Happiness

I was sitting in a massive pandal of भागवत कथा वाचन. For those who doesn't know about Bhagwat Katha, it is 7 days reading book fest. A learned person is chosen as Vyas and he reads the Bhagwat Katha, story of all the avtars of Lord Vishnu according to Hindu mythology. Aacharya/vyas ji was reading the story, singing Bhajans and Shloks also. Most of the stories were already known to me. What I have read myself or watched in several mythological serials on television. So I wasn't much interested in listening what he was saying. But i was still sitting there partially listening to Vyas ji, partially observing ladies sitting next, left, right, all around me. That is the best utilization of time I could think of that time. In the story, Lord Rama was born and Vyas ji started singing a bhajan to welcome the lord and to give wishes to His parents for His arrival. As the live orchestra (includes a tabla, harmonium, a flute and a vocal artist) joined Vyas ji, I saw a lady in red saree stood up having an musical instrument in her hands like clap and started dancing showly. Soon she was joined with other ladies. I laughed and thought women/girls just need a reason to dance then I cast my eyes at the other end of Pandaal. Some of the men also dancing at the birth celebration of Lord Rama. I noticed an old lady (must be in her fifties) she was also dancing 3 rows in front of me. She was wearing Rajasthani Ghaghra Choli and white color Rajasthani bangles till her elbows. She looked happy and content like she doesn't need anything in her life. Like she has surrendered herself in the name of Lord. Bhajan ended and everyone sat down. Vyasji continued his story till Krishna janma. By that time everyone indulged themselves in the struggle Vasudev, father of Krishna, put to save the life of his new born son. I saw the pain in everyone's eye. How desperately they waited for the birth of their lord. As Krishna was born in the story Vyasji started singing another bhajan to wish Maa Yashoda and Nand baba on the birth of their son. (If you wonder Vasudev was father of Krishna then what is relation between Vasudev and Nand baba, you have to read Hindu mythology) This time half of the crowd stood from their place and started dancing. I am not fond of loud music so I was not at all liking what they were doing. At first I thought its bullshit. Hindu Gurus and Pandits take advantage of common man's spiritual beliefs. But then I saw a couple of faces. They were happy. They were enjoying themselves. The loud music (precisely noise). The crowd must be around 150 people. 50% were senior citizen. 30% were house wives from middle class society. Senior citizen who have done everything in their life and now all they wanted is to serve God for his beautiful gift of life to the. . House wives who wake up first in their home, serve the need of everyone at their homes. There must not be any excitement in their life. House wives who usually gossip about neighbour's daughter/son. No gossiping here. They were listening to the story and now dancing as if a baby is born in their family. Everyone was happy. Some were happily dancing some were happy seeing everyone dancing. It was a beautiful sight to watch. I, who was least interested sometimes back, felt happiness. This reminded me that one of my friend once said to me , what matters is that we are happy at the end of the day. He is usually happy at the end of the day because he gets to eat good food.  Happiness is in our happiness. Taking our sadness to our bed at night is never a good idea. Finding out what makes us happy is not a big task. It could be watching a good movies, your fav tv serial, eating/making good food, reading books, writing a piece on something happen in day, praying, a walk, singing, a drive/ride, playing a musical instrument/sport, painting or anything you like. We just need to look forward to be happy. Once in a while feeling sad is normal. We are human being and anything can make us sad. But to remain sad or look forward for happiness is in our hand. So, choose happiness.