave their full attention to the 'kiss' and not the cause of the function. Richard Gere was here to address an AIDS awareness campaign. However, the whole nation simply ignored it and talked only about how he hurt the sentiments of our countrymen.

There is indeed a long way to go.

Children's Day and Child Labor: A Picture in Contrast

2008-11-11T03:22:00.000-08:00

The festive spirit in India has always held me in thrall. Talking of festivals that are a celebration of individuality, one cannot forget the Children's Day. I still remember my scholastic days when we were informed a week earlier about the programmes that will mark the Children's Day celebration in the school, and when even the most shy guy/girl in the class would raise hands to enter his/her name in various competitions. I shall always be thankful to late Ex-Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, whose love for children resulted in dedicating a special day- November 14, Nehru's birthday- for celebration of the spirit of childhood.

As we grow up, we tend to probe into the meanings of these special days. What I considered a day for celebration, has hence become a day of purpose – the underlying meaning of Children' Day. Is Children's Day really worth when millions of children in India toil in factories or beg in the streets and are forced to pick rags as usual to feed their stomach, even as their well-off counterparts partake of the festive spirit of Children's Day? This difference is indeed a blot on our economy. Development, as I see it, should encompass every section of the society. To quote the dismal figure, there are over 8.4 million child labors employed in different industries. Hardly aware that there is a special day for children, these kids dedicate this day to making their ends meet, some even by being engaged in hazardous jobs. This is indeed a pathetic plight, when there are laws screaming out that it is a serious offense to make children below 14 years work.

Chacha Nehru himself believed in providing children with a safe and loving environment, so that they can take great strides and contribute to the progress of the nation. No doubt there have some efforts on the part of the government to bring the underprivileged kids in the fold of various child development schemes like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal and many more. However, their implementation has been marred by many socio-political (including red tapism) and economic factors. Again, there are various NGOs which organize different functions for the street kids and the school dropouts on Children's Day. But these are only patches in the whole scheme of development.

Why not use the Children's Day as a platform for awareness about the evils of child labor? Why not award those industries which do not employ child labor on Children's Day? These efforts might sound the “good only in paper” sorts, but yes a strong political will and yes, a more strong public will- from citizens like you and me - can surely go a long way to add a holistic meaning to the Children's Day. After all, children are the future of every nation.

Guru Nanak Jayanti: Let's Celebrate it in its True Essence

2008-11-05T04:33:00.000-08:00

Guru Nanak was the first guru of the Sikhs. Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Parab is celebrated on the full moon day of Kartika. It is all about celebrating the birth anniversary of a great saint like Guru Nanak, who will always be remembered as one of the greatest social reformers, preachers and saints. Although, I am not a Sikh, I always eagerly wait for this sacred festival. This is because, I simply love the prasad and food which are distributed through free lungers, all across the country, and even abroad. There are pandals at different places to organize free lungers and distribute prasad. Visiting a Gurudwara on this auspicious occasion is also very exciting. But, of late, I have started realizing that there is more to this festival than just eating at free lungers.

Guru Nanak taught mankind non-violence, love and unity. Are we following it? I don't think so. Today, there are communal riots, regionalism and hatred everywhere in India. On one hand, there are some politically motivated groups who are destroying church and humiliating nuns. On the other hand, in Maharashtra, a handful of people are on roads protesting against the North Indians, who have gone their to earn their bread. Is this a country that Guru Nanak dreamt of? Whether you are a Sikh or not, you need to think deeply about all that Guru Nanak has taught us. He was a saint who tried to bring harmony among all religions. Not only this, he traveled to different places all over India and preached humanity, unity, and also liberalized many social practices for the betterment of common people. In spite of all this, today he is only remembered on his birthday. His teachings have not found a place in our day to day life. This is reason why we are witnessing so much of hatred, violence and greediness for power in today's time.

According to me, today, on this auspicious occasion, we should take a pledge to follow what Guru Nanak taught us. We should live with peace and love. We should respect one another and try to make the world a better place to live. This would be the celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti in its true essence.

Deepawali: A Festival Celebrated at the Cost of Lost Childhood in Fire Cracker Factories

2008-10-22T05:27:00.000-07:00

Deepawali is one of the most eagerly awaited festivals in India. People make numerous plans to celebrate it with great pomp and show. Children in particular look forward to burn fire crackers, wearing new dresses. Their parents make it a point that they buy enough fire crackers for their children, which can last for at least 3-4 days.

When I was small, I too loved to burn as many fire crackers as possible. I always counted the number of crackers given to me and that to my sister to see whether I got an equal number of fire crackers or not. However, as I grew up, I came to know the cruel story behind all that brightness and sound of fire crackers. It was alarming to know that children of my age were made to work in fire cracker factories for countless number of hours.

Poverty and parental negligence compelled numerous children in the age group of 10-16 years to work in a hazardous place like a fire cracker factory. As the process of making fire crackers involves dangerous raw materials and techniques, the life of children are always at a grave risk. The fire factory owners allure small children from poor families to work for them in return of just a few rupees. For these children, Deepawali does not mean fun and enjoyment.

Today, I no more burn fire crackers and also discourage other people to burn them. How can we even think of celebrating Deepawali by burning fire crackers at the cost of innocent lives? There are many other ways to celebrate it. For instance, you can worship Goddess Lakshmi, distribute gifts and sweets among your relatives and friends, and also buy new things for your home. Today, with increasing number of people buying fire crackers on Deepawali, it no more signifies the triumph of the truth over evil. Rather, it is more of a celebration that encourages child labour and that too, in extremely gruelling conditions. In a way, people who burn crackers on Diwali are becoming a part of the exploitation of innocent children.

This Deepawali, if you are planning to burn fire crackers with your family, think one more time. This is because your decision to abstain yourself from burning crackers may go a long way in promising a better future to numerous unfortunate children, who are forced to forget their childhood and work in fire cracker factories. Government may have taken stringent steps to curb child labour, but it is you who can make a difference.

Karva Chauth: A Glamourized Festival that is Popular Even Amongst the Younger Generation

2008-10-16T05:36:00.000-07:00

As I am unmarried, I have never celebrated the festival of Karva Chauth. However, this festival has always fascinated me for its inherent charm and significance. What is even more exciting is its glamorous status in today's time. This is the result of increasing interest of companies in this festival, who see it as a great opportunity to market their products and services. Now, it is not only Diwali that witnesses intensive marketing by big companies, but also the festival of Karva Chauth.

Many companies have started offering their products and services with attractive schemes to people who are looking for ideal gift items for their wives. I For instance, I have seen one of my friends waiting eagerly for Karva Chauth as her husband always gives her expensive gift items on this particular day. It has become customary for husbands to offer gifts to their better halves on this auspicious occasion. So, companies are also targeting people who celebrate Karva Chauth with great pomp and show.

Last week I went to a nearby mall. I could find that every shop was beautifully decorated for the occasion of Karva Chauth. The jewelry and saree shops were offering special discounts and other attractive schemes. Even restaurants were advertising special delicacies for the couples who love to dine outside on the night of Karva Chauth. Some renowned beauty salons and clinics, with international fame were also seen targeting customers with their special beauty packages, leave aside the local beauty parlours. One thing is clear, husbands now do not require to indulge themselves into too much of thinking while deciding an attractive gift for their wives. The market is ready with numerous options, suiting every budget.

Another recent trend that I have observed is the increasing participation of young generation in this festival. This is indeed surprising because our hectic life schedule and western influence have made us, particularly our young generation, to forget many festivals. There are many people who do not even know the significance and essence of many festivals, which we have been celebrating for ages. In such a scenario, it is surprising to find young generation celebrate the festival of Karva Chauth for their loved ones. Even many of my unmarried friends keep this fast for their to-be-husbands. What ever be the reason, it is good to see that Karva chauth still holds importance in the lives of old and young alike.

Dussehra Celebrations might turn sour this year

2008-10-07T05:26:00.001-07:00

My friend has come all the way from London to celebrate Dussehra and Diwali with us in India. He loves the way festivals are celebrated in India. The pomp and gaiety of festive celebrations in our country is known all over the world.

My friend asked me to visit a nearby Ramlila. I was a bit reluctant in going to Ramlila initially as there is a huge crowd over there but as he pushed me hard, I took him there. I was really surprised to find a lesser number of people over there. At first I thought that it is yet another cause of the latest Mall culture in Delhi where people prefer to go for shopping, watching movies, having dinner or just chilling out. Who has time to visit these crowded, noisy places like Ramlila? But then after looking at the tight Police security in the Ramlila ground, I realised what is the exact cause for this. The number of blasts that took place in different parts of Delhi in last few days have seriously affected the usual Ramlila celebrations. Although, Delhi Police has tightened its security system but people are scared and prefer to stay at their homes only. Since so many years, Ramlila is considered as an important part of Dussehra celebrations. It generally starts nine days before Dussehra. Be it rural or urban areas, people really cherish going to this fare. It is a place full of fun-filled activities such as riding on swings, eating street food, watching theatrical performance based on Lord Ram's life and lot more.

But, this year many people did not visit Ramlila. Terror has taken such a toll on Delhiites that they prefer to stay at their homes than enjoying themselves at such fares. I do not think many people will visit Ramlila on Dussehra too. They will rather prefer to watch the effigies burn on their Television sets. When Ramlila could not bring people out of their homes, who can expect the usual crowd and festive spirit during Diwali too. I am sure it can be a cause of concern for many who do good businesses during Diwali days.

Navratra: Do we celebrate it in its True Essence

2008-09-25T02:32:00.000-07:00

As Navratras approach, people can be seen making so many arrangements for its celebration. While big decorated pandals in some big parks become a customary phenomenon, arrangements for “Dandiya” and “Jagaran” get on a full swing mode. Celebrating Navratras is an old age custom and therefore has become an integral part of our tradition and rich heritage. While Dandiya offers full enjoyment to people by giving them an opportunity to sing and dance the whole night, Jagaran allows them to offer devotional prayers at the feet of Goddess Durga. People also do not drink liquor or eat non vegetarian food during the nine days of Navratras.

In spite of all the pomp and show that we get to see during Navratras, I have never felt anything special about it. Although as a

child, I had enjoyed a few celebrations arranged during Navratras, as I started growing, the charm of this festival was simply fading away for me. All I felt was how can a country where Goddess Durga is worshipped in a special way, afford to go on with the prevalent discrimination against women in the society. It is no more a hidden fact that Indian women not only face discrimination, but are also the most vulnerable victims of both domestic and social violence. How can we worship a goddess when women in our country a

re living in an undignified manner? Do we actually celebrate Navratras in its true essence? Well, the answer is a big “No” as can be evident from the rising rape and molestation cases in India.

Back to my hometown, Koltata, where Durga Puja is the most important festival, is also celebrated during Navratras. The whole year we used to wait for those five days of celebration. New dresses and shoes were an integral part of our celebration. As long as I was a small girl, I used to wait eagerly for it. However, as I grew up, I had to face several incidents of eve teasing right inside the pandal where the idol of Goddess Durga had been placed. It did not matter whether I was there with my parents or brothers. As a result, I did not feel like going to pandals any more. My enjoyment during Durga Puja got restricted to only attending the morning puja and eating the 'prasad'.

All I know is that the celebration of Navratras would make sense when every Indian would take a vow to respect womanhood. Goddess Durga will also shower her blessings when she would be worshipped on a land free from all atrocities against women.

Onam - A Festival Full Of Mirth and Celebrations

2008-09-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

I think that there can be no better term to describe our country than “Incredible India”. It is a comprehensive way to describe the beauty of India's rich tradition and customs. India-land of different cultures, religions and customs, a country where every state is unique in its own special way. The love and pride for my country gets stronger every time I visit a new state.

Few days back, I visited my friend's ancestral home in Kerala and enjoyed the beautiful festival called Onam. Onam is one of Kerala's most important harvest festivals that celebrates the grace and abundance of nature after a year of hard labour. According to the legends, Onam is the celebration that marks the homecoming of King Mahabali. It is the day when people of Kerala pay glorious tribute to the memory of this benign king who gave his all for his subjects. Celebrated every year in the Malayalam month, Chingam, (end of August and beginning of September), this year Onam festival was celebrated from September 10-16.

Onam ranges from four to ten days, starting from Atham to Thiruvonam, depending on the region. The festive celebrations include worshiping, enjoying music and dance, indulging in sports, boat races and eating delicious food. To celebrate the mirth of the season, new clothes are bought. Women wear new sarees and elaborate jewellery. Children go out of their homes to gather beautiful flowers to decorate the yards of their homes for ten days of Onam. I was surprised to know that there is a different flower to be used for every day of the festival. Together with their mothers; children decorate their homes with beautiful and artistic designs of rangolis and pookkalam. The rangoli is made using coloured rice pasta and pookkalam with flowers. They also make the native flower carpet known as 'onapookalam'. It is the highlight of all these decorations.

Being a sports lover, I personally enjoyed the spectacular snake boat race on River Pamba. Thousands of people gather to witness the exciting Snake Boat races. Each snake boat belongs to a village along the banks of the river Pamba and is named after it only. People take pride in their boats and worship it like a deity. Only men are allowed to board or even touch a boat and that too barefoot. Every year the boat is oiled mainly with fish oil, coconut shell, and carbon, mixed with eggs to keep the wood strong and slippery in the water.

Thus, Onam is the carnival of Kerala and every single person living there looses himself in its celebrations and rituals. I feel lucky to be a part of this merry-making festival.

BPO Culture: Good or bad for Indian youth?

2008-09-09T05:07:00.000-07:00

BPO or Business Process Outsourcing has become a common phenomenon in India. Targeting undergraduates and those who are in their late twenties, BPOs are currently one of the major sources of employment for the Indian youth. Even, I started my career as a customer care executive at a reputed BPO for US clients. While working there, I have always felt that BPOs provide a golden opportunity to all those young girls and boys who want to work for financing their future studies. An undergraduate working for a BPO today, earns quite a handsome salary to support his day-to-day expenses as well as studies. I personally know many youngsters who have come from small cities to establish themselves in a metropolitan city. They feel fortunate enough to be able to grab a decent job in a BPO, which allows them to feel financially independent for the time being. They no more need to ask their parents to send them money. But, this is the only positive side of the BPO culture.

Today I am no more working for BPOs. This is primarily because I was working in night shifts, as I had to serve US clients. Today, most of the BPOs are US based as companies there constantly look for an educated human force available at cheap rates. Such an opportunity is readily available in developing countries like India. As a result, most of these BPOs have to work in various odd shifts. In a recent study conducted, it has been established that prolonged night shifts can adversely affect our entire biological cycle resulting in many ailments. So, are we ready to get our young generation entrapped into an unhealthy work schedule? In addition to this, BPOs also bring with them a strong western culture which has made our youngsters accustomed to a lifestyle characterised by fast food, smoking, boozing, branded clothes, expensive gadgets and many more.

There is another crux in the whole matter concerning BPO culture. More and more youngsters are getting attracted to BPO jobs owing to a higher starting salary coupled with various perks and incentives that are not offered in any other industry. As a result, somewhere we are losing a workforce which could have been one of the most productive human resources for India by diverting them into engineering, medical science, economics, and other fields which are crucial for the development of the country.

Relevance of Teachers Day in the Present Day Context

2008-09-03T05:37:00.000-07:00

The month of September starts with celebration in its very first week. This is on the occasion of Teacher's day, which is celebrated on September 5 every year. In school, we used to look forward to the teachers' day celebrations. On the day, a large number of students used to perform different plays and dance numbers, and then present each teacher with gifts and mementos. When I look back and remember those days today, I realize that all the rejoicing and effort we used to put in for the celebration came from the deep regard we held for our teachers.

In fact, a tutor plays a very important role in shaping the future of all his/her students. For all the students, their teachers are their idols, whom they look up to in the formative years of their life. Students usually follow their teachers in the manners, dressing style, etiquette and everything else. However, this is not the case anymore. In fact, I am yet to come across any student who respects his teachers as much as we did. A few days back, when I asked my niece (who studies in the same school as I did) as to how she was planning to celebrate Teacher's day, and whether she had bought gifts for her teacher, I was surprised to hear her response. She said that she had no plans for celebration, and completely lacked enthusiasm in even talking about the event.

Such attitude amongst students can be attributed to the decreased dedication amongst the teachers. The new age teachers do not consider it to be their responsibility to shape the lives of their students. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that very few of them are dedicated towards their work, of influencing the personality of their students. This is why they also fail to command respect from the students. This has given a major setback to the student-teacher relationship. As a result of this, the present day students also fail to respect their teachers. In many cases, they do not fall short of disrespecting the tutors and disregarding their orders. This is why; Teacher's Day holds little importance in the present day scenario.

So, presently, all students and teachers who intend to celebrate the day should take this opportunity to make a new beginning and do away with their shortcomings. They should strive to start afresh and give a new meaning to the student-teacher relationship. While the teachers should try and create a congenial atmosphere for the students to grow up in and also inculcate high virtues in the students, the students should also try to give due respect to the tutors. This would be celebrating Teacher's day in its true meaning.