Ah Holi...that great festival of colours where everyone seems to go mad...I absolutely hate it.
Now I hope no one gets me wrong. Just because I happen to be an anglicized snob doesn't mean that I grudge the average Indian his bit of fun. In fact, I quite enjoyed watching (that's the limit of my participation – watching) my friends leave their rooms wearing white t-shirts and return wearing pink. They had fun and I'm quite happy about that. What I can't stand, though, is how people in this country seem to think that celebrations are special occasions to do whatever one feels like, regardless of rules, law or a sense of propriety. Time and again, I have witnessed people lose their senses and do absolutely ridiculous (often downright illegal) things. What I can't comprehend is how and why they get away with it.
Take, for example, the numerous small celebrations that occur around the locality of Malleswaram in Bangalore (where, incidentally, my home happens to be located). Malleswaram is one of the comparatively older areas of the city and it has quite a few temples including the famous Kaad Malleshwara temple after which, the area is named. Now, atheist as I am, I have no problem with these places of worship. In fact, the undying presence of these temples has been a source of some comfort to me since they are some of last structures from my childhood that continue to exist in a rapidly modernizing neighbourhood. However, in recent years, these places have become rather upbeat, going in for grandiose celebrations and extravagant revelry whenever a festival comes along. As a result, I am often forced to stay up as late into the night, fervently hoping that the loudspeakers go bust. Horrifying songs dug up from some absolutely unknown bollywood and sandalwood movies blare defiantly until around half past one after which, I assume, the loudspeakers do go bust. The irony is that this is Bangalore, a city which, according to law, should shut down by eleven thirty. However, the cops are mysteriously missing and as I try and stuff my head into the pillow, I catch myself wondering if they are taking part in the celebrations themselves.
Things are just as bad here in Mumbai. The Ganesha festival is witness to mobs (yes, mobs) roaming around on trucks, reminding me of World War II photos of tanks rumbling through Paris. Nothing wrong with that, of course, until one takes into account the behaviour of these crowds. They yell obscenities at people on the streets, ogle openly at any unfortunate woman on the footpath and sometimes (I actually saw this) throw things at her to get her attention. The situation is made worse when political parties decide to use these festivals as a platform to promote themselves. Kannada Rajyotsava (the anniversary of the founding of Karnataka) has, of late, become horrendous, with raucous masses, supported by several parties, dancing away in the narrow streets and blocking the flow of traffic in a city which is already notorious for road problems. But the worst offender when it comes to festivals is Holi. On this day, people just lose it, be they in Bangalore or Mumbai. Some crowds of celebrators throw almost every rule out of the window and try and drag others into it as well. I am quite glad that my friends who celebrated Holi today were rather understanding and just let me be. Too often, in the past, people who I barely know have dragged out into the streets and doused me in colour, completely disregarding my (loud) squawks of protest. Colour gets splattered everywhere, rubber tyres are burnt (I have no idea why) and bhang flows down the streets like rainwater. The last is something I just can't comprehend. How, in the name of all that is great, is marijunana so openly circulated and distributed without one single person raising the slightest voice of concern, anger or outrage?
Hypocrisy. At least, that's how it looks to me. On one hand, we have (yes, here I go again) righteous moralistic ultra-activists making deprecating statements about nightclubs and rock concerts and on the other hand, we have those same people doing nothing when people indulge in what is arguably far more shameful behaviour during festivals. Do they consider such behaviour a part of Indian culture? If yes, then to hell with their definition of Indian culture. I want no part in it. More importantly, we have cops eagerly raiding and arresting hundreds at rave parties (there was one in Bangalore a few days ago – about a hundred were arrested) for circulating drugs but doing a disappearing act when it comes to cracking down on the highly prominent weed addicts during Holi. By all means, please do your duty and crack down on drugs but for heaven's sake, don't be two-faced about it. If you have no compunctions arresting one group of people, you should have no qualms about arresting another. Perhaps, I is the thinkings, one is wee bit scared of upsetting the political bosses? I can't think of any other explanation. Otherwise, why oh why, Mr. Policeman, are you so eager to hang around clubs and concert venues, ready to rush in at 11:30 and so reluctant to do the same during other noisy events?
It isn't just religious celebrations either. When we won the Twenty20 World Cup, a huge parade was organized in Mumbai for our team. Perfectly fine, nothing wrong in that. But that day, some girls from Jai Hind College who happened to be near Wankhede Stadium were openly molested by bystanders (click here for the related news report). Apparently, people think they can do anything they want as long as they are in a crowd. And I don't think I even need to mention occasions like New Year's Eve when all hell seems to break loose. What is it about these occasions that make people think that they can break every law and disregard every principle of decency or propriety? I am afraid that is a rather difficult question to answer. But I do know this – whatever may be the reason, law breaking is not acceptable in any situation. Festivals are times for us to feel good about ourselves and our place in society but that doesn't mean we do it at the cost of other peoples' peace of mind.
P.S. I just realized that this post has way too many commas. My apologies. I will try and control myself next time.
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