SAMBALPUR: Anna Hazare and his crusade against corruption provided the muse for Ganesh Puja, with Hazare-faced deities and patriotic songs ruling the roost in Puja mandaps across the district this year.
The Hazare phenomenon was unmistakable in the festival that concluded on Sunday with anti-corruption slogans and Jan Lokpal bill-inspired art works holding revelers in thrall across puja committees. The activism mood was heightened with patriotic songs replacing film songs that usually blare on such occasions.
"I was surprised to see such changes. It was definitely because of the impact of Anna hazare. I do not remember any time during my life when I have heard patriotic songs during Ganesh puja ceremony," said social activist Bhagawat Nanda, taking the opportunity to laud Hazare's crusade. "At least those who believe in honesty would definitely be encouraged after Anna's crusade," Nanda said. "Post emergency, people had united for what came to be known as the JP movement, but this time the impact was much higher and impressive," he added.
The enthusiasm of puja organizers, however, clashed with the sentiment of Hazare supporters at some places with members of Nehru club of Sambalpur having to modify the appearance of the Hazare lookalike idol after strident protests from some Anna supporters. The club members' spirit prevailed though with 'Bring a strong Janlokpal bill' slogan and several cut-outs depicting Anna's struggle against corruption dotting the puja mandap.
In other creative puja endeavours, tri-colour Ganesh idols and others fashioned to look like the map of India were the cynosure of all eyes. The Natraj club of Khetrajpur, famous for making a Ganesh idol with loddu, coconuts and banana in the past, rode the Anna wave this time by making a 24 feet Ganesh idol on the contours of the map of India.
The Bhagabat mandir club of Badyanath chowk did not leave out the media frenzy in the Anna episode, depicting a reclining Ganesh idol with a television remote in its hand. And what was the god watching? Anna's recorded speech playing on a television monitor at the mandap of course!
"Since we have Anna's speech, we wanted to utilize it. We wanted to show that even god was impressed with his action," said a member of Bhagawat mandir club.
0 comments:
Post a Comment