Durga Puja arrives
There is a sense of expectation, a joyous one in the city streets. For some it is the jocundity of being absent from work, for others it is the thought of taking a break from routine affairs. For the rest it is the merriment of being with friends and family to celebrate and live life to the fullest this Puja season.
Artisans giving shape to Durga idols, shoppers thronging the markets and a sense of happy urgency everywhere herald the beginning of the festive season in the city.
The most excited lot are the little ones who are more focused on what they could ‘derive’ (in terms of gifts) from the festivities rather than fretting over the nuances of the celebrations.
The elderly too look to spoil themselves by breaking away the monotony of daily chores – a time to deck themselves up and do their pandal hopping.
Interestingly, despite all talks of inflation, there is always money enough to make merry. Perhaps, ways and means unfold spontaneously when the spirits are high.
Personal merriment apart, what the festivities bring to a small city like Shillong is the spirit of bonhomie as different communities converge at pandals and the annual Get Together for Harmony which infuses a spirit of goodwill. This is the season when Shillongites and visitors to the city meet up at one another’s localities. This spirit of bonhomie and fellowship should last from October until December, hopefully when superficial differences seem to fade into oblivion.
Euphoria at NEIGRIHMS
All work and no play makes both Jack and Jill dull. The MBBS and also the Nursing students of NEIGRIHMS celebrated their college week appropriately named Euphoria 2014 in the premises.
But this is not a NEIGRIHMS exclusive affair. Students from different colleges participated in this week-long celebration of fun and gaiety which started on September 19.
Different colleges from the city participated in the cultural programmes that included dances and songs. A debate titled, Free Press Safeguards Democracy saw a brilliant exposition of ideas and counterpoints by members of the treasury and the opposition benches.
Judges included senior doctors of the Institute. Funnily when the motion was put to vote, the majority voted against it. This is some food for thought for those who practice the profession for it means that democracy no longer rides on the pillar of a free press. Perhaps the lack of credibility of the media itself and the shenanigans of 24×7 television news channels that fail to draw the line between news, gossip and opinion has taken the media to a new low.
What strikes the visitor to the NEIGRIHMS auditorium during that week were the colourful Rangolis depicting the theme, “Save the girl child.” Rangoli is normally used as a decoration during festivals. This art form is creative and imaginative and the captions would jerk the emotions of the most apathetic soul. It says, “Don’t rip her dreams.” This exhibition/competition on the above theme should have been done at a bigger public forum for it is the most effective slogan against female foeticide.
Well done NEIGRIHMS students and all participants on this socially relevant theme!