If I were to tell someone about a random conversation, they wouldn't be so much interested. But, if it happened to be a Hindu-Muslim chit-chat, anyone would be all ears. Such is the essence of these two religions, that it doesn't leave anyone intrigued to himself. As we perceive these two religions, or infact as the world guides us to perceive them, these are like two threads of the same color knotted together, but distinctly visible in different shades. They're like jute and nylon proving their appearance, strength and usefulness. Like magnets, but with the opposite poles, or like a ship and the wind that blow against each other. They're together but apart; like a starless sky on a full moon night. But seldom they meet, and when they meet, it is a full bloom.
To begin talking, I paid a visit to my barber today. His name and religion, that I believe you have already assumed, are both wrapped in green. Not to say that you're wrong by any means, but this, to remove the doubts (if any) I must tell is a happy story.
In a conjusted lane with parked vehicles and hand-carts, ragpickers and daily commuters, stood his shop with loud music right opposite to a Navratara pandaa that echoed with bhajans. As I sat on the chair before him, he discussed with someone about his plans of going home on the eve of Muhharam. I asked him if the festival was on the twelfth of this month, and he nodded in approval. To not drop the conversation there, I further asked him if there would be a "mela" here on the day of Muharram; he corrected me and told it is a "juloos," and it happens every year.
The conversation had turned open ended, and interesting in this short while. I told him that in my hometown, as a child I used to see this procession and be amazed at the stunts the men did. He told me, it isn't in religious interest, but just in a frenzy state of mind that boys beat themselves with belts and tubelights. In the meanwhile, on the opposite side of the road the Navratra pandaal started with the day's aarti. He asked why is Shri Ganesha's aarti sung before all other aartis, even when Navratras has no significance with Ganesha. It seemed he had carried that question from a far past, not been able to ask someone before. It was an unbiased-religious intrigueness that dropped off from his face. I answered with the same expressions, even happier and expressive. I told him exactly the same that once my father had told me in response to the same question, that anything good that we ever start is called a "lagan"(a good occassion), and with every lagan, comes a vighan (an evil disturbing force). Lord Ganesha is called Vighnaharan, the destructor of that evil force, and remembering him before anything auspecious is bound to keep the bad times away. He was pleased to know the reason, and smiled in contentment.
Things had taken such a good turn, that he stopped for a minute and said, "Ruko mujhe speakers band karne do, aarti shuru ho gai hai."
And there it ended in smiles and praises, in a blend of saffron and green!
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