Let us first understand that India as a whole used to and still does survive predominantly on farming. Additionally, the root of Indian culture has possibly outlasted any other since the primitive ages. Mainly because of the close knit communities, equally tight family ties and very strong. Not least the social network within ones local vicinity. Not only that but of extending a helping hand to anyone in need. Flouting these rules would most certainly be frowned upon. The phrase by 16th century writer John Heywood (1546) comes to mind, “Many Hands Make Light Work”.
Extreme poverty in so many deprived areas meant that for a lot of persons enjoying a meal in itself was a gift. One that otherwise would have been yet another night of uninvited fasting. I am not saying that this has been the case all around but every village, town or city has its own share of poor population.
When a festival takes place, may that be a wedding, an occasional ceremony or even a mass following a funeral, those involved would gather up some funds and food stuff to feed the underprivileged as part of celebration or even as an act of good deed. The food prepared for the near and dear is understandable but here; we are talking about an open invitation to the indigenous population of that particular village, town or the neighbourhood within the urban area.
Not only the feeding of all these people is considered a charitable act as mentioned earlier but also the benefactors such as the shop keepers and their staff who handled the items utilised within the festive occasion, the whole-sellers before them, the distributors and the manufacturers/farmers before them.
The manufacturers being the ones producing the items needed for the services and the farmers growing the food subsequently purchased from the shop-keepers. Then, there are all the ancillaries such as the cloths providers or the transporters for the ones attending. The list can go on right the way through to cleaners of the event thereof.
If I may digress at this point, in almost all the holy books, one loud and clear message is that one ought to offer at least 10% of their income for the benefit of the less privileged. More on this subject will be written under the heading “Ten Percent in Donations” soon. In short however, the message continues that if one disobeys this instruction then the powers to be will take away what rightfully belongs to Him.
It is this part of the charity that at times of family events, happy moments or otherwise, is being dipped into. Just imagine the amount of indirect donations that go into any given event.
Yes, it is true that in the modern westernised culture most of those who come to such events are well fed and often fussy about their diets etc. let alone the raised egos of their alleged higher standard of living; the fact still remains that not all of the guests fall into this sort of category but that the aforementioned ancillaries do actually still benefit. Here are some of the beneficiaries that otherwise would not be thought of as such:
· The carpenters who make up the stools or the Alter (Mandaps)
· The caterers and the servers involved
· The shop-keepers but more importantly the workers therein
· Then there is the cost of transportation and the indirect benefactors of those involvement
· and so on
The one very important category of people is the clothes manufacturers. Just think, how often do you go to an event or are preparing for such event when the ladies of the house make a comment “I don’t have anything to wear!” for crying out loud, the wardrobe is bursting out of its seems but you do not have one piece of garment that you can wear because it is not new and not the one that anyone has not seen! Do you not go out and purchase a new set of clothes, never to be worn after this event?
All in all, for more people that come to celebrate / commiserate the event, the bigger is that charitable pot becomes.
This, my friends, is otherwise known as modern day “net working” and thanking those that have assisted over the years in maintaining this network machinery going …
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