In the past, they used to celebrate festivals by taking new clothes and giving them to children. And then the birthday. Now, all that’s taken is celebration. Ceremonies held in non-matric schools are different. It may be easier for singletons; Those who have more than one are singing.
“So what? Children will be excited to celebrate. It’s good,” but many times the excessive celebration leaves them in a frenzy.
Anything can always be celebrated. How to celebrate in the absence?
It is sad when the children who go to the house celebrations of the well-to-do cry loudly that they should celebrate the same in their house. If they avoid it, they will question it by presenting a reason for it. “We just went to their house and celebrated. They ask, ‘Shouldn’t we invite them?'” Moms are there to approve.
Simplicity slips away when the celebrations that should be held naturally in the course of life become pomp and pageantry at one’s convenience. These also form the rules for the celebration. “Pretends” such as studying, acting, and displaying skills abound in such celebrations. They grow to be compulsions for honor. Partying, gifting, and family transportation require considerable expense.
All these things did not exist when we were children. Even those who are tired of these types of expenses are becoming too much whether they have income or not.
This is a development that is in line with the needs of the times. There are those who convince us that it is wrong for our children to have many experiences and joys that we cannot have. “What we earn and accumulate is for the children. The sentiment of ‘let it go’ is reasonable. That experience should not be constructive. It should not lead to distraction.
Everything has a price. It is not just the monetary value. Physical labor is also involved. Sports goods, food, car concessions, whatever is paid to consume them must involve at least some physical labor.
Anything that is immediately available after asking for it has no value. It is not so good that children are addicted to the habit of use and throw. They will eventually get used to using people as well as using objects. How much material is wasted without recycling?
Children who are used to getting what they ask for at a young age become disappointed and irritated later when they don’t get what they want. Used to be shy in childhood, they become bullies later in life. Rudeness and anger never know where they will go. Doctors are warning that the increasing consumption of alcohol is extremely dangerous.
The longing before getting a desired object, the dream about it, the happiness after getting it, the experience of washing it completely, all become unavailable when it is available after asking for it. The value of it and the respect of the buyer decreases.
Isn’t it a social crime to insult the labor of those who created the thing, to throw it away after buying it at a reasonable price? Isn’t it imperative to realize this from childhood?
When the celebrations which are supposed to be a necessity of life are made inevitable by forceful compulsions, the consequences become perverse. Even announcing gifts from time to time in the context of encouragement, in a way, turns the habit of hand-giving to children.
It is different to perform daily duties without fail; Participating in competitions to showcase one’s skills is different due to passion. duty vital; Demonstrating skills is a virtue. Such skills should also support the performance of duties. But the status quo of duty is skill is fading now. So there is a tendency to justify that anything will happen only if you give a helping hand.
As for the children, the tradition of celebrating the deity is full of pomp and pageantry.
Arul is a beautiful child born from a mother called Anbu. No offering is required to the deity who gives it water. It is the method of giving love in return for the grace received that the name Bhakti arises as worship.
My heart is the memory of the temple, my love
Paraparame, come to worship the water of Manjana
That’s what the mother’s devotion sings.
Worship is the outward expression of these. Tirukkural says that the special prayers are powerful enough to bring rainwater from the sky to Vayagam. In Kaveripoompattinam, the method of conducting the “Indra Festival” is described as “Silapathikaram”. Eco-friendly festivals are now in vogue, giving way to extravagance.
At that time the population was less and the places of worship were naturally located in harmony with nature. Nowadays, artificial devices are abundant. Due to congestion and increasing demand, cleanliness is increasing. It should not be forgotten that the most important thing in the prayers performed by the devotees is to maintain cleanliness.
Experience has shown that regularizing the luxury expenses of the once or twice a year festivals can smooth out the expenses for daily necessities.
How many luxury electric lamps are lit during special festivals in small temples where there is no oil for the lamps required for daily worship? How many demonstrations?
The ancients built moving temples to propitiate living beings. Even maintaining them without harming their nature gives the merit of doing good deeds.
Donors who used to set up water stalls on festival days and provide water bottles and bottles are now providing water packed in polythene bags and bottles, but is it so easy to dispose of the increasing waste? Those who cook and give food in the mandapams are now in the habit of packing it in packets to reduce the inconvenience. Post-meal waste can be seen in large quantities leading to unsanitary conditions.
At the places of worship for the rebirth, the holy tirthas for the rebirth and the sprinkling of flowers are offered.
Adiyars of Periyapurana have emphasized that maintaining the Nandavanas is also a form of worship; They are better implemented.
The legacy of Tirunavukarasar Peruman, who carried the tillage force, and the Dandyadis of Tiruvarurdu Thirukulam Kalliya, despite being handicapped at birth, is worth following again. Based on that legacy, many groups are growing that are building a plow force and doing the work. It is obligatory to perform tirupani at places of worship.
Instead of sinning and seeking reparation, if we get used to doing useful things without understanding sin, will everything be better? So it is important that we pay attention to how we celebrate the children who forget their sins and the gods who forgive them.
Columnist:
Writer.