Saraswati Puja 2011 – A True Appraisal of How it Happened

In India, where wealth is more important than knowledge, the Puja of Goddess Saraswati is not a very important affair. But, it is very popular among the middle class of people who survive on the hope that with more knowledge will come more power and the opportunity to rise up on the social ladder. Saraswati Puja is important to those who are not businessmen and depend on making a living out of their wits. For the rest, it is only a matter of not having enough time to engage in another day of festivities after the Laxmi Puja and the Ganesh Puja.

The Goddess Saraswati is considered by a lot of people as a controversial Goddess who can give them knowledge yet should be offered prayers along with Goddess Laxmi so that adoration may lead to an economically viable future.

So, it is all about economics. Yet, among these economically troubled followers of the Goddess of Knowledge there lies a considerable population who are steadfast in their belief. From the bosom of these people comes genuine worship.

A micro-population of Indians living in the National Brain Research Centre, Manesar also constitute a democratic subpopulation with the characteristics and misgivings of any democracy.

When it was decided by the Bengali population of the institute that a Puja be held this year on a large scale there was disagreement within. Some members of the group took leadership and brought the rest to a consensus that such an event should be done in the best interest of the students and the institute. But it would be a religious affair, and there in floated many other questions.

Saraswati Puja being a totally Hindu festival, and more prominently celebrated by Eastern Indians and in some states of Southern India, could become a matter of treading the fine line of religious sentiments among members of other faiths. Could it not be considered to be a secular festival with the sole purpose of celebrating some good moments in an otherwise dull existence in a lonesome place such as this? Such an attitude could be considered and debated over and could be agreed upon as justified, yet not sanctioned from the court of secular India.

The movement once started, went ahead. Bengalis are notorious for their regionalism and politicking. With such marvelous attitude, it is dangerous to undertake such an event. It was thus decided to include the non-Bengali speaking Hindus of the institute in the organization of the Puja. It could have a global reach.

Some of the influential non-Bengali speaking individuals were approached. They were extremely enthused, thus buoying the hopes of the Bengali community for a rapid and successful organization of the Saraswati Puja. The support of the faculty remained to be extracted.

The director, himself a Bengali was approached. He was enthusiastic and so were some of the other fellow Bengali faculty. But that wasn’t enough to get the plans sanctioned. The Puja had to be stripped down. A pandal was being planned. The idea had to be abandoned. No public place could be used. It required permission from official authorities. The Puja had to be pushed into the room of a fellow Bengali inmate. The Puja had to be as big as possible in the ‘unofficial’ channel. The main catch remained the gala dinner. The students needed to be united in celebration, but some people could not see the point of such a social exercise.

The dinner plan went on as planned in the unofficial capacity of the students. In the mean time, support from all quarters started building up, and money started flowing in. A possible fund crunch was ruled out. The enthusiasm went to the pinnacle. Soon the idol was bought along with fruits for Prasad, and the various little things that are involved in the tradition of the Puja. Some items were even brought in from Kolkata where Saraswati Puja is a very big festival, in reverence for the vast knowledge endowed on the scholarly people of that land.

There was a bit unease in the air, but the general atmosphere was of calm. The support was vast and the people flowed in while the Puja was being held. The word had reached all. It was only hoped that it would be taken in the right spirit.

I took the liberty of taping some extracts from the Puja. It is a short rustic tape, and I didn’t think I would publish it at the time of recording.

I do not profess religion, but sometimes it can be an opportunity to celebrate life. Opinions may vary, but that is why we live in a democracy.

NBRC Saraswati Puja 2011

Dwaipayan Adhya

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