It’s time for the celebration on his arrival. The streets are embellished with decorative lights running parallel on both sides bright enough to color up his pathway. Everyone is eagerly waiting to welcome our beloved Bappa. Women’s all dressed up with delightful faces holding Aarti Thali in their hands, while some hustle to light up the lamps on their plate. People are out through their balconies as the drum beats are nearing with each moment escalating the heart beats in anxiety to just witness our deity in his gigantic avatar. The procession seems to be just around the corner of our street. Our group of five is standing aside, both hands tied on the adjacent shoulders waiting eagerly before our orderly formation let loose into the crowd.
The crowd just appears to be visible now with everyone dancing in ecstasy, it seems like a tidal wave is pouring in on the street like along a sea-shore to take away everything in its way . As the awaiting eyes finds his statue in sight through the haze of Gulaal spread all around in the air, they glitter in joy. Both hands rise synchronously to hold up together for a Naman with an wholehearted smile equally growing wider. The senses have started to respond to the music with the head nodding in tune with the music ,while the legs are tapping in rhythm. As the procession approaches near ,the energy infects our bodies as we simply disappear into the crowd and start dancing blissfully . Its sheer joy reflected on the faces dancing gracefully without hesitation expressing their love in the purest form as their bodies spring in the air. For a moment even the thumping drum beats reverberating around seem visible like the burning flames of fire rising high into the skies. Even the heavens are greeting showers for its our lord who has stepped on earth today.
After hours of extraordinary celebration with the procession, Bappa was carried onto the stage where he will reside in care of his devotees for the next 10 days. With all the rituals taking over , we stood behind for a while with other spectators to witness the program before we take leave from the event. She tapped my shoulder, and as I lean towards her to lend my ears she asks this thing – “Why among all the deities, he is the only one being celebrated with such joy by we humans ? I mean what is it with him that makes him great ? “. It instantly drew a smile on my face. She continues – “I suppose neither do we know him to be the lord of strength or the guardian of justice with superpowers nor did we grow up listening tales for his acts of valour as the saviour of masses in the battle against evil , as he is probably not associated with someone having that masculine chiseled body holding the weapon of destruction. Our lord is just a young chubby looking guy, smart and witty, enticed with his love for sweets , characterized with his small mouse accompanying him in his mischievous plays. “
In those moments while reflecting on her thoughts, although I couldn’t decipher the enigma behind our affection for his lord . But somehow just while looking at him it felt like the answer was just staring right in front at me. I said – “Probably he just personifies the idea of someone you wish to own contrary to the generally accepted idea of giving away oneself in the devotion of lord . He is someone who can only be loved , the love which looks above the insecurities of someone’s appearance , the love which only knows giving, the love which is just not restricted to one’s emotion but celebrated out collectively even during his evening aarti’s. I mean he is the only lord of masses whom we own like one of our dear ones and feel the sense of caring for one.
Probably his lord is the most human a lord can be.”
She smiles softly in return and turns back to look at the event as several new thoughts take birth in her beautiful mind.
Vishal Puppala 