The family was dressed up for Janmāṣṭhami, especially little Mayur with a plastic flute and a cardboard peacock feather. In front of them was a simple decoration of flowers and toys.
When the clock struck 12 and their fervor reached its peak, there was a knock on the door.
When the clock struck 12 and their fervor reached its peak, there was a knock on the door.
The father, surprised, opened the door and stared at the familiar uniforms of the dreaded troops of the Major Legion for Effective Constitutional Hinduism Affairs.
The "Major" was an inside joke in the ministry, just like everything else in the name for the not-so-secret police.
The "Major" was an inside joke in the ministry, just like everything else in the name for the not-so-secret police.
The leader of the troops, dressed in a red-and-red military uniform and a green beret, looked like a tumorous chili.
His face was covered with a white mask and all one could see were the kohl-heavy eyes as red as the uniform, eyes which were now piercing the hapless father.
His face was covered with a white mask and all one could see were the kohl-heavy eyes as red as the uniform, eyes which were now piercing the hapless father.
"Huzoor!" pleaded the father, using the right appellation despite the shock.
The leader pointed his baton inside and his troops stormed the hall. One of them measured the little Kṛṣṇa using a vernier caliper.
"A millimeter more than the 20mm we generously allow," he barked.
The leader pointed his baton inside and his troops stormed the hall. One of them measured the little Kṛṣṇa using a vernier caliper.
"A millimeter more than the 20mm we generously allow," he barked.
The eyes of the leader got redder. Another pointed to the flowers and the prasād, not even indicating what generous allowance was violated.
Yet another used a chromatometer on the clothes worn by the family. "Unapproved colors," he said. "Too orange and not the right green."
Yet another used a chromatometer on the clothes worn by the family. "Unapproved colors," he said. "Too orange and not the right green."
A signal from the leader and the troops began to dismantle everything. Flowers were trampled upon, prasād was flung into a garbage bag, toys were crushed.
The little Kṛṣṇa, a millimeter higher, was thrown into a sack to be carried across the Yamuna without the waters parting.
The little Kṛṣṇa, a millimeter higher, was thrown into a sack to be carried across the Yamuna without the waters parting.
Mayur watched helplessly but his ten-year old patience ran out watching his father's kurta being torn because it was a shade more orange than Fanta.
"Leave him alone, you rākśasas!" he shouted. They threw him down, but at least he distracted them from his mother's green saree.
"Leave him alone, you rākśasas!" he shouted. They threw him down, but at least he distracted them from his mother's green saree.
In a span of a few minutes the frolic and fervor was replaced by sobs and tears, the decibel and the radius, respectively, of which were next in line by the ministry to regulate.
Mayur felt anger rising in him the way Garuḍa rose after obtaining amṛta, but he was no Garuḍa.
Mayur felt anger rising in him the way Garuḍa rose after obtaining amṛta, but he was no Garuḍa.
In the 3 years since Diwali and Holi were completely banned under the then newly constituted Ministry for Hindu Reformation (MoHRe), a series of laws were passed by the government, upheld by courts, and executed by the Major Legion for Effective Constitutional Hinduism Affairs.
For every Hindu festival that was still graciously allowed, the authorities blared the restrictions from mosque loudspeakers continually (cannot be continuously for the obvious five reasons).
The pūjāgrah of a Hindu home was as much a property of the government as Hindu temples.
The pūjāgrah of a Hindu home was as much a property of the government as Hindu temples.
Instead of the usual Delhi, the HQ of MoHRe was decided to be in Sivakasi, a model, modern city that had shed its regressive ways faster than peapods can be peeled.
The mushrooming white buildings were perfect for the Major Legion for Effective Constitutional Hinduism Affairs.
The mushrooming white buildings were perfect for the Major Legion for Effective Constitutional Hinduism Affairs.
In Delhi air pollution had skyrocketed to expand maximum government any further.
Since Diwali had been declared the only source of pollution by the then govt., and Diwali had then been banned, a law was promptly passed that the Delhi air be considered pure regardless of the AQI.
Since Diwali had been declared the only source of pollution by the then govt., and Diwali had then been banned, a law was promptly passed that the Delhi air be considered pure regardless of the AQI.
After eradicating Hindu festivals in public as if they were a virus, the govt. had felt restless like the Dutch sailors after they had hunted the last dodo.
"If Hindu temples are ours," they ratiocinated, "does it matter if they are inside homes?"
So started the persecution.
"If Hindu temples are ours," they ratiocinated, "does it matter if they are inside homes?"
So started the persecution.
"Papa," said Mayur. "When I grow up I want to be strong enough to defeat these rākśasas."
His father, lovingly cleaning up the place, redecorating it, and using a small picture of Kṛṣṇa instead (20x15mm), nodded with a smile.
"Tell me the story of Holi, Papa," said Mayur.
His father, lovingly cleaning up the place, redecorating it, and using a small picture of Kṛṣṇa instead (20x15mm), nodded with a smile.
"Tell me the story of Holi, Papa," said Mayur.
"In days of yore," said the father, "there lived an Asura king, Hiraṇyakaśipu."
"I know that one, Papa," said Mayur. "I want to hear again the story of Holi and how it was celebrated."
The father stared at a distance. "It is too late, Mayur," he said. "Let's go to sleep." /
"I know that one, Papa," said Mayur. "I want to hear again the story of Holi and how it was celebrated."
The father stared at a distance. "It is too late, Mayur," he said. "Let's go to sleep." /
Loading suggestions...