An insipid Sunday morning was suddenly turned interesting by what seemed like an innocuous question. Why do we shop INSANELY during festivals? .The repsonse that was given to me was ‘ ‘Everyone does, so we do too.’ This sent my mind into overdrive.
Loads of money is spent on stuff that we really do not need, eg. clothes we really will not wear, crackers, we really do not light, or other random stuff just because others sre doing the same thing. I mean, its nice to get clothes that you need and you like, but the concept of getting new clothes, JUST because its a festival is unfathomable to me. Crackers? Everytime you look at the sky and the GRAND display of fireworks therein, I think to myself ‘There’s a good 10000 bucks blown.’ I’d rather spend MY money wisely, on something that I perceive I really need. Need is often confused with indulgence and luxury, and often we make luxuries appear like needs. Hence, we spend, and then crib about spending a lot. Now, ‘wisely’ as I define it, could appear completely illogical and stupid to others. Bottomline? I’m not going to spend humongous amounts of money, on something thats not going to be really useful to me. Thats going to be my pet peeve ie. People asking me what clothes I bought for Diwali or did I get crackers for Diwali.
The incoherency in this post is regretted, but the fact remains, our festivals have become conceptless, meaningless, which is very dissappointing.
6 Comments until now
True. Festivals seem to have lost that ‘feeling’ that came with them. When families and friends would get together and have fun. Nowadays, its just like a market-frenzy…and shopkeepers et al are the only ones smiling.
Sad but true, but human nature is does not remain contect with what is. We try to improve, and a lot of the time - we were better off earlier.
Or, just blow your money. Possibly that makes it more enjoyable.
Diwali is the most awesome time in mumbai. Yes, I agree with you. Everything is Commercialized.
hey, thats true.. trust me its not just there that it has struck, people are going nuts over unnecessary spending in lusaka too. maybe an answer to ure question could be, people have to have an answer when they are asked what they did on diwali..e.g. crackers, clothes etc. hence, they do it mainly to put up a good image.
One man’s food is another man’s poison they say. I’d say go ahead and blow that money on whatever makes u happy (keeping environmental concerns in mind ofcourse). If you feel like it, donate, buy gifts if you want to, or just spend it on yourself, pamper yourself silly! Of what good is your money if it can’t buy the things you desire? You cannot take it with u when u go!
Anna, this is for the above post. I can understand what u r feeling. Or maybe I think I can. Happens dude. All I can say is chill out, and dont bother. Do your part, and f*** the rest. Someday, eventually, people will understand…And even if they dont…maybe they are that dumb then. The way I look at it, be true to yourself. Thats the only thing that matters. THE ONLY THING.
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