THE MORE THINGS change, the more they remain constant. There are chances that in the rush to fast, feast, shop and celebrate in the coming festive season, we may forget what these celebrations are all about. But look closely, and there it is – you can see Durga’s determination to vanquish all that is evil by the way she holds her head high and poses to strike the demon Mahishasur.
Take a closer look at the way Ravana and his arrogance is burnt to the ground when Lord Rama decides the world is better off without him. And the spirit of goodness, charity and sacrifice is so palpable during the Eid al-Adha, also called Bakri Id, that you can almost touch it.
So take a few moments off – keep that second helping of dessert for later, postpone the tequila shot for just a few seconds and stop taking pictures on your smartphone for just one minute. For those few moments, savour life for what it really is – love, laughter, family and happiness. It is also about remembering, and reminding yourself at times, how the good guys always win, how every evil has his Mahishasurmardini. And how, a number of times, this battle between right and wrong are one that we fight with ourselves. Which side will win depends on us.
Just like Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, who DW has covered in the Looking Back section. Born in an upper-caste landlord family, Pathak chose to stand up for the downtrodden and those who had no voice of their own. His aim of building a toilet for every family and eradicating human scavenging has not only won him international and national acclaim, it has made a difference to millions of lives.
Keeping the coming festivals in mind, we at DW have certainly had to work hard to catch your attention. And catch your attention we will, what with the King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan smiling at you from our cover. And when the King of Romance talks about his eight-pack abs for his latest movie Happy New Year, he isn’t just flaunting his physique. It is also an example of the actor’s willpower and sheer determination to achieve what he seeks out to do, thus inspiring each one of us. God knows I will need that inspiration once the festive season feasting is over.
Happy festivities!