Questioning Useless Splurge On Festivals
By jaishankar
@else34 (13515)
New Delhi, India
September 25, 2015 8:38am CST
It is the festival season here in India.Ganesh Puja celebrations are going to be over in a couple of days and now Durga Puja,another grand celebrations, is knocking at the door.
Even in a small town like ours huge 'pandals' [makeshift venues of puja celebrations] are being erected.The electric department has started preparing to meet huge demand of electricity during nine days of the puja.The police is being beefed up to manage crowds that would throng the 'pandals.'Wonderful,grand idols of Goddess Durga are being created.Each of these idols cost thousands of rupees.Organizers of puja venues are collecting 'chanda' [donations] from shopkeepers,businessmen and industrialists.
Everybody knows millions of rupees will be blown up uselessly and unnecessarily in the air during the nine days of the celebration.
The Divine Mother can be worshipped without splurging money in such extravagant celebrations.I don't understand what purpose these extravagant celebrations serve.On the one hand we cry over continuously rising prices and on the other never question such unnecessary,useless splurges.
5 people like this
7 responses
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
30 Sep 15
Yes, you have a point that so much money is spent on celebrating festivals, which could otherwise be used for some social cause. To my mind - everything has attained commercial proportions and therefore, every festival is celebrated with pomp and show.
But the other aspect is - should we stop celebrating festivals? I think it is difficult to even curtail the extravagance, stopping it is even more difficult.
2 people like this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
30 Sep 15
@ria1606roy I agree with you.I have a suggestion.What do you think,if only one or two 'pandals' in a town becomes the norm?I think,it will serve many purposes.
1 person likes this
@ria1606roy (2797)
• Kolkata, India
30 Sep 15
festivals are a part of our culture, but it can be celebrated differently with more spirit and less show. Stopping the celebration is not the solution but thoughtful improvisation is. 
2 people like this
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
26 Sep 15
@else34 True ! here in my place a few youngsters come asking for donations for the ganesha festval and most of them look so shady ! I never give any donations, tell them that I would rather give some help to my maid or garden workers who work for daily wages ..
1 person likes this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
26 Sep 15
@kiran8,and I know,a major part of the 'chanda' collected from people goes to the organisers' pockets.A fraction of it is spent on decoration and lighting and prasad etc and the rest is theirs.Nobody raises questions.I asked once and was vigorously opposed.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Sep 15
we dont have a holiday like that, but I do see many where we americans do the same thing, people spend way too much on christmas.
1 person likes this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
26 Sep 15
@Jessicalynnt,I know,and American economy too is not in a very safe condition now.It is facing tough challenges from fast emerging third world economies like China and India.The point I want to drive home is,saving money is the key to prosperity of nations.
1 person likes this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
27 Sep 15
@Jessicalynnt I doubt.I have tried it,but failed miserably.Prices are going up so rapidly that I can't save.Can't even dream of stockpiling.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Sep 15
@else34 not even sure saving money itself is safe right now. I think getting things paid off and paid ahead, and stockpiling emergency supplies to get through lean times might be the way to go.
1 person likes this
@utkarshan28 (133)
• India
26 Sep 15
Yeah, So much devotion and fun. All atmosphere full of holy spirit.
2 people like this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
26 Sep 15
@utkarshan28,of course,but we may have the same or even more holy feeling if we worship the Divine Mother without so much useless,unnecessary splurge.
@ria1606roy (2797)
• Kolkata, India
27 Sep 15
It used to be simple ensemble of rituals at someone's home where everyone came to spend time and enjoy. Nowadays we still enjoy together, except for the presence of extravagant pandals. All we see are rich decors and miss out the essence of the puja. It's the era of flaunt and showbiz, so money is spent mercilessly. I support the celebration but to waste this huge amount of money for it where instead it could be donated to those who really need it, is wrong.
1 person likes this
@anushreem (333)
• Mumbai, India
30 Sep 15
I completely agree with you. One major concern related to these festive rituals are "Visarjans" which not only pollute water but many fishes also die because harmful chemicals gets dissolved in the water. Giving due respect to one's culture is correct but what about the other species living in the same planet.
1 person likes this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
30 Sep 15
@anushreem,absolutely right.However this year a Hindi newspaper here made a mass appeal that Ganesh idols be immersed in makeshift ponds made near the pandal,and small idols in big pots filled with water.It also appealed to the people to buy idols made with clay only and not plaster of paris.The appeal was very positively responded by the public.
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
26 Sep 15
@valmnz,we Hindus have festival galore throughout the year.Some of these festivals are celebrated with much pomp.Huge money is spent mercilessly.What's ridiculous is that even those who don't think twice before spending never miss a chance to cry over rising prices.The money they blow up can be used for much productive purposes,and if they do so,God will be happier.
1 person likes this
