Is the man made custom and tradition overlapping the actual custom and tradition which is proving to be negative impact on the children and the society? This is the question that everybody should once think seriously.
As said that Education starts at home and the responsibility of teaching children fall on parents. But what is seen in the recent times is that the parents are being liberal on every aspect of children with thinking that a child will understand by itself the right and wrong of the society over the period of time. In this modern era the whole concept of this festival has changed. People now are more into manmade custom and traditions that has a negative impact on the society such as gambling and drinking. These impacts are seen more on children. Now we can very much see children gambling and the elders being a part of that. All have eyes are on who is winning and who is not, but no one realizes that children are being pushed into adopting all the negative influence of the festival.
During the field visit, one could see that the preparation of the festival has already begun with people coloring and decorating their houses and could see the people gather on the roadside and gambling. The game is called DICE and is very popular gambling game during the festival. As we proceeded further in the village we could see this game being played by the children on the roadside. A small Child of STD 3 was the owner with a bag down his neck with lots of coins in it. The game was handled by another STD 3 child. A group of children surrounds the Dice board and putting their money into it. All the children were of same age group were playing with full interest. The elders of the village were moving around without being bothered by the fact that their children were gambling instead of going to school. They were at first quite hesitant to talk with us thinking that we might be police. We convinced them that we are just visiting the village than we had a conversation with the child who was the owner of the dice board, he was very much proud to say that it was his board and was earning money. On asking about the school he bluntly replied that he did not go to the school. After this we visited the school and approached the teachers with the question of children gambling rather than attending the school, their question was straight that the festive mood has started and the children are not on the mood to study and nothing can be done. Their saying was that the parents have very less interest in their children learning and education. Also came to highlight through them that the playing of dice has been popular from past four to five years and also have attracted the children the most.
In the whole process what was shocking to see that all the village people including the teachers have no realization or act like one on the fact that the children were learning the flaw that are in the society and nothing is done to make it right.
What can be done to overcome these negative impacts on our children?
Figure 1. The view of village from the Brahmaputra
