by Ayush Moitra ( 16 years)
The idea of being an atheist sounds very appealing. The prospect of being above petty beliefs and faiths, being cool and modern, sounds good in theory. However, like many things, it differs vastly in application, as I realised when a Durga Puja was held in my very home. According to the 2011 census, 0.24% of India’s population is not religious, and facing the 99.76% was like a big question mark to my beliefs. However, an atheist does not hate God. An atheist simply disbelieves in the concept of God, so even though I didn’t believe in these rituals, I could still observe the unifying effect of such festivals on our community. The concept of a higher power maintaining righteousness is often comforting to people, and people united under this common belief to celebrate this festival. I definitely enjoyed the experience, regardless of my religious beliefs, and I look forward to more such celebrations in the future!
