Tracing back to our roots

Recently I got back from my native place Konkan. And that journey made me realize some of the aspects we have been constantly ignoring in our day to day activities. One of the reasons for those getting overlooked is they don’t seem to be cool. What do you think is running in my mind? Is this person suggesting to leave MNC jobs and rush for a tirth yatra (sacred journey)?

No. That would be too early activity for seeking serenity. I intend to ask you all few questions. Where did your family origin from? Do you visit that place and get involved in its festive celebrations?

If you have not done so, then its time to book the travel tickets. One of the thought that prevents us from entering into our natives is the risk of unknown rustic people who envy urbanites. While I was initially gravitated towards this issue, but I didn’t anticipate the remote environment I would be exposed to scarce mobile connectivity and electricity. At first, it seemed very hard to live without vital resources.

Slowly the ice started to melt and I started to gel with my relatives whom I met for the first time. The preparations for the festival were on. After participating in it in the morning, the moment of celebration arose. At one point I figured out it was preposterous, but eventually I realized that happiness would never knock the doors of those who criticize it. After playing generously I felt a sense of contentment which I craved since I left school. Moving ahead with the celebration, then came the time to worship the Almighty. The priest started reciting various poetries and later narrating His stories linking it with today’s world. One of the priest’s wordings I will never forget – “You will only get peace at your roots and nowhere else”. That was all I needed to motivate me forever to visit my village.

It occurred to me that we all tend to shy away from our tradition. We do not worship whole heartedly. We do not visit temples nor our relatives’ place. Fast food have replaced our once considered special food for various events. It is a shame that some of the boys and girls don’t know to wear a dhotis and sarees respectively. Important things written in our Geeta are being substituted with quotes by film personalities. We love to visit friend’s place but feel shy to knock doors of our relatives. The activities that were practiced by our grandparents are now being followed because science has recently proved its importance. Science is very far from proving a lot many things that our great ancestors had been involved. The eastern culture is being over written by western ethos.

A wood cutter who earns many times lesser than what we earn is satisfied with his life. And the cliché of an urbanite affording a posh bed but still struggles to get a good sleep muses all. Nuclear family will never be able to explain the warmth of united love. I fear we are losing our own roots and when asked of our origin, the past would appear blurring at its best. It is a choice for the present generation to preserve our origins or left to be rediscovered by the future.