Small nibbles on Janmashtami

I am 21 one now, so here is my -adult- opinion.

Today it is Janmashtami and unlike previous Janmashtami’s, this time I had decided to fast. Ever since becoming 21 I’ve been consciously, subconsciously trying to be an adult (like generally kids do, okay I just said kids). So naturally, this was the time to finally start fasting and be let go of the teenage renunciation of tradition and religion. I had prepared well for the day, expecting cramping hunger I had set aside a funny book and even downloaded some movies. Oddly, I did not feel hungry at all, except once during lunch. But I stifled the blurp in my stomach by eating a banana (I promise I ate less than, 5.) So the day went normally and I did not need to use any of the distractions I had readied. I also caught my parents allowing themselves a cup of tea, but I stayed put. 

Soon they day slipped on and soon the puja came to an end. It was around 7 pm when we finally decided to eat. It started with the panchamruta (5 – amrit = Jaggery + Curd + Honey + Ghee + Milk). It’s a sweet delight which I always claim the biggest share of at any puja, and so I did. And my favourite prasad, Chuda Ghasa and Sirini (which I will link below because I feel bad for anyone who never had it.) Followed by it there was a Khai Chakata which again is really sweet. Now by this time I had had too much sweet. Now I wanted pasta. So, I insisted to my mother. She obviously said I can (which implies I cannot). “Oh just don’t put onion or garlic, you can’t cut those today”, she continued. I am not Gordon Ramsey who can make do with anything, I need onions and garlic in my pasta. So naturally, that option choked to death.

But I was still persistent so finally, my mom gave in and allowed me to have Maggi. It didn't seem necessary to remind her then that the tastemaker has onion and garlic powder. So I set to work with the obvious sugar rush, but also, with a tinge of guilt. The whole time while it cooked it felt like I was committing a treason against Lord Krishna. Like somehow a long family-custom, actually, a custom which stretched way beyond my family, was broken for my antsy unwillingness to compromise. It also hurt my newly regained adulthood less than a week ago, my 21st birthday. But my maladies lasted a mere 2 minutes, which you can easily guess why. Did you?

The next day arrives, going back to my borderline gluttonous habits, I had a conversation with my sister. Apparently, she did not fast at all. And my eldest sister, also I recalled, didn’t she write the whole Khudurkuni Osa (Another puja) story in Odia-English, since she cannot read Odia? I mean is not that a very good example of taking rituals at a face-value? Because clearly she doesn't understand half of the things written there. I do not think rituals should necessarily be all boiled down to the essence, I am sorry but I cannot care about everything. Sometimes, even if reasons unknown, rituals do provide comfort. It is relaxing, or even refreshing to blindly follow rituals sometimes. Quite similar to how we enjoy superstition once in a while.

But the question still stands, how far should traditions be taken? My argument till now (before I was 21 😊) has always been that if I cannot/do not understand it, I won’t do it. Because why is blindly following the rules any good? I had questions which were asked in the same spirit over time. Like, why should I touch the feet of adults? Why should I take a present on a birthday? Why should I learn economics? Why should I know plants give out carbon dioxide at night? Sort of over-simplifying the argument of ‘breaking the rules’ and being ‘out-of-the-box’.

But now that I am an adult (I am stating this for the fourth time, so believe me, please) I think that argument is bullshit. There is always some inherent meaning which we cannot comprehend yet (or anymore)  which might/might not be relevant to us. But rejecting something just because you do not know or understand something is kind of pseudo-modernism. It is not a big leap from fanaticism, the difference being, they accept anything, and you reject anything. I am not supporting blindness and illiteracy, but the fact that there should be a room for understanding and reflection for something to be accepted or rejected. Which has become especially difficult when you must give out a verdict every second on Instagram. Like posting “Yes, I support all lives matter”, because if you post it a day later it probably won't be relevant. It is stressful coming to conclusions in a matter of seconds rather than days or weeks. I would like a week to think over it, thank you.

So meanwhile, I will in my adulthood (5th  time), drizzle a little bit of blind harmless faith into my life. And perhaps when I am older sneak in that cup of tea like my parents did.

ChudaGhasaRecipe