The Quest of the Common Man

I am a believer. I pray, I visit temples, I do pujas, and I genuinely feel a connection with God. This is not a post against religion or rituals. In fact, I value them deeply. But lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how spirituality is practiced in modern Indian families including my own. A few days ago, my mother insisted that we must go to a temple because it was Magha Purnima. We had just returned from Shirdi, spent a decent amount of money, and my salary comes every month, but my responsibilities arrive even faster. I suggested we go later, calmly, on another day. She said, “No, no. Today is very special.” That moment made me pause. Not because I didn’t want to go to the temple but because I wondered: Why does God suddenly become more available on certain dates? Growing up, faith was simple. We prayed regularly, celebrated festivals, and visited temples with a sense of peace. Today, spirituality feels different. Every day on YouTube or social media, there is a new “s...