As Dasara dawns, we honor Goddess Durga with offerings, prayers, and age-old rituals that have been passed down through generations. One of the most significant customs during this festival is the offering of animals, such as goats, as a mark of devotion to the goddess. The meat, once offered, is revered as prasad, a divine blessing from the goddess herself, and consumed in a communal feast. However, this year, a contradiction stands out: because today is Saturday, many people who abstain from non-vegetarian food on this day are postponing the feast to Sunday.
At first glance, this may seem like a harmless adjustment, but upon closer reflection, it reveals a deeper, troubling inconsistency in how we practice our faith. If we are willing to offer a goat in devotion to the goddess, why hesitate to partake in the very prasad she has blessed? Is this not a contradiction in itself? And more importantly, is this not a selective interpretation of tradition that undermines the essence of devotion?
The Sacred Tradition of Offering Animals
For centuries, devotees have offered animals, particularly goats, as a powerful act of devotion to Goddess Durga. It is believed that through this offering, they earn the goddess’s blessings for protection, prosperity, and the destruction of evil. The act of sacrifice symbolizes surrender, and the meat is seen as the goddess’s acceptance of the devotee’s devotion. Consuming the prasad is an integral part of this ritual, a way to partake in the goddess’s blessings and share it with the community.
The Abstinence of Non-Vegetarian Food on Saturdays
On the other hand, there exists another deep-rooted belief: abstaining from non-vegetarian food on Saturdays, primarily out of respect for Lord Shani (Saturn). This practice, observed by many, is believed to bring spiritual purity and avoid disrupting the balance of planetary energies. While this belief holds significance for many, it also creates a peculiar contradiction when observed alongside the tradition of animal offerings during Dasara.
The Contradiction: Postponing Devotion
What unfolds today is a curious paradox. On the one hand, devotees are ready to offer the sacrifice to Goddess Durga, acknowledging her divine power and blessings. But on the other, they are unwilling to consume the prasad because it is Saturday, a day associated with vegetarianism for many. How can these two beliefs coexist without contradiction? If the offering is made in the name of the goddess, shouldn’t the prasad—her divine gift—be accepted with reverence, regardless of the day?
By postponing the feast to Sunday, we are essentially choosing convenience over devotion. This raises an uncomfortable question: Are we more devoted to the norms of the day than to the goddess herself? Isn’t this selective interpretation of faith not just hypocritical but also insulting to the very deity we seek to honor?
The Hypocrisy of Conditional Faith
If we truly believe that the goat is offered as prasad to Goddess Durga, refusing to consume it on Saturday due to an unrelated belief about abstaining from meat seems inconsistent. We are, in essence, placing one belief over another, prioritizing one set of customs over another without fully understanding the implications. By postponing the feast, we are not only diluting the sanctity of the ritual but also reshaping it to suit our convenience.
This selective devotion—where we cherry-pick which traditions to follow and when—betrays the essence of faith. True devotion demands consistency and authenticity, not adherence to convenience. If the goddess’s prasad is sacred, how can it be any less sacred because it is Saturday?
Rethinking Our Devotion
This contradiction opens the door to a larger conversation: How do we perceive faith and tradition? Are we blindly following customs without questioning their relevance, or are we practicing rituals that hold genuine spiritual meaning? Rituals, while rooted in tradition, should not be static. They should encourage introspection, allowing us to evolve and deepen our connection with the divine.
What we need to ask ourselves is this: Is our devotion to the goddess sincere if we are willing to bend the rules for convenience? If we trust in the sanctity of the offering, why should the day matter? True reverence for Goddess Durga should not be constrained by arbitrary customs. Instead, it should be about embracing the goddess in all her forms, acknowledging her blessings without hesitation.
A Call to Reflect on Tradition
This Dasara, let’s not just go through the motions of tradition, but truly reflect on what our rituals mean. Are we practicing faith in its truest form, or are we allowing societal norms to dictate our devotion? The act of offering animals to Goddess Durga is symbolic, but what matters more is how we honor her in our hearts and actions.
Postponing the feast because of a belief that holds no connection to the goddess contradicts the very spirit of devotion. Let’s challenge these inconsistencies and strive for a more authentic expression of faith—one that honors the goddess fully, without compromise or contradiction.
Let this Dasara be an invitation to rethink how we practice our faith. Perhaps it’s time to evolve our rituals, making them not just acts of tradition but meaningful connections to the divine. Faith is about owning our beliefs, without fear or hesitation. It’s time to honor Goddess Durga in her entirety, free from the limits of convenience, and embrace her blessings with open hearts.
