Of the Mandals and Loudspeakers

Had writen this post on 26^th January. Spent three days thinking whether to post it or not. Not my usual kind of post. Its not about any movie or short story or anything that you might expect from me. It is rather my frustration which came out on that day. I have tried my best in not giving out my location or else I might get thrashed if any concerned person from my area reads this :P

Disclaimer: All the incidents and characters in this writing are real. Any resemblance to any place or to a person who is living or dead is purely intentional.

Five years back I moved on to my current place. Owning a bigger house then earlier seemed a very pleasurable experience but little did I know about what was the extra price we would have to pay along with the original sum we paid to the previous owner. The extra price that I am talking about is my comfort. My building happens to be in middle of an area surrounded by sort of groups or what they call mandals. Their members or karyakartas have extreme devotion to a specific God or Goddess.

Like a mandal who dominate the area behind my building are devoted a lot to Lord Ganesh, so they just need a reason to put up loud speakers during a day even remotely attached to their Lord. This in turn troubles the other residents.

A mandal on my left are staunch devotees of the Goddess Durga and Sai Baba. They have their speakers set up and played on full volumes everytime they sense about some auspicious day. Let me tell you there are about ten to fifteen such days in a month for them. This people become unbearable during the nine days of Navrathri.

Speaking of my right, just on the building across the road from mine boasts of a not so successful but a never giving up wannabe politicians or local social workers. Now this people have their own mandal and also one or two other organizations. And I think it's our locality's big fault or some grave sins in our previous birth that they are great devotees of Sai Baba. Now I don't have a problem with their devotion in fact I admire the way they are dedicated to their belief. But that belief turns out to be a nightmare for me and other people. Almost every Thursday devotional songs of Sai Baba are put on from morning to evening.

Now let’s come to my front side, unfortunately I have two front sides. On right front a few yards ahead there is office or shaka of a political party (I'm not naming it) and on the left front it's a big market.

Today as I am writing this post, it's 26th January, our Republic day, it also happens to be Ganesh Jayanti. Now I haven't got out to take a look down to see from where the sounds are coming. But tell me you I am hearing two songs simultaneously, a patriotic one Abb tumhare hawale waton sathiyo and on the other side I can hear that Lord Ganesh's aarti sung by Shankar Mahadevan. A few minutes ago when I started writing this it was Kolaveri Di. Now you must wonder what that song is doing on a National Day and religious occasion, well it doesn't matter. Last year Munni and Sheela were almost dancing everyday during Ganesh Utsav and Navrathri. Come on; if you respect your God then at least don't insult him by playing such songs.

All I got to say instead of doing all this stupid things and disturbing everyone why don't you just put that money to help the not so blessed children of your own God. Instead of making grand celebrations make it simple but at the same time put the money that you would save in their welfare.

Now as I have kept my woes, I end my post listening to Maurya song from Shahrukh Khan's Don and our National song Saare Jahan Se Aacha Hindustan Hamara.