Even much before the onset of Corona, there had been immense restrictions imposed regarding celebrations of various festivals – be it on the grounds of noise pollution, air pollution, water pollution, health hazards, etc. and with Covid-19 the restrictions had added manifold, with new concepts like SMS viz., social distancing, wearing mask, sanitizing, limitation in gatherings, etc. thereby many of the festivals losing its fanfare. India is known worldwide for its varied cultural diversity and religious festivals celebrated with grandeur, which have been further badly affected due to the current pandemic situation. But it can be said the worst affected are only the downtrodden and middle class for whom such festivities are the only source of entertainment. For the rich class, they have their own celebrations by way of parties in farmhouse and what not and every passing day is no less than a festival for those.
Even during marriage ceremonies one could witness huge fireworks when it is the marriage of offspring of some big shot(s). At the same time, poor middle class in general and their children, in particular, are confined to themselves even during such festival times and cannot expect to play Holi like before, cannot buy crackers for Diwali like before, cannot visit Durga Puja pandal, etc. thereby leading to a life without fervour and energy if not dead. Why only festivals, even for functions organized post death of near and dear ones, there are restrictions on numbers like 20 and whereas for any socially recognized big figures, there are hardly such restrictions, if at all, how much it is practically implemented is debatable.
This Corona period has further made the children of poor and middle class more confined to home with hardly any source of entertainment except television and the majority of the family could hardly afford smart phones, lap tops, video games and other state of the art gadgets which are accessible easily for the children from higher income groups and elite class. Each passing day there is a sort of insecure feeling owing to the Covid epiphamies, added to that is the rising pollution level and rise in number of crimes due to the financial difficulties that has cropped up and new techniques of theft, looting, etc. Till the time, one is safe from Covid or its variant such as delta, omicron, delmicron, etc. all would seem well and normal, once it attacks, then the situation of the poor and middle class becomes even more pitiable and will definitely be no less than any nightmare, unlike the well-offs for whom the Covid affect is just like a fashion statement proudly talking about the just mild-symptoms of the disease.
Even otherwise, the days are now nothing less than any nightmare and particularly the middle and lower middle class are just passing the days trying to meet their both ends. All said and done, there is a deep fear lingering in almost everyone’s inner self and now life has become like that, thanks to Corona and its relatives – Delta variant, Omicron, Delmicron and what to say, many more might be waiting to call-on!
