GO 'VAIN' DA RE GOPALA!

As the title suggests , the stupid theory that I am throwing at you'll this time, is related to the ' Dahi-Handi ' festival. At the outset let me clear that I am as depressing as one can get but, I love all the festivals irrespective of their origin and I am all for it to be celebrated with utmost zeal. (Why do I clarify so much? The reason is that I want to sound very intelligent but I do not have the guts to stand by what I say)
Each passing year one gets to see these huge hoardings, each one claiming their 'Dahi-Handi Ustsav' being the biggest in terms of the participation, height, prize money, crowd turn up, media coverage etc. The event is conducted with great flair. With a public holiday being declared in the state, there is huge turnout. Celebrities turn up at different locations throughout the day. There is huge media conclave at major mandals claiming exclusive rights to coverage. (And mind you National Media) And every local cable operator telecasts it the whole day on local channel. And corporates aren't far behind. From pan-masala to energy drinks to even the supposedly niche investment banking firms, all want their share of the visibility. And unmistakeably if there is so much visibility how could politicians stay behind. In fact, even if these 'events' are conducted by youth centric NGOs, their parent organisational head is always a major local politician. But, what is it that is bothering me? (let us just say the sadist in me) Can I not tolerate the middle class boys and girls having fun for a day? That too when it is a festival with religious, traditional and cultural significance! But, one just has too look at the prize money involved in these events (PR exercise for everyone involved) and all the tall claims of it being having to do anything with religion or culture would crumble like an old chawl in Mumbai crumbles during monsoon. The money we are talking here is huge to say the least. The highest amount this year being, Rs.77,77,777. (I still do not have the new rupee symbol) Others are not far behind, with likes of 50 lakhs, 31 lakhs, 25 lakhs etc.
My issue lies with the kind of celebration. Earlier, there used to be a small mandal organising a celebration early in the morning, with the funds coming from residents living around. Slowly, these mandals got politicised and wanted to attract political mileage. Local shop-owners and businessman were forced into giving 'chanda' as it is known. Both parties kept the transactions unaccounted as both had many things to hide. And now the practice has nearly got a face of an established syndicate with major corporates jumping into the fray and for the media too, Dahi Handi coming in Handy. No one seems to be interested in, how much money comes in, how the money comes in. Where does it go? Does it all go?It would be extremely naive and even foolish to an extent to think that with a politician at the helm one would have a clean, corruption free event. Many of us would still turn our backs on this part saying chalta hai ! (we should change 'सत्यमेव जयते' to 'चलता है' in our National Emblem) But, what about the risk that this event puts the lives of these young men. Higher the prize money, higher the risk! (just for confirmation check the next day's newspapers) One would say participants are aware but one cannot absolve the organisers of the responsibility as they increase the stakes. We face water cuts in the city, many parts of our country are under drought, but during these utsavs water tankers are available in abundance, just to add to the 'festive' mood. Such blatant and shameless use of a scarce resource is criminal to say the least. And if this doesn't anger you enough, even Fire-Brigade is used for the same purposes. I am not even getting into noise pollution caused and security challenges posed during such large scale events.
I have written the post presuming readers know that Dahi Handi is celebrated on the day next to जन्मास्थिमी i.e. the birth of Lord Krishna. But, I think someone needs to remind us why Lord Krishna used to play his Dahi Handi. Even during his time the social ratio was a skewed one. His poor friends who actually produced the makhan never even got a wiff of it. So as to give them the taste of the 'creamy layer' (in the most literal sense) He, would indulge in this sport. (I hope Lord Krishna's methods would not be judged as communist or socialist) If we have to fake that we are celebrating this festival in the manner we are, for religious reasons, we might as well do it the way Shri Krishna did it, for the needy. In the prize money of the biggest Handi alone, as many as 800 children would be able to complete their entire education.

It could be for any worthy cause, and I am sure the participating Gopalas would still be enthusiastic about it as prize is not the major criteria for them. (Anyway there are enough reports of prize money not reaching them) In this way we would have Govinda in the purest form and the whole exercise would not ' GO in VAIN '.(I am grinning broadly as I think I am just brilliant with words) Govinda re Gopala!
Till then be happy and spread the cheer! . . . . . np