A different angle about Durga Puja

Possibly, the dark side is not known popularly.  People just celebrate thefestival and recollect onlythe stories heard in fanily or friend circle. we generally don't go deep in scriptures nor isthis necessary. The scriptures are too vast. If we read these from Puranas, we may spend our whole lives just reading these with noting else to do. any way these are just stories. Need not take these seriously. 

The writer of the article himself is a Bengali Yes many Bengalis are not aware of this dark side of Durga [puja. he says that Durga's image is depicted Durga's complex as fair and beautiful. Whereas Mahishasur in dark complexion. This symbolizes subjugation and suppression of the dark skinned.by the Fair skinned. This in turn speaks of oppression of Dalits by  forward classes.

Scriptures are vast and if we go in detail and read between the lines there are chances for different ways of interpretations of the same legend depending on the reader’s analyzing power. And we are lucky that we have the freedom for interpretation based on our own way of thinking, provided it does not hurt others sentiments. 

What next are they going to interpret from such festivals? Seriously, Durga stands for the superior classes that must and will always dominate the lowly ones??? Utterly ridiculous and too pompous an article, what was the writer thinking when he wrote this nonsense??

RAMAKRISHNAN. A wrote:

Scriptures are vast and if we go in detail and read between the lines there are chances for different ways of interpretations of the same legend depending on the reader’s analyzing power. And we are lucky that we have the freedom for interpretation based on our own way of thinking, provided it does not hurt others sentiments. 

Exactly. The writer of the article has expressed his views. But it's a blunder on his part for hurting the sentiments of others. Bengalis, who revere Durga  are hurt. Even Non-Bengalis sentiments are hurt. Coloring with caste to the pujas is not right.

 

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

What next are they going to interpret from such festivals? Seriously, Durga stands for the superior classes that must and will always dominate the lowly ones??? Utterly ridiculous and too pompous an article, what was the writer thinking when he wrote this nonsense??

I have come across many such articles written about gods and goddesses where the author gives his or her own interpretation , to suit whatever it is they are trying to achieve..

rambabu wrote:

RAMAKRISHNAN. A wrote:

Scriptures are vast and if we go in detail and read between the lines there are chances for different ways of interpretations of the same legend depending on the reader’s analyzing power. And we are lucky that we have the freedom for interpretation based on our own way of thinking, provided it does not hurt others sentiments. 

Exactly. The writer of the article has expressed his views. But it's a blunder on his part for hurting the sentiments of others. Bengalis, who revere Durga  are hurt. Even Non-Bengalis sentiments are hurt. Coloring with caste to the pujas is not right.

That is why I believe that we should celebrate festivals in usual way without going deep in mythology. The public perception is all that matters. However the religious scholars may among themselves make any research and discuss among themselves only.  

 

Gulshan Kumar Ajmani wrote:

rambabu wrote:

RAMAKRISHNAN. A wrote:

Scriptures are vast and if we go in detail and read between the lines there are chances for different ways of interpretations of the same legend depending on the reader’s analyzing power. And we are lucky that we have the freedom for interpretation based on our own way of thinking, provided it does not hurt others sentiments. 

Exactly. The writer of the article has expressed his views. But it's a blunder on his part for hurting the sentiments of others. Bengalis, who revere Durga  are hurt. Even Non-Bengalis sentiments are hurt. Coloring with caste to the pujas is not right.

That is why I believe that we should celebrate festivals in usual way without going deep in mythology. The public perception is all that matters. However the religious scholars may among themselves make any research and discuss among themselves only.  

True Sir. It is the devotion that matters. An individual who participates in festivities and Pujas need not  know all about mythologies and their origins. I also agree that religious scholars' discussions should remain among themselves without making comments which hurt the people. If they comment hurting the beliefs and the sentiments, controversies are bound to arise.

 

 

usha manohar wrote:

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

What next are they going to interpret from such festivals? Seriously, Durga stands for the superior classes that must and will always dominate the lowly ones??? Utterly ridiculous and too pompous an article, what was the writer thinking when he wrote this nonsense??

I have come across many such articles written about gods and goddesses where the author gives his or her own interpretation , to suit whatever it is they are trying to achieve..

Yes Usha I agree with you, but it is my personal observation that almost all the leftists who claim themselves to be progressive are the ones who ridicule and show immense hatred towards our traditions, culture, and generally everything that are considered to be beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. By doing so, they think that they are being modern and progressive, an attitude which has proved to be damaging for the art in India and has now moved on to cultural aspects. Unfortunately, the damages that this attitude has caused is the main reason also for moral and otherwise general degradation of the population. Now, likening the worship of Durga to oppression of dalits is just taking it several notches down that road towards squalor. So that should reason enough for us to worry about.

It is a fact that people can go to any extent to make others believe what their belief is! You see, Just like Goddess Durga, Goddess Kali is also equally worshipped. She is not fair skinned then what logic will be put forward regarding this, I am curious to know that.

The leftist views are uncomfortable because they see the problem from the side of the oppressed which maked traditionalists uncomfortable because it is advantageous to them that status quo be maintained.

Shampa Sadhya wrote:

It is a fact that people can go to any extent to make others believe what their belief is! You see, Just like Goddess Durga, Goddess Kali is also equally worshipped. She is not fair skinned then what logic will be put forward regarding this, I am curious to know that.

Logic ? It is immature knowledge of the writer. Can he say that all Dalits are black in color ?

@vijay and @rambabu If this is a Leftist thought then I have nothing to say because they can go to any extent to prove there is no God or our faith is absolutely trash. Yes, expecting logic behind such write-ups is actually asking for too much. I won't say it's an immature write-up because the writer explained his opinion quite clearly but this is another point that we do not accept his point of view. To me his opinion is very depressing because we respect God and his thought is an insult to our faith.   

Shampa Sadhya wrote:

@vijay and @rambabu If this is a Leftist thought then I have nothing to say because they can go to any extent to prove there is no God or our faith is absolutely trash. Yes, expecting logic behind such write-ups is actually asking for too much. I won't say it's an immature write-up because the writer explained his opinion quite clearly but this is another point that we do not accept his point of view. To me his opinion is very depressive one because we respect God and his thought is an insult to our faith.   

I agree with you. The writer himself is Bengali. And he has expressed his OWN opinion. as far as Opinion is concerned, is OK. But he never cared for others beliefs . This is not accepted by many devout Bengalis and Non - Bengalis. They were shocked. It's a blow and insult to the traditions and beliefs of the people in general and Bengalis in particular.

One expects that in today's times with modern education and high level of technology, alternate views will be not only tolerated but debated and discussed. There is no need for emotion and every different  view is not to be taken as insult to  prevalent views. Many decades back I remember some famous person saying that it is impossible to prove both the existence and non existence of God. Should we conclude that he is insulting existing beliefs. As knowledge expands old thoughts and beliefs will get scrutinised and may need to be revised. One has to be open to all schools of thought but decide what is best for oneself.

While these rationalists and progressive writers feel that their often insulting point of view should be taken with a pinch of salt or should be received with an open mind, why dont they come out with such pearls of wisdom about other religious faiths and gods as well? Do they have the guts to do so?

vijay wrote:

One expects that in today's times with modern education and high level of technology, alternate views will be not only tolerated but debated and discussed. There is no need for emotion and every different  view is not to be taken as insult to  prevalent views. Many decades back I remember some famous person saying that it is impossible to prove both the existence and non existence of God. Should we conclude that he is insulting existing beliefs. As knowledge expands old thoughts and beliefs will get scrutinised and may need to be revised. One has to be open to all schools of thought but decide what is best for oneself.

A debate on Existence or non - existence of God by that famous person expressed his doubt. But never pin-pointedly insulted others beliefs unlike the writer of the thread insulted the sentiments of a particular community.

To say that there is no use of becoming emotional is easier said than done.

@rambabu Goddess Durga is not a property of Bengalis. The rest of the country celebrates Navaratra in which Maa Durga is worshipped. In Bengal or for Bengalis just the name of the festival changes into Durga Puja. So, whoever has faith in Durga will feel hurt. By the way @vijay is right that we should not take it as insult. If we want to believe then no one can force us not to believe and we must learn to ignore such opinions.  

I clearly mentioned that the writer's opinions hurt the feelings of both Bengalis And non _ Bengalis. Yes Durga Puja is not  only worshipped by Bengalis alone.Bengalis call it as Durga Puja we in AP call as Nava Ratri,

@rambabu , the ideas expressed in the said article should be refuted by presenting facts to negate his views rather than using choicest adjectives to denounce him. What he has stated is it wrong, I am asking you pointedly? Pl answer with facts. Let us debate it. Thanks.