Puja Pendrive Amish

One can very easily run short of superlatives to describe Durga Puja. One of the largest festivals in the world. A celebration of religion. A fine example of communal merriment. An opportunity to step out of the drudgery of everyday life and experience spiritual joy. A six-day festival for which the local government, usually, kindly grants a five-day holiday. A period when Her devotees pour their heart out to the Mother and seek Her blessings. Personally for me, a devoted Shiva bhakt, this is also a celebration of the Lord’s wife and His family.

Beyond all this though, lies the real beauty of Durga Puja. Beyond the grandeur of the awe-inspiring pandals or the simplicity of the para puja. Beyond even the immense artistic talent on display.

The true beauty is in what Durga Puja represents. Sometimes it is forgotten that many of the sculptors who mould the stunning idols of the Goddess are Muslim. Sometimes it is not recalled that people of all castes and religions come out to their local pandals to celebrate the coming of the Goddess. Sometimes it is not noticed that many youth of all backgrounds, equally at home while dancing at local parties, participate fervently in the dhunuchi naach.

Durga Puja is one of the finest examples of ‘Indian secularism’ as opposed to the Western definition of secularism. Indian secularism is a philosophy that does not distance religion, but embraces all religions closely. A philosophy that teaches us to move beyond tolerance and actively love another man’s religion.

Durga Puja is one of the finest examples of Indian secularism, writes Amish. Chetla Agrani Club, the Model True Spirit Puja 2011, typifies this with the juxtaposition of temple and mosque. Seen here, Rupam and Arpita at the puja on Ashtami. (Pabitra Das)

I was born a Hindu and am proud of my religion. But I am equally proud of Islam, Christianity, Sikhism and all other religions that exist in India; for they too are a part of my heritage.

Freedom fighters had started identifying Durga Maa with the symbolism of Mother India; an image that is alive in our collective imagination to this day. So it is kind of poetic that a festival dedicated to Durga Maa should be a shining example of Indian secularism and syncretism at its finest. This festival is not just a celebration of the victory of Good over Evil. It is also the Bijoya of love over hatred.

Shubho Bijoya, in advance.

Amish is the author of mythological fantasy novels The Immortals of Meluha and The Secret of the Nagas, the first two parts of his Shiva trilogy