Offerings/Chadhawa
As a ritual I did visit the Gurudwara again and observed the same practice that is followed by all devotee’s. it was the different kind of offerings that they bought, this is a practice followed at all holy places in all religions, though the offerings differ from place to place and from people to people but the practice remains the same while the gist of it has got evicted in this materialistic world. The concept of offerings started with two meaning’s one that what is it that you have to offer to God in a self-less manner, these offering were meant to be the ones related to devotion, love and time and the other concept was of sacrificing materialistic things. The rich and affluent were approached to give offerings that could be used in the interest of under privileged and thereby creating awareness and sensitivity towards mankind.
After many centuries now we have actually forgotten the original concept and now follow the ritual blindly, I myself have been doing this for many years now until today when I realized that if I actually have to offer something it might as well be to the needy. How many of you go and offer clothes that are just touched to the idol or the holly book and kept aside? Have you ever though that the same money can be utilized to buy cloth for a poor person who doesn’t have any, he would be the one who would really cherish your offering and I am sure God will be equally glad with this. When we put money in the money boxes, did you ever think that the same money can be utilized to educate an under privileged child or can be of any other help to such people. Are there already not many people who offer a lot for the maintenance purposes of these places. Trust me they are many rich and the one with black money who would come and put a portion of their income in such boxes thinking that they have done a good deed. Next time when you go ahead with offering of Prashad or the items used to cook them please understand the concept of it, ideally this was to be utilized to feed the hungry and un-privileged ones, this was not to suit the belly of devotee who sits there to eat just for joy or some self-satisfaction. Don’t you get a chance to eat at your own home as well, so what is it that you are doing there? Until or unless you are really hungry and need food for survival. Is it fair to eat from the share of the poor? Prashad was always distributed with a concept that the hungry who visits holy places gets some relief, so that all have equal right to food. Have you ever seen Idols eating or drinking then what is it that you carry for them and why. It’s the priests stomach that demands various food items and not the Idols.
It’s good to follow rituals, but not blindly. Offerings are best accepted by God when they reach the needy at right time in any form.
Manisha Dawar