Since last few days, I have been thinking that our motherland, ‘Bharat’, is so Magnanimous, Diverse yet unique and simple. 

There are several colourful festivals celebrated in various parts of our vast nation. 

The citizens of our country love and respect for everyone, irrespective of caste, creed or religion and especially for women.Inspite of these so many good values all bad effects of alien culture can be seen a bit here and there. 

GANGOUR(festival) is celebrated in western part of Bharat, in Rajasthan. In Bikaner and Jaipur, one can see , fetes and fun fares being organized, where large number of people gather, to mark the festivity . 

Devi Gangour is a incarnation of Goddess Durga and her husband ,’Ishwarji’ is none other than Lord Shiva. In this festival, girls and women, married or unmarried are seen well-dressed and draped in ethnic jewellery and traditional ornaments . People specially young teenage girls and married women worship Gangour for 16 days with water and durba (holy grass). On the 16th day, the girls are given special treatment by being gifted things like ornaments, delicious food and new clothes.
In Bharat , I observe that most of the festivals are for girls and women , there are only a few occasions which are mostly for men, like HOLI (people put dry or wet colours on each other). Holi is also celebrated by women but not by themselves; generally our males involve them . GANGOUR, NAVRATRI, DURGA ASHTAMI , RAKSHA BANDHAN, TEEJ and KARVA CHOUTH all glorify the women hood.

 

Sometimes, I see silver lining among grief. In a land where the new born girl child is made to sleep forever or is made to say goodbye from this earth by way of ‘Dudh Piladena’ or by killing in womb, the females are also worshiped as Durga , Lakhsmi , Sharda and by various names.

 

We have numerous festivals which gives importance to the feminine existence. I take pride in stating that we also have States which provides female dominance in the Society. Our seven sister states of North East India are testimony to it. 

In the state of Meghalaya, the families derive there title from there Mother’s family name. The boy goes to the girl’s house after marriage and help his spouse in household shores and take care of in-laws.

 

The girls are not confined within the four walls of the house ; they go out to earn there livelihood. In majority of the cases, they are the bread winners. This is a true form of modernity and a beautiful example that if given a chance, the women are second to none and can even perform better than men Mother’s sir name passes to the kids and the property passes to the youngest daughter . This tradition is followed by both the Khasi and Jayantia tribes .

 

I am glad to bring this up today on the Women’s day , when every one is busy showing the negative side of India fighting for equality for women .

 

I wish “Ma Bharti ” a Happy women’s day paying my regards to the indebted love and care she has given to me , obliging me by letting me grow on this ancient “Land of Karma and Dharma “in the arms of Mother Nature. “Nivedita”