The 7pm Ritual.

                             Ever since the world has been doomed by the novel Corona Virus, life has become an extra bit of adventurous. Just like every 18-year-old kid during lock-down, I was lying somewhere in my room. I was wearing pajamas and a not so cool tshirt, wondering if life had something good for me. And just then past memories of “The 7pm Ritual” crossed my head. I could hear some bells and some manjiras and also soft voices of some legendary women. Those legendary women are Daadi, Maa and Badi Maa. Honestly, I was too small to remember exactly what was going on. But according to the blur memories, there was an aarti “Om jay jagadi shahare……..” going on. Back then I was in standard 5 or 6 maybe or maybe even younger.  This aarti was a simple one but it was very enjoyable. It had an extremely soothing effect on our lives.

                               Returning back to reality, I realized that our “7pm Ritual” was left somewhere in the way when we were all trying to make our materialistic worlds a bit comfortable. No longer were there bells ringing nor was there any sound of manjiras. I could hear only daadi recite the aarti. Ma was too occupied with me and other household chores to accompany daadi. Badi Maa too used to stay occupied with the unending works of her kids (my cousins).

                               In the past few months, the amount of spiritual changes that have happened within me are incomparable to any. I can say I have become a lot more dharmic ladki than I ever was. So yes! I wanted to relive those gone days and get mesmerized in the aartis. But there was something else that I really wanted; and that was some “family time”. 

                               One day, when Daadi, Paa, Maa and I were having dinner, I raised the topic of the “7pm Ritual”. I should say it wasn’t very difficult to convince the three of them for bringing it back into action. But this time with a bit of change. This time I wanted every body to be present for aarti including Bade Paa, Badi Maa, Jaya, Nonu and Tweta. Honestly, it wasn’t that easy to get my cousins to the aarti. However, we did have some full family aarti sessions.

                               At exactly 7pm, for the past 4 months the entire neighbourhood can hear the sound of shunkh being blown numerous times. And as soon as Paa blows the shunkh, my entire family comes together for the “7pm Ritual”.

                               After aarti we have a very notorious and at times also a very knowledgeable chat with each other; its generally me cracking lame jokes and others laughing or all of us gossiping on any of the hot topics. The “7pm Ritual” has a great effect on our lives, especially mine. Those few minutes when we are singing the aartis, I land into an altogether another world. A place where there is so much clarity, a lot of peace. It calms me down. I get the power to accept myself for who I am. You know, my relation with Bhagwanji is very different. Well about that, I may talk in another blog.

                               I wonder what if every family had their “7pm Ritual”? Wouldn’t there be so much of love? Wouldn’t our bonds get stronger? Wouldn’t we find meaningful peace? I believe in implementing the “7pm Ritual” at a global level and maybe that is the reason I am writing this. I don’t know how many people reading this will agree with me. But I would suggest to try. 

Past memories are being shared,

Some happy and some sad!

Our elders feeding us with the knowledge of their experiences,

Some sour and some sweet!

 

I can feel the love increasing,

My bond with my family is improving,

There is so much respect and so much care,

The “7pm Ritual” has a great share.

                                                    – Shrishti Soni

                                                             (Divy)