Festival Musings : The prayer might not influence God,but it changes the one who prays.

• What we give is always less than what we get from life. ALWAYS.
• Being a good human being is the essence, the rest are all decoration in every religion.
• Rituals should share the joy not highlight the differences.

Years ago in a small village in Himachal year after year I would celebrate Shivratri the way it is done in the hills. Each family is Parvati's house and each year the Neelkanth, Ishaan, SHIVA comes to them as a groom.

No fancy lights, no artificial decoration.
home cooked delicacies
shared goodies and love.
singing ,dancing in mud kitchens kept warm and dimly lighted by a fire.

SIMPLICITY the order of the day.

Now just another day.