Dassera the Indian festival glorifying the goddesses of Energy, Wealth and Intellect has come and gone again. Celebrated all over the country, this is truly a feminine festival except may be in the Northern states where greater importance is given to Rama’s victory over Raavan. In the Southern states (except Kerala where it is not as popular) it is a celebration of femininity in its full glory of creativity, spirituality and nurturing. The glorious golu (doll’s display) in Tamil and Kannadiga households provides an outlet for their aesthetic inventiveness and their resourcefulness finds full expression in setting up innovative displays of not only religious images but becomes also a statement of their social consciousness when they put up themes of social relevance. Women in all the states from Kashmir to Kanyakumari perform several rituals that are typically indigenous to their region but resemble others, during this period of nine days of joy and exuberance. The nava(nine) ratri (nights) is also the time when the culinary skills of women come to the forefront as they compete with each other to prepare special recipes to tickle the palates of their near and dear ones. This festival has a special significance because it comes just after the rains when the whole countryside is fresh and green, filling every soul with enthusiasm and ecstasy.
This Dassera has been a special one for me because for the first time in my life of six decades, I enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship of women, who were not my professional colleagues. My social circle has been limited all these years to women in academic profession and though there were neighbours and other relatives, I rarely found time to interact with them as I did during this Dassera. I enjoyed the company of these young and not so young ladies, who live in my apartment complex. As long as I was in service it was only “Hi” and “Bye” in the corridor or the lift but these nine days when I joined them for the Lalitha Sahasaranamam and other religious recitals, I enjoyed a sense of peace which I have never experienced earlier and was exposed to the immense amount of good will and amity they possess. I am truly grateful to Maa Durga for having brought these people into my life! They made me realize how truly empowered women can become if they want to be! Women do not have to go out and conquer the World. All they need is a sense of achievement and contentment with whatever they do – that is truly liberating!
