I had an opportunity to attend at home-party organized by Reverend Bishop of Gandhinagar. This was customary as a part of Christmas festival. A small group of youth recited prayers containing spirit of X’mas. It was melodious. A brief message was given by Bishop. An experienced and kind Bishop pointed out that what we see in the markets is not X’mas. He emphasized on the message given by Jesus which primarily talks about love and sympathy for the whole society and more for the down troddens. Big offers and sales and costly parties have nothing to do with the spirit of X’mas or message of the Almighty. But of-late it has been noticed that almost all festivals have become market driven. Lots of hue and cry which many a times result into public nuisance. High volume sound disturbs the elders, sick and students alike. Some of the festivals lead to pollution which adversely affect the old living creatures. Festivals in their original form were promoted with a purpose. Ultimately they were designed to create harmony in the society and also to bring freshness from the routine activities. But now different religious groups as well as the market forces are in competition to prove their harmony over the rest. Virtues like tolerance and kindness for the society is on the back burner. Ultimately there is hardly any constructive or lasting outcome at the end of the day. It has been noticed by many that this euphoria has an increasing trend over the years. Can something be done to contain the trend? Difficult to comment…….. also becoming difficult to live with…….!
દોસ્તો સફરના સાથીઓ
એ દેશની ખાજો દયા,
જયાં ઘર્મનો છાંટો નહીં,
ફીરકા છતાં ફાલી રહ્યાં !
(ખલીલ ઝીબ્રાનના શબ્દોનું મકરંદી મીજાજમાં ભાવાંતર)
વસંત ગઢવી 
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