In the cold nights of December, at the night around 2:00 am a small group of youth started visiting every house of their community. There visit was lead by a man having a huge stomach, dressed in red and having white beards. Children love him because he carries with him gifts and chocolates. The visitors carried musical instruments with them. They would wake-up the sleeping members of the family and nearby vicinity and make them feel happy with the hymn they sing and go on spreading the joy. Fun, merrymaking and joy is spread as they sing the carols and prepare these families for celebrating the X’mas. The song, sound, enthusiasm and fun continues until they complete their visit to spread the message for celebrations at each and every house of their parish.
Since my childhood days till today I have witnessed these in which ever place I stayed. Even in college days to bachelorhood days and now entered into family man. However every advent season the memories keep alive. It’s the moment of happiness when the youth gather and spread the joy with singing.
It is indeed one of the favourite months to be remembered by each and everyone in a family. Today with long working hours, far away from home it’s the only time to rejonavate family get-togethers. It is the season of travel and all travelling arrangements are totally occupied and people in a hurry to reach the place as fast as possible. Every moment becomes precious.
Big establishments decorate the Xmas trees put up an very eye-catching cribs along with banners of discounts. It is fun to visit these cribs and it pinches the deep pockets as one cannot just neglect the lucrative offers.
The thought that still comes in mind is “Is this ritual or Tradition”?
Although everyone says its 2000 odd years, the fact is that we are still celebrating the birthday each year and every year. Even though we have technology developed cribs and stables to show the tradition. I wonder why still the farm animals are the same. In bigger cities we even cannot find a cow or goat on roads & bylanes but the decorated stable still have goats, sheep and cows looking very innocent.
Bottom-line
What actually I feel is that, even though we celebrate festivals, prepare for visits, exchange gifts and pleasantries. Even we know we are just visitors at this earth we never try to shear out our “ Mudas “ I mean the mental blockage of wastes from our heart !!
