As you like it*

Man is an animal who interprets facts how he wants to interprets them in keeping with the environment he is keeping with or maybe with his vested interest on mind.

Winter Sonata

Many years ago, I attended a birthday party within a religious function. After the singing of hymns, came to time commemorate the moment of the birth of the guest of honour. In rolled in an egg-less vegetarian cake (it was announced). The leader of the pack started telling the rest of the crowd on so and so's birthday and extended his felicitations. The crowd started singing the song as the birthday girl lit the candles on the cake. The climax of the event was when all candles were lit. That is it. No clapping (it is not our culture) but instead hail the greatness of the Lord instead- though it was alright when they clapped when they sang the hymns! You see, their rationale, as the 'MC' later said that was we should rejoice at the lighting of brightness, not rejoice at the extinguishing of the greatest invention of God - light (agni), which is the pillar of all civilisations)! I decided to be a gracious guest by not being a wise guy and asking, "..but celebrating birthday is not our culture and we are celebrating the birthday based on a non-Hindu calender!".
21st December 2012 came and went but we are still standing. The world, though, is still as chaotic as before. Days before the D-day (End of Days) came a hoax prophesying that Nostradamus had indeed  predicted, in not so direct ways, that from the land of blooming flowers, when the man on a prancing horse hit nine zeros, the end will come (something like that). Smart alecs rationalised the land of blooming flowers as referring to Korea (why? because of picturesque Korean drama like Winter Sonata?), man on prancing horse is Psy doing his Gangnam style and nine zeros is referring to his YouTube hits reaching 1billion (1,000,000,000)! What the ....
In his effort to entice his congregation  back to the path of righteousness, the priest rattled on. "Now people are more interested in their 3G and Internet connections then coming to temple. Well, I got news for you. We alsohave wireless 3G service in this temple. The first G is Gita (Bhagavad Gita), the second G being GanggaJal (the purest of water given by God to Man and the third G is the Govinda Bhajans (divine songs) which would guarantee uninterrupted Internet connections to God!".
He went on to say, "If you say you want 4G facility, there is always Ghai (Krishna's companion - the cow)!".

*A Shakespearean comedy with the famous and oft-quoted phrase, "All the world's a stage" and the origin of  phrase "too much of a good thing".

Aapu Dappakootu style

For many years now, Petronas have been producing meaningful short snippets in conjunction with celebrations of the major races here in Malaysia. Yasmin Ahmad, when she was around, used to come up with catchy ads with meaningful messages about racial unity and preservation of traditional practices.
Unfortunately this year's Deepavali offering produced a lot of flak. It starts with a sad youngster probably unable to get a job, as evidenced by the rolled up scroll in hand. Another chap tries to coax him to 'just chill' and shows him some dance steps. He joins suit. It then snowballs to shows a group of youngsters dancing around like in the busy street amidst the traffic jam in a typical Kollywood/Bollywood scene or maybe Psy's Oppa Gangnam Style, trying to cheer people up and spread the mood of celebration. It did not, however, spread the intended joyous mood to everyone but instead rather drew brickbats.
First of all, the beat that they have chosen, Dappan Kootu, originated as cry by the paid people of marginal South Indian groups during a funeral processions in remote villages and the socially (caste) deprived side of town. Over time, this catchy drum inspired dance tune found its way to the silver screen. As per generations before, the viewing public blindly imitates their hero's antics wholesome whether is served. Monkey see, monkey do! With the crime and gangster levels reaching alarming proportions in the Malaysian Indian community, which is incidentally blamed on the Chennai produced movies, things imitating Kollywood is not good in good taste. We should have our own identity. But then, if it is not captivating enough, people would not turn around to give a second glance.
For a religious function which signify the win of good over evil, light over death, something mimicking a death knell may not be most appropriate.
There are many North Indians Hindus and Sikhs who celebrate Deepavali bur they were sadly not included here. Okay, the producers may be just following pop culture. The truth is what people like now. You get what the masses like. This year Dappan Kottu, next maybe Bhangra.
I am sure if this were to happen, again there will be people complaining as the Sikh population is small in this country. You can satisfy everyone or is it that we are becoming overtly sensitive?
Anyway they cannot be showing Bharatnatyam year in and year out. Happy Deepavali!
Do the Dappan
Old Deepavali Ad