Hailing from South India, January is a month of celebration and festivals. As the new year hustle settles, the festive wind of ‘Pongal’ begins to blow. A harvest festival celebrated to thank the Sun, nature, and farm animals has acquired different meanings over time. I have never observed the festival in the real essence of how literature talks about it. I haven’t worshiped farm animals, nor do I have any. Pongal is a 4-day long break where I get to spend time at home, meet my family, hang out with my friends and watch newly released star movies in the theater.
I read an article about the changing era of celebration wherein youngsters have moved past their roots and are focusing only on themselves. The population being criticized made me think further. As I read and thought more about it, I found parallels in the way festivals are celebrated but have emerged for the same or similar reasons
Historically, any type of festival marks a time of gratitude, celebration, connectedness, and relaxation. This is the essence of my festive celebrations as well. Festivals are the time I get to spend with my family, and I want to do things all of us can enjoy. If a new movie of a favorite star has been released, I want to watch it in the theater. As it’s the time of the year when all of us get a long break together, I want to go on vacations with family or friends. Sometimes, I just want to stay indoors and absorb the stillness and slowness amidst the constant hustle.
Tradition and rituals lose their essence if they don’t change and adapt with time. Growing up, I have seen festivals having different treatments for different family members. Women in my family run around cleaning the house, preparing for prayer and grand meals, whereas the men and children, including me, would occasionally help a little bit at our convenience but mostly sit back, chat and relax. This has made me associate festivals with the time of the year when the gender gap deepens. With changing times, some aspects are forced to stay stagnant in the name of rituals and traditions, even if they hinder the joy and celebration that festivals propose to bring.
Returning to the article I mentioned, the celebration of festivals has changed over time. My mother didn’t celebrate in the way my grandmother used to because they didn’t live in the same era nor share a similar lifestyle. Maybe youngsters choose rituals with closer connection and more substantial meaning to them. This doesn’t necessarily mean we have forgotten our roots; I see it as staying in touch with ourselves and one another by modifying the practices to make them more personal, inclusive, and enjoyable. Any cultural tie weakens with rigidity and force; it blooms with change and personal choice. Maybe it’s time we ask our family and friends about their preferences in festive celebrations and create our shared rituals together. Happy celebrations!
