Orange, green, pink, blue, crimson, magenta…. All the colors seem to be here. An orange dupatta is buying lovely green and mauve bangles. A pretty pink frock runs towards a giant wheel. A little blue shirt is savoring an ice candy. A crimson skirt hugs a large black shirt that is carrying it. A magenta sari rides behind a pair of brown jeans on a scooter.
I was all of 5 when Dadu (my paternal grandfather) announced that he was going to the Durga Puja pandal (pavilion set up for five days to celebrate the return of Goddess Durga to her mother’s home). He was going to offer his prayers (aunjoli in Bengali). He never asked any of us to join him. Although he was very ritualistic, his wife belonged to a sect that did not follow any rituals. So, he
had grown to be very accepting of people making their own choices and tolerant towards others doing what they felt was right. “I want to go with you, Dadu,” I said. Almost every year, we followed this tradition. Dadu would come and announce he’s going to the pandal and I would be excited to join him. I must confess I was neither religious nor ritualistic. In fact, that event had nothing to do with God or prayers. It was about holding his big, warm hands. It was about listening to his stories. It was about the plastic watch he would buy for me from the balloon man standing outside the pandal (which he would be more excited about than me). It was also about watching him pray… the peace on his face and the devotion so palpable!
Are festivals more than just God? Are they more than prayers? No, they aren’t. The girl in the pink frock, the balloon man, Dadu… the excitement in those little moments is a reminder of God. Enjoying the festival is praying. So, whatever you do, don’t forget to have a great time… because being alive is experiencing God.
True ! Celebrations pave way for opening up of greater open sky. They reflect brighter side of life and are motivational for every monotonous work we do each day.
How exact and comprehensive this statement is: “being alive is experiencing God”. It conveys all the meaning.
Thank you for your encouraging words, Shivi.
You mentioned that “(Celebrations) reflect brighter side of life and are motivational for every monotonous work we do each day.” I believe that every day is meant to be celebrated… because we are alive. I must confess that I am not able to do that and often my day gets consumed by mundane things. But if we can be conscious of being alive and enjoy every day, that is the greatest celebration… that is the greatest prayer.
I remember how Hammad was telling me some days back that praying makes him happy. So, I feel that while being alive is experiencing God, it holds true the other way round. Experiencing God makes you alive.
Thanks. Coming from the greatest critic of my writing, those words are very encouraging.
How can/does one experience God? Not sure what you mean.
I believe human beings are like telephones. A phone is dead without a connection. Similarly, if we are not connected to ourselves, we are not alive. Connection to your self is what experiencing God is.
This is very similar to the “Talking to God” concept which Piyush talked about in the response to my post. see: http://www.homeofbeliefs.com/head-or-heart/#comments
AWESOME!
Very nice!! For my part, I love all types of storytelling
Remembered my Grandpa (Bade papa) and got back all my childhood memories..
Being alive = Being in the present moment = Experiencing God.
Write it any ways, the equation remains the same:)
Thank you, Kalyani
Appreciation is always welcome 
You say
“Being alive = Being in the present moment = Experiencing God”
Does that mean God is not there when you are experiencing the past or the future… ok ok dont beat me… only pulling your leg.
Time you write a post… looking forward to that.
Remember that cute smiley, with both hands on the face and cheeks, looking up n dreaming with both eyes open
Just my observation: Reliving some beautiful moments of the past can surely make us come alive, even in the present moment, provided we recollect the past without regret, guilt or anger and without the expectation that we get those moments back…
)
If God is everywhere, then He/She is in the past, present and future.
The idea is to pursue happiness… to take away the lessons from the tough moments of the past and relive the good moments. I believe that the future can similarly be experienced in the present. If the future turns out to be the same as what you had imagined, then its terrific and if it turns out to be different from what you imagined, then it holds new experiences and new learning. So, there’s always something to be happy about.
To me Durga Puja is like my mother coming over to visit for a few days. I have always looked forward to this event each year because it means that the whole family spends time together. I remember as a child, my own mother (not Ma Durga) would stitch frocks for all the girls in the family from the same cloth and we would go visiting pandals looking like a football team! I always feel sad on Bijoya because that means my mother is going back home and I will see her only the next year.