Festivals, a big-fat term that comes affixed with the idea of an array of celebrations and enjoyments. Although festivals of all kinds are observed all across the globe at different times throughout the year, nonetheless, in India the term festival is an emotion in itself. It’s an opportunity to wind off and relax, to sit back and pause, to spend time and create cherishing memories with loved ones.
India is the only one of its kind when it comes to celebrating festivals that too throughout the year. 28 states and 8 UTs, each with their distinctive flavour and ethnicity, celebrate festivals all year round.
While the first day of the Bengali solar calendar is observed as Pohela Boisakh in West Bengal, the same day is celebrated as Baisakhi in Punjab; as an inclusion to all these Indian-origin festivals, western traditions like Christmas and easter are also observed equally on a mass scale all across the country. The nation celebrates different faiths and beliefs of assorted cultural groups and ethnicities, reflecting the vibrant colours of India’s cultural diversity. The entire world is well acquainted with the grandiosity of India when it comes to festivals and celebrations. Even the simplest of rituals are observed with the biggest enthusiasm and ardour.
However, a quite intriguing aspect to be highlighted in this context is that the plethora of festivals that are held across the country in a year are all not just entirely about celebrations and pomp and show, but there is a hint of a psychological element that supports the significance of celebrations and festivals.
Just imagine a life when every day is just about waking up at 6 in the morning, tiringly working through the day and getting off work at 9 in the night, to repeat the same cycle each passing day. Just the mere thought of it, is enough to conjure in our minds, the image of a lifestyle that is ridiculously boring and monotonous.
What’s the point of breaking our backs by working day and night when there’s no room for enjoying the fruits of our die-hard labour? Kids at school study hard for exams in the hopes of enjoying a worry-free vacation, likewise, adults too work hard through the days, crushing deadlines, hoping to enjoy a few days of leisure and laze with their loved ones. Even the phones we use, need to be recharged and restarted, then is it not too unethical for homo-sapiens to go on without a break to rest and unwind? It’s in this context that the unheeded significance of festivities and celebrations comes into play.
Think of a time, when you got back home from college or office after a tiresome day, and as you recline on the sofa at night, and glance at the date on the calendar, it’s the Diwali celebrations beginning the next day. What would be you’re reflex emotion? Would you not be super hyped up at the thought of getting to spend a few days of rest and rejoice and less stressful days with no college or work to attend? With no sprinkle of doubt, you certainly would be so thrilled.
Of course, there is a certain sense of relief on your typical Friday night as well, but most of us are busy enough to even not be able to rest during the weekend as we prepare for the following week’s work. However, if the holiday is on the occasion of any festival, then the workload seems to have seemingly subsided for some time. It’s a fun time to relax and recharge our spirits by spending quality time with our near and dear ones. Spending time with friends and family has become a luxury in the face of the present chaotic and frantic lifestyle.
The only moments we get to spend in closeness with our cherished people are during any occasion or festival. All the energy that gets drained through rigorous hard work seems to be refuelled and our stress levels get remarkably eased.
Foreign nations do not seem to celebrate as many festivals as we do in India, hence the holidays they get to spend time with their families on any special festivals are no less than a treasure to them. We ought to consider ourselves chosen in this respect as we get to celebrate festivals quite frequently in a year and be with our loved ones and family.
Being around the people whom we love and who love us is indeed a privilege and festivals are one such underrated excuse to reunite with each other. Therapy is expensive, however, what we fail to realize most often is that we have our age-old traditions and festivals which heal us better and much more than any other. Why not change our perspective of viewing festivals as something orthodox, unhip or a waste of time and rather start seeing them as much needed and a rewarding break from the tedious, humdrum life? Life bereft of festivals is synonymous with a house without any people living in it to call it a home.
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