My super cool Lord Krishna is missing !

"Looks like, Lord Krishna is spoilt for choice when it comes to political parties", said my son, in jest, looking at posters full of photographs of local politicians, sponsoring Janmashtami celebration in the area. Poor Lord Krishna looked precarious in the posters, almost invisible amid the crowd of politicians vying for attention. There was a complete mayhem on the road with plenty of trucks full of "govindas", hunched in their colourful tees and bandanas trying to enjoy every bit of fleeting moments of glory coming their way. Each truck represented a candidate from some political party. Govindas, dancing to the tunes of blaring Bollywood numbers were adding to the ruckus.

If you live in Mumbai, perhaps, you may not find anything unusual in the scene I described. Problem is, with each passing year, the competition to flaunt political clout becomes much intense around such festival celebrations, luring people with obscene amount of prize money. I find this trend deeply disturbing.

I was very fortunate to have had a childhood that gave me exposure to various cultures and taught me to respect and value the cultural differences. I remember having celebrated most Indian festivals in a very simple, unique yet beautiful style.

As a child, Janmashtami meant collecting money from every possible house in neighbourhood with bunch of playmates and friends; buying clay toys and decorating the venue to recreate the scene of Bal Krishna's birth. It meant, being transformed into completely different world that was introduced by granny's endless stories of Lord Krishna and finally being part of it in some beautiful little way.

The joy of decorating the venue with clay toys like small white cows, idols of Vasudev and Devaki, a special colourful cradle, where embellished version of Bal Gopal was placed was beyond words. I still remember that feeling when a generous neighbour donated princely sum of fifty or hundred rupees! (During those days, donations generally ranged between ten to twenty rupees). 

The entire experience was more of exercise of learning essence of team work, leadership, organizational and management skills. Now when I look back I can't stop thinking what a farce we have made of our beautiful festivals! The very essence of the festivals, its ethos is completely lost. Quintessence of bonding of various cultures around these festivals is replaced by vulgar display of power, money, political one up-man-ship and perverse influence of Bollywood glamour.

Faith in Almighty/God/religion is difficult to put in words and it is a very unique and personal experience. This very faith helps us hold life with equanimity and drive our emotions to surpass worldly boundaries and govern that unseen, infinite power within us. But when this very faith is altered for the sake of carnal, political and commercial gains, does it remain the same? 

Should I be surprised that, I can't find my favourite Lord Krishna in any of Janmashtami pandals?