Yet, we have no national festival, only national holidays on I-Day and R-Day. Even Diwali, which many think is pan-Indian, is not celebrated in several corners.
As a child who grew up in central Kerala, I knew Deepawali only as the day on which my grandfather had his birth star of Chithira (Chitra), a day plus or minus. I would bet a million banned notes at a Diwali card party that most revellers don't know the panchang month and tithi on which Diwali falls. Leave it, let them have fun. Nor do I know.
We have a national festival, but it comes once in five years. It can be celebrated earlier, if our rulers will so. It is our elections, the festival of democracy.
Indians love elections. Most people do, but none of them has the kind of colour, melody and medley of an Indian election. The earth turns divine territory. Our ruling gods, as also the aspiring Asuras, come to the earth with folded hands, promise the most, smile the most, meet the most and fete the most.
Denne historien er fra January 14, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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Denne historien er fra January 14, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Mother nurture
Padmini Janaki promises to be with women on their fertility journeys, whether virtually or in person
THE BULLY AND THE BULLIED
The prevalence of bullying in India is very high. With easy access to internet and social media, it has only got worse. There is a need for awareness and resources in how to handle not just the victims but also the perpetrators with care
TRAINING THE BRAIN
Sports mastery is a lot more than physical capability; it shapes the brain, too
The truth about teeth
Neglecting dental health can have varied repercussions
Mpox won't spread as fast as Covid, but the world needs to gear up
The surge in mpox cases following the outbreak in Africa is unprecedented: 18,000 cases and more than 600 deaths have been reported this year. The World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
CYCLING TO WORK LOWERS RISK OF DISEASE, DEATH
Cycling or walking to and from work or school has immense mental and physical health benefits and may lower your risk of death, finds a Scottish study published in the journal BMJ Public Health.
NEW ANTIDOTE FOR COBRA BITES
A commonly prescribed blood thinner-heparincan be repurposed as an inexpensive and effective antidote for cobra venom.
VEGAN DIET CAN SLOW BIOLOGICAL AGE IN JUST 8 WEEKS
Eating a vegan diet, even for a short duration, may help you slow down the biological ageing process, finds a new study published in BMC Medicine.
THE DANGERS OF EXCESS BELLY AND ARM FAT
A new Chinese study published in the journal Neurology suggests that people with high levels of fat in their arms or belly have an increased risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
NO HEALTH BENEFITS TO MODERATE DRINKING
Drinking a glass of wine daily may not be healthy after all.
