SHORT STORY
LOHRI CELEBRATIONS
It was 13 January, the day was quite sunny and perfect for sun
bathe during winters. Most of the people know that in northern part of the
India the day is celebrated as Lohri festival. During the day, children go from door
to door singing folk songs. These children are given sweets etc. and
occasionally, money. The collections gathered by the children are known as Lohri and consist of til, gachchak,
moongphali (peanuts), popcorn etc. Lohri is then distributed at night during
the festival. Till, peanuts, popcorn and other food items are also thrown into
the bonfire. In houses that recently had a marriage
(preferably boy) or childbirth (preferably boy), Lohri celebrations are made
with more excitements, Bhangra and the Peanuts, popcorns, gachchak, crystal
sugar and fruits etc. are distributed among all the nears and dears.
Coming back on the topic, I alongwith my wife
was invited that day for Lohri celebrations by my cousin at his place in view
of his son’s birth. His name is Raman, works in some paramilitary force as
Havaldar and resides in a village. He is celebrating Lohri with great zeal and
happiness because his wife Asha (a housewife) has given birth to a son after
the birth of two girls (one 06 years old Aradhana and other 02 years old Ekta)
and his wait for a son has finally completed.
My wife was calling from me from kitchen: take
your breakfast yourself from kitchen, I have also to get ready or else we will
be late to reach there. Then I ate my breakfast, put the utensils in the sink
and I changed my clothes and get ready for going to my cousin’s house.
We left our house at about 11:00 a.m. and it
was about 1 hour journey from my house. On the way, we stopped at fuel station,
refilling petrol in my vehicle. While sitting in the car at the fuel station, I
recalled that we forget to buy some gifts for kids so we bought toys for
Aradhana, Ekta and newly born baby boy. At around 1:00 p.m. we were at my
cousin’s place.
It was celebrations atmosphere there and many
of the relatives and family friends were already reached. Raman Bhaiya welcomed
us and we congratulated him and Asha Bhabhi and after their son. We had a small chit-chat with them and their
daughters and particularly Aradhana and Ekta were very happy on receiving toys
and Lohri gifts.
There was a little conversation with Raman
Bhaiya and innocent Aradhana to which I was keenly listening. Aradhana while
little confused asked her father, ‘Papa, is there any function or party in our
home?
Raman Bhaiya: No beta, today we are celebrating
Lohri in view of birth of your little bhaiya.
Aradhana: Why we are celeberate Lohri for Bhaiya?
Raman Bhaiya: Beta, this is custom beta,
whenever is there any Marriage or child birth, Lohri is celebrated.
Aradhana: Papa, it means when I was born there
was also Lohri celebrations.
After hearing this conversation, I was remind
of my last visit to Raman Bhaiya an year ago when I had a little chat with him
when he was telling me that he was planning for third baby after two
girls.
I said to him: You have already two children,
what is the need of third one?
He: I wish to have son, that’s why
Me: In which time you live Bhaiya, girl or boy,
how does it matters. Give your daughters love and quality education they will
reciprocate more than boys.
He: I love my daughters, but I need son who
could take care of us in our old age.
Me: Don’t you think, in such a times of
inflation it would be difficult to manage quality education for three children
for a middle class person. You note down my one thing that whenever there would
a situation of option between girl and boy for giving better opportunity, your
girl will have to manage.
He: I will manage, but son is son, you
know.....
I came out of my thoughts when Aradhana was continuely saying to her father, Papa tell me, had you celebrated Lohri on my birth? Tell me,
please tell me.
Raman Bhaiya was looking at his wife, towards
me, but he had no answer and Aradhana was continuing asking the same question.
But the question is still there, when we talk only
of equal opportunities for Girls or Boys, still we are not able to come out of
ages old mindsets.....
- SD BOGAL
nice story bro
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU SO MUCH
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