Mother’s Day

Like festivals and folklore behind festivals as also their traditions are my favourite topics, the dedicated days are another theme that interests me. Of course, the interest is not that of curiosity or to spread the message of unity, harmony that is associated with festivals and their celebrations, but it’s the one filled with cynicism! How can you remember and pay obeisance or attention to your father, lover, teacher and above all your mother only on a designated day?

For us, Indians, mother is god because we pray goddess as mother. East has Durga and Kali, while North has Mata Vaishnodevi. Gujarat has Ma Ambay and Bhavani, while our very own Mumbai is named after Mumba Devi. Shitla temple at Mahim is amongst the oldest temples in the city. Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, while Saraswati bestows knowledge, wisdom and arts. Jai Santoshi Ma based on miracles by Santoshi Ma competed with Sholay when all other movies were biting the dust. Mount Mary in Mumbai and Velankanni church in the state of Tamil Nadu celebrate miracles around Mother Mary. Who in India does not feel beholden to Mother Teresa or simply Mother, French occultist and an associate of Sri Aurobindo, who made Pondicherry her home?

While we revere all the above, what about our own mothers, who have brought us into this world? A mother makes supreme sacrifice right from carrying the foetus in her tummy for 9 months to breastfeeding the infant to spending sleepless nights tending an unwell or cranky child to worrying about child’s studies, career, marriage to giving her best affection to her child’s children, her grandchildren. Only a mother could be such an epitome of selfless love, affection, patience and persistence. And what children in return do for their parents, especially mothers? Ignore her requirements in pursuance of money, career, ambition, wife, own children, assets creation and world hopping! There are heart rending real life cases of children, especially sons, abandoning old and frail mothers to fend for themselves; more caring and prosperous put them in age old homes.

Our houses have become bigger,

With all spaces filled with utmost luxury,

But our hearts have shrunk,

That’s causing a great deal of misery.

We are busy in winning the rat race,

And have no time for anything else to tell;

We celebrate mother’s existence on Mother’s Day;

Rest of the year she remains only in her shell.

Mothers are irreplaceable for that’s the only relationship that’s selfless, caring about nothing else but the child’s well being and betterment. Her child is Centre to her life for whom she cares 24×7, 365 days. Let’s reciprocate that by talking to her at least once every week rather than needing a Mothers Day to reflect on her existence and well being.

As an aside, the modern Mother’s day began in the United States, at the initiative of Anna Jarvis in the early 20th century. This is not (directly) related to the many traditional celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have existed throughout the world over thousands of years, such as the Greek cult to Cybele, the Roman festival of Hilaria, or the Christian Mothering Sunday celebration (originally a commemoration of Mother Church, not motherhood). However, in some countries, Mother’s Day is still synonymous with these older traditions.

Whatever be it’s genesis or historical significance, let’s make a resolution of making each day a Mother’s Day by at least thinking about her and thanking her for our life and existence.

Happy Mothers Day!