AFTER A very long time, Amitabh Bachchan and his family were seen in the news – the television coverage of their bare feet walk to the Siddhi Vinayak mandir in Mumbai said it all. He did not look the 65-year-old, which he is, his son and daughter-in-law gave him company. It was not known who the beneficiary was supposed to be. Some said it was to pray for the success of a forthcoming film where all the three Bachchans are playing lead roles. It could be so because the fate of any film is today dictated by providence – when all doors appear to be closed, the doors to the almighty opens up. If one is sincere enough, he might bless the individual and fulfill his wishes.

We Indians have tremendous faith in god. Whenever in trouble, we run to him and pray for redemption. Even children learn this and when they are on their way to school and are passing in front of any temple they bow their heads and pray, especially during examination time. It has become a reflex action for them, like their elders. This reliance on a supernatural power is reflected in TV serials where no set is complete unless there exists a temple. A fad nowadays is to chant mantras and perform religious rituals – the assembled persons are limited in number, are fully decked up for the occasion and the priest utters a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo and finally, the evil is conquered and truth and justice prevails. But only temporarily, because no sooner is one session over that the evil minds resurface and push the family members to the edge. Once again the priest comes to the rescue and the cycle repeats.

If one were to analyse the scenario, one would find some logic in the madness – the rituals that were set in motion by our ancestors were meant to provide a source of livelihood to one and all. People lived in close knit village communities and encompassed trades like the barber, the weaver, the carpenter, the persons who grew flowers, and the potter who dealt in clay and earthenware articles or coppersmiths. The most important members were the priests, who presumably had direct links with god and the barber who had to be present in all ceremonies – the logic was that he was the most inquisitive of the lot and a great one for passing around the gossip. The priest was the most knowledgeable and his list of requirements would therefore contain items that all these small time persons had to supply. The intention was to encourage the community, feeling and keep one and all happy.

Even though times have changed, the lists remain and are expected to be adhered to so that the gods do not grumble. Of course, the priest has the authority to modify any requirement – for example, while performing the last rites of a person, it is said that the offering of a cow is important because the departed soul can reach heaven riding on the back of that animal. However, since cows come costly, the priest accepts a token of monetary value in exchange for the cow. In short, there are people who exploit this weakness to the hilt. The result is temples in every nook and corner of the country – devotees offer coins to the presiding deities, where these daily offerings go is anybody’s guess.