Remixed Religion

If you have ever travelled by train (Tell me you haven't, and I'll tell you about someone who hasn't seen India in all its glory), you surely would have seen and heard small street children, with stone pieces in their hands, striking them together in a way so as to create percussion, and singing Shirdi waaaaale, Sai Baaaaaba at the top of their voices. This is a common scene in almost all train journeys I have ever been a part of. And all those children,hailing from different parts of the country, sing the song in the same nasal tone and accent that I sometimes wonder if there actually is an 'Association of Shirdi-Wale-Sai-Baba Singers'(ASS ??). 

Anyway, the point is, that after having heard this and many such songs of devotion since we can barely recall, these songs have attained cult status in our memories. Everytime there is any religious gathering or Jaagran of some sort, these are the songs that we invariably come across. 

There is another genre (if I may call it that) of such devotional songs that has suddenly cropped up in the past decade. The funda is simple- take a hit bollywood number, like Bheegey Hont Tere( Mind you, this is not a random example, I have actually come across this one!) substitute its lyrics with that of devotion, and behold! The song's ready. Sundar, sasta aur tikau. The idea is sheer genius, the reason being that the music is famous among the junta and so attracts attention instantly. 

But the icing on the cake is the new trend that I came across after coming to Pune. Last fortnight saw Ganesh Pooja being celebrated across Pune with quite a fervour and passion. Every society or building had its own Lord Ganesha's idol setup. In the evening, children from the nearby areas gathered near the idol, and there was quite an infectiously high-spirited atmosphere around the idol. The only thing that was really out of place was the music being played as part of the evening Aarti celebrations. You actually do not have any other choice but to believe me, that Mungda Mungda, Ye to Bata Dekhta hai tu kya, Doorie sahi jaye na, and Billo Raani were some of the few songs that I actually heard blaring out of the loudspeakers! And going by her 'track record', I won't be surprised if I switch on the TV some day and find Rakhi Sawant claiming that she is the one actually responsible for the sudden spurt of religious awakening in youngsters today!

I sincerely hope to find a logical explanation to this observation that I and one of my friend made during the past few days. I mean, you can very well imagine the condition one would be in, when after a day's hard work, you return from office, and on your way back, you see Ganesha's idol, smiling serenely at you from a distance. You find yourself walking towards Him to thank Him for the day that passed. You close your eyes, and suddenly, out of nowhere, you imagine Bipasha Basu dancing her way to glory. 

Signing off for now. Stay beautiful.

P.S- The image, dunno if there's any relevance. Just felt like putting it up.