Born and brought up in cities where Durga Puja is one of the most important festivals ( mainly because of the Bengali community), there is a special place in my heart for the festival. Let me briefly introduce you to this festival. Like every other festival, Durga Puja is related to a mythological event. A demon Mahishasura was creating a lot of trouble and Goddess Durga was invoked to kill him which she successfully did. Her victory is celebrated during the ten days of festivities.
In India, Goddess Durga is considered to be the Goddess of Power. This fact disappoints me. The very people who treat women like scum worship a goddess fervently. She is considered to be the epitome of knowledge, beauty and strength. But why this hypocrisy? It does no good to worship her and abuse her creed. How can a society host so much of dimwit and evil its people?
Why does the society tell me to dress myself in such a way that I don't look too beautiful or attractive when hundreds and thousands of verses have been written in the praise of Durga's breathtaking beauty, the magnificence of her eyes, the power and calm in her smile, the illuminating glow of cheeks and the beauty of her hair?
Why does the society tell me that females are not fit enough to manage equations, formulas and scientific laws when whole chapters have been written praising Her knowledge of the universe, the past, present and future? Why does the society believe that my knowledge of science and arts is taking my manners away when Gods and humans admired and praised Her superior knowledge of the laws of the universe?
The society tells me to be soft spoken, to accept any atrocities that have been committed on me or which might be committed on me, to remain dormant to the evil plaguing the society, to remain silent when some people are plundering my country, to remain a mere spectator when my people are being killed and tortured? But this society accepts the verses describing how She took various forms to purge the society of its evils. It praises the bravery, valor and grace with which She fights.
Every time I see Her magnificent idols I just hope that I could love everyone the way she did. I wish that the society learns to accept that every female has the capability to become at least a fraction of the perfect female that She is. I hope that women realize the incredible power they carry to fight any atrocities and make this world a better place. Meanwhile, I strive to gain as much knowledge as I can. I continue to say things the society believes I shouldn't. In my little ways I continue to fight the demons of the society while I fight the devil inside me that asks me to rest and forget the atrocities. I cannot sleep peacefully when the world is in peril.
Some people are right in quoting:
" I am not worried that the world will end in 2012 but what will happen if it continues without changing".
May the force be with you in making this world a better place.
