On Festivals and the Faithless

It has always felt that faith is for the fortunate-any sort of faith. It keeps things simple, questions fewer, answers easier. India survives on an abudance of faith, Gods, and karma-destiny, where the big and small destinations in a life's journey are pre-programmed based on the fine balance between deeds and mis-deeds, actions accumulated over eons of previous births. A majority of people subscribe to some sort of faith- details vary-but prescriptions are clear about right versus wrong, moral versus evil. Gods are favoured over demons and faith dictates that Gods always win. It is this faith that keeps the people going, through natural, national or personal disasters, sees them through worst crises, uncomprehending and yet accepting their lot-with their faith even more entrenched.

I belong to a deprived minority -the faithless. So all events are usually followed by uncomfortable questioning. The festival season is just over, and a variety of battles have been fought successfully by Gods against demons. Were these battles and festivals designed to demarcate and perpetuate the established order of the strong few against the weak many? a non-equitable and grossly unfair society based on caste system? As my partner once remarked, it is surprising that India functions at all, that there is not more anarchy, that overall, man is still good and attempting right-i.e.accepting his poorer lot in life. Is this a consequence of the continuous festivals -a constant reminders of divine battles where good and the just always win? What is good-and for whom? and who decides this? A victory of a few gods cannot be good for the many demons-and which side gets to be divine?

Were our ancestors thinking of keeping such demons, outside, at bay? Or, just reminding us to be wary of the demons within? Even through the celebrations of these current set of festivals, I have been aware of the lurking presences inside, clamoring to overthrow good intentions, responsibility, stability for the escape into excitement of freedom, discovery of the unknown, the realm of the possibile impossibilities. The battle is over, the Gods have won- but who were the Gods?