There is nothing more remarkable in life than the fact that our calendar is filled with reasons to celebrate. December was all about Christmas tree, the spirit of benevolence and bonhomie; and then soon after, awaiting the loud boom from the harbor at midnight to welcome the New Year. Diwali was awaited with bated breath – the innocent excitement of an early morning oil-bath ritual, and fire crackers. Birthdays were all about candles, balloons, and presents.
And then there was Navratri, which had the most mythical combination of excitement and anticipation of foray into an unknown realm. For one, there was more than one evening of dressing up. And in all those years, we never understood the significance of the rituals and in all honesty, there really was no curiosity to know either! We just rejoiced. Celebration continues until today, but there is a difference.
The spirit on the spiritual path breaks through ions of conditioning and indoctrinations under the guidance of the Master. The spirit resonates in its absolute splendor, especially during Navratri, wherein celebration is no longer just festive but assumes depth. Silence screams its purest joy, the body exhibits stillness through dynamic action, and the mind unconflictingly embraces the whole of existence. It leaves you in a space where celebration begins where it ends. It takes you beyond an event and makes you realize that you are above the event.
With this comes the dawning of a simple realization that it is so easy to celebrate, so effortless to make life a celebration. If we can sit still for a few hours, for a few days, and feel rested, elated, and contented; if we can remain silent for a few hours or days and feel that we have just had a never-ending party with the whole world – that is celebration. Just knowing that celebration does not need a reason is liberating. Just knowing that celebration itself is the reason is exhilarating.
The energies bolstered by the chants, the offerings, the expansiveness of the elevated consciousness of the meditators, and the presence of Gurudev (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) during Navratri, is incredibly impactful. Almost invariably, I have found myself sinking deep within, found myself motionless in body and mind, experienced a joy of solitude amongst thousands, and a buoyancy of spirit, which defies expression or explanation.
Every Navratri, there is reinforcement of the gratitude that I have begun to feel every moment of my living, a constant reminder and acknowledgement of the abundance that my life is filled with, everything given to me even before the want arises. I am just consumed by waves of infinite moments of joy and fullness. And then comes this incredible energy and enthusiasm. A new dynamism is born.
My lesson from Navratri
Life is made up of moments. And just as everything that nature creates has a purpose, every moment too has been created to be lived to its fullest. In reality, it is far easier on the mind, on our health, on our being, to savor each moment, than to get stuck in any one! It is such futile exercise to get entrapped in a moment that has gone by, which has no further use, and which insidiously and without our knowledge becomes a burden. Every moment is an opportunity to move forward.
Every moment is a window that has been opened to start afresh. One thing that we can take for granted in life is that this moment will remain for just a moment. Make this moment your signature. Make this moment a celebration!
