It was indeed pleasant to see Prime Minister celebrating Dev Deepawali at Kashi ghats in a perfect religious mood with Varanasi illuminated with lights for celebration on 30.11.2020. Now this country proudly celebrates Dussehra, Deepawali and other such occasions of majority community while in earlier regime, political rulers felt embarrassed in celebrating occasions relating to Hinduism in accordance with their minority-appeasing vote-banks politics based on pseudo secularism. It was also pleasant to note that President of India performed religious rituals according to his own faith by traditionally breaking coconut before boarding inaugural flight in recently purchased VVIP plane for use of President and Prime Minister.
Hinduism in itself is perfectly secular giving respect to other religions. In many Hindu families, it is customary to take out some sweets etc for Lord Hanuman, Goddess Durga and others including specially for Muslims before performing Deepawali puja.
It is good that most opposition parties which earlier felt shy in celebrating Hindu occasions while having big get-togethers to participate in religious occasions of minorities have felt nerve of the voters, and have now started exhibiting respect to Hinduism and also adopting sacred thread according to Hindu traditions in election-days. Some others have started public-celebration of Deepawali with high cost of media publicity.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL