Jivan ane Utsavo

Life and Celebrations

In the third shloka of Vivekachudamani, Shrimad Adi Shankaracharya says:

"Manushyatva (Being human), Mumukshatva (Desire to liberate), and Maha purush sansarg (Company of a Satpurush) — these three are exceedingly rare."

From this verse alone, one begins to understand the immeasurable worth of a human life.

Life should never become a pile of dusty files, a faded photocopy of yesterday's routines, or a worn-out gramophone needle replaying the same groove. Life ought to be radiant and steady like the rising sun, innocent like a child's laughter, fragrant like flowers, sweet like the song of birds, rhythmic like ocean waves, and as full of colour as a rainbow.

Life means: to live + to grow + to become humble.

To live is to adorn one's existence with meaning. To grow is to develop — in Jnana (knowledge), in Prem (love), in Bhav (inner feeling), in Anubhav (experience). And rather than swelling with Ahankar (ego) and pride, to bow low like a tree heavy with fruits or a cloud heavy with water — that is what it means to be truly alive.

Life is a game. In a game, not everyone gets the hand they wished for. The one who plays the dealt hand well — that is the finest player, and the game demands sportsmanship. Life is a drama. The one who plays their assigned role with excellence — that is the worthy actor, and yes, every drama will have its villains. Life is a battle. Blows and obstacles surely will come. To receive those blows squarely on one's chest — that is the courage of a true warrior. Life is an ocean. Storms will rise. Only one who grips the rudder of purpose and sails with the strength of Bhakti will reach the shore.

Life as Utsava

Life is an Utsava (celebration). The one who celebrates it with joy, enthusiasm, and open-hearted warmth — that is the finest human being. Utsavas offer reassurance and hope to those who are weary and despairing. They guide those who aspire toward growth. They sow seeds of noble qualities, provide the sunshine of Tapas (discipline) and the steady shower of Prem, and in doing so, make flowers of Ananda (joy) bloom in the garden of life. In the dullness and sluggishness of daily routine, Utsava breathe fresh life — something new with each passing day.

The word Utsava is derived from the root ud + su, meaning "that which elevates, that which gives an upward birth."

जन्मना जायते शूद्रः संस्कारात् द्विज उच्यते।

Sanskar (inner refinement) is what gives life its true shape. By birth, a person is unformed; it is Sanskar that makes one "twice-born." This transformative power resides in our Utsavas. Through Sanskar, life receives its proper shape — the cultivation of virtues and the banishing of faults. Utsavas draw out our shortcomings and sow the seeds of noble qualities in their place.

Utsavas as Guardians of Culture

Utsavas are the protectors of Dharma, the nourishers of Bhavna (feeling), and the symbols of Sanskriti (culture). The Mahabharata itself declares that Dharma is what sustains a people and a society. Religious celebrations are the foundational pillars of this work. Bharatiya Sanskriti has been nourished by the lives of Rishis and Saints, and it is they who gave us our Utsavas — shaped by seasons, by time and place, by the needs of different ages and communities.

Utsavas are the bearers, nourishers, and mirrors of Sanskriti. A study of any nation's celebrations tells you everything you need to know about its cultural progress.

Utsavas reduce class conflict and increase human connection. Various celebrations were designed for all four Varnas of society: Janoi and Saraswati Pujan and Guru Pujan for the Brahmins; weapon worship on Dussehra for the Kshatriyas; Chopda Pujan and Dhan Pujan at Diwali and Sagar Pujan for the Vaishyas; and Holi and Dhuleti for the Shudras. Utsavas are the "buffers" that join the separate compartments of different groups into one train. When we exchange greetings, share til-ladu or gold leaves on the new year, a fragrance of goodwill and harmony spreads through society.

The Threefold Pujan of Life

• The refinement of the senses is the Pujan (worship) of the Indriyas.
• The purification of inner tendencies is the Pujan of the Mana (mind).
• The elevation of thought is the Pujan of the Buddhi (intellect).

Utsavas breathe life into this threefold worship. They support physical development, the elevation of emotions, and the strengthening of intellectual foundations. Holi, Janmashtami, Garba, and athletic competitions foster physical growth. Festivals like Shitala Satam, Pola, and Vrishbhotsav cultivate a reverent gaze toward both the animate and the inanimate. The organizing of Melas (fairs) encourages all three — physical, mental, and intellectual — together.

The Psychology of Celebration

उत्सवप्रियाः खलु मनुष्याः।

"Human beings are, by nature, lovers of celebration" — and celebrations are deeply psychological. They grant the mind its much-needed openness and breathing room. Festivals bring to life the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the entire earth as one family. The seeds of an individual's ideal and practical life, of society's well-being and prosperity, and of the world's peace and welfare were planted by the Rishis themselves.

Utsavas purify our vision and fill life with Mangalya (auspiciousness) and Pavitrata (sanctity). Raksha Bandhan, Veer Pasli, Bhai Bij, and Poshi Punam purify the way we see one another and fill life with pure Bhav and Prem. Ganga Pujan and Gau Pujan cultivate a worshipful attitude toward all creations. Sankranti calls us to bring revolution into our own lives. Holi signifies the burning of inner impurities, and Guru Pujan reminds us to hoist the flag of our highest purpose. Vat Savitri and Karva Chauth deepen family feelings. Kali Chaudas urges us to remove the darkness and impurity within the heart. Diwali calls for Atma-nirikshan — honest self-examination, a settling of one's inner accounts. Republic Day and Independence Day awaken Rashtriya Bhavna (patriotic feeling). Birth anniversaries and Avatars offer reassurance and guidance.

Utsavas help us forget our sorrows amid life's endless cycle of joy and grief, and fill us with fresh spirit. Even the poorest person lights at least one small earthern lamp on Diwali and finds happiness in it. Even watching someone else's firecrackers, one sets aside one's own sorrows for a while.

From Celebration to Transformation

When the virtues embodied in our Utsavaa become one with our daily life, then life itself becomes an Utsava.

From Asat (untruth) toward Sat (truth), from Tamas (darkness) toward Jyoti (light), from Mrityu (death) toward Amrit (immortality), from the momentary toward the eternal, and from Jagat (the world) toward Jagadish (the Lord of the world) — it is in this movement that the true development of life lies.

Come, let us make this Adhik Maas, too, an Utsava of life's unfolding.