Let the Drums of Dasara calm those violent minds

Mysore Dasara Elephant

The enthralling spirit of Dasara festival is slowly setting in Bangalore. It starts on September 30th and ends on October 9, 2008.

The Dasara festival is celebrated for nine nights and symbolizes victory of positivity over negativity. Nine nights of festivities end in Victory to Goddess Durga over a demon. This is a metophorical interpretation of Good vanquishing Evil.

To be sure, no festival out here in India is complete without a riot of sweet-scented flowers- jasmine, roses, hibiscus, you name it. The festival of Dasara is no exception, and the doorway of each house is decorated with flowers of every color. The streets are lined with flower vendors, making a quick buck from their wares.

Pic from Kamat's Potpourrie

It is also a time for calming one's mind, and reflecting on one's goals.

At the Art of Living ashram, there are several Homas one can attend like the Chandi Homa which is happening on October 7. It is certainly an occasion where the Divine Vibrations strike a very strong chord in each and every one of us.

As always, I look forward to this Dasara and all the festivities that it brings.

Nevertheless, there is one shadow that has cast over this season. The violence and terrorism that is happening all around us in India is quite disturbing, isn't it? Faith is being challenged and the innocent man is being targeted in the name of 'belief' and 'social cause'. Whose belief? Whose cause?

Such dastardly acts are certainly not in harmony with the principles of Universal Love and Brotherhood.

Goddess Durga or Shakti

Let us all pray to the Universal Shakti to stop the violence has gripped this nation with demonical ferocity. It needs Divine intervention. And collective Faith...

Photos taken from the web.