Invoking Damdami Mata!
By Medha Shri. This year, the V-Day puja at Hindu College took place on February 13 instead of 14. The tree was decorated with condoms and red balloons; with Priyanka Chopra adorning the Virgin Tree as Damdami Mai
MEDHA SHRI Times News Network
This year, Valentine’s came as a relief to many students in the campus. Wondering why? Arre being a Sunday, they didn’t have to cook up excuses to bunk classes or shirk work to meet their beloved. But this very fact called for an emergency meeting in Hindu College, the problem was big – who will attend the famous traditional Damdami Mai ki puja at the Virgin tree, except for the hostellers on a Sunday? So, it was decided that the V-Day celebrations will take place on Feb 13 instead, and therefore, everyone gathered under the famous Virgin Tree to seek the blessings of the love deity. This year, the puja was also special – unlike in the past few years – the tree was decorated not just with balloons and Damdami Mai’s posters, but also condoms! Actually, this was an age-old tradition, that was discontinued, and now, was revived this year.
The title of Damdami Mai or Damdami Mata was bestowed upon Priyanka Chopra, for she has given several hits and made many hearts beat faster last year. But more importantly, it was because “her posters were easily available in Kamla Nagar,” as Vibhor Tyagi, a third year student said, that she became the Mai. Though he added, “She has the oomph factor as well.”
As per the rituals, the current Mr Fresher, Piyush Singh was given the important responsibility of conducting the puja. So, Piyush became the panditji, and appeared on the scene wearing a dhoti and kurta, which he told us, was arranged by his seniors.
There was a wave of excitement amongst the students. The third year students kept a strict vigil for any signs of teachers or pyaar ke dushmans as the students call them, coming that way.
The panditji was greeted with shouts of ‘Damdami Mata ki jai!’ and soon the ritual of invoking the love goddess began. Led by Piyush, everyone sang the aarti to seek Mata’s blessings, so that everyone gets at least one boyfriend/girlfriend. Once the aarti was over, the panditji offered prasad to Priyanka and distributed it among all the student shradhalus. Red holy threads were tied on the wrists of all the dedicated followers, while the Damdami Mai’s jaikara rang in the background.
Piyush said, “I had heard so much about the puja, that I was actually looking forward to conducting it. And interestingly this year we had condoms too. That was fun.” When asked if his parents know about this ritual or if he will tell them that he conducted the rites, he said, “No, they don’t. And I won’t tell them either.” He had no clue as to why Priyanka was given the title of Damdami Mai.
Where did the idea of decorating the tree with condoms come from this year? “See, this is how it is supposed to be done. But the third year students are supposed to take all the risk – as in face the music from the teachers if they ever catch us. Iss baar ke third years ne socha, dekha jayega jo hoga, but let’s not compromise on the rituals,” says a third-year student. Vibhor added, “We wanted to do the Virgin Tree puja following the tradition as closely as possible. That’s where the condoms came in, as they were part of the original ritual.” So, why were there no bhang ladoos, then? They are a part of the ritual too, we pointed out. “We are saving all the bhang for Holi,” answered Vibhor. He also told us that the funds for the puja is donated by all the hostellers, “Jiski Damdami Mata mein jitni shradha hai, s/he donates that much,” he said.
Once the puja was over, everyone dispersed happily. An elated Neha, a first year, says, “This is so cool. I attended the puja, as I had heard so much about it. Now I will tell all my friends about this. They had been asking me so many questions about the V Tree puja.”
