There really don’t exist any doubt that we are rich in culture. Festivals surround us almost every month. Even if we exclude foreign festivals, we turn rich but we celebrate every festivals and it has a separate fun. From amazing factors; like staying hungry throughout the day hoping for longevity of spouse to festivals of making life colorful putting different colors on the face. There are again various festivals like Laxmi Pooja for those businessmen and Biswakarma Pooja for those who work entirely based on machineries. It’s festival time again and this time it is Sarswati Pooja for all those who are up with pen, papers, music etc. Yes, they get a holiday and worship the Goddess of Knowledge.
The memories are fresh when I used to go school with the new clothes with the hope of eating maximum Buniya and putting a tika which was supposed to be the blessings of Goddess Sarswati. There are definitely various ways of celebration of this festival. The day is regarded as the best day for a child to learn the initial education and they call it the pure day as you don’t need to find other days for putting thread or marriage. Festivals are definitely great when they get the right track of celebration. Unlike Teej and other festivals, it lacks such huge criticisms however it cannot be ignored that there yet exists. First question of criticism appears that how fair is it to collect money on the name of celebration from students by schools? At the time when they themselves are in huge profit, cannot they make contributions of their own? The trend of making this holy day a profit earning day really requires criticism for sure. There again will be no option remaining for parents, when they are sent bill charging for the celebration for this day. Moreover, at various places, there has been appearing the environment of competition among students like the ticketing system, more you donate, more facilities you get. As a result, students bargain with their parents to pay more, as their status will be high among the other students and teachers. When they are not said fixed amount to contribute, some pay Rs 500, while some pay Rs 50, the insult of the low payer will never be realized by the school administration. I have seen Schools organizing various programs like parents day on this day. That has to be appreciated, but it certainly does not suit school management to charge extra for it.
Again there exists group of guys who collect money from door to door step on the name of this festival, which again clearly seems to be the bad aspect. Students never want to hear that long, tired and boring speech and the level of frustration crosses the limit when they will be compelled to hear such speeches. Schools located in towns can call some of student’s model for inspiring discussion class and told to give inspiring message, explaining importance of education in any one’s life. Any early teen ager would prefer Nima Rumba than their Chief District Officer for sure. Our educational year begins on New Year. When we know that this day is best for initiation, why can’t we make provisions of beginning new session from this day itself? When the day is completely dedicated to students, teachers and all who rely upon stationery products, why can’t the cunning businessmen offer stationery products in the least price like ‘sale’ offer at various cloth shops on various occasions?
‘Admission Free on the auspicious occasion of Sarswati Pooja’, is next way to attract peoples to their institutions. As regarded the best day to teach children, instead of making it free, if they begin a sample lesson, before the admission from this day, that would be appreciated by the society as well as parents, and parents will be obliged to admit their children in that very school itself. How does Free Admission relate with Sarswati Pooja? It would be acceptable offer for Lami Pooja instead.
This is not my complaint or dissatisfaction regarding Sarswati Puja, but I personally feel the day really lacks various aspects. The celebration is incomplete. It is we who play vital role in modifying culture for upcoming generation. The reason for celebration is really wonderful. However; maybe we are not able to make the festival as fun as it had to be. This festival could be precious as Dashain for students only if we manage to make proper celebration. We have been living in the edge, let’s get to the central and make the festival more real. May Goddess Sarswati reside in your mind, heart and soul! Happy Sarswati Pooja.
Published in The Rising Nepal under Friday Supplement dated Feb 1, 2013
