THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Nov 6: Reeshma Ramesan, Superintendent of Police of Palamu, who is from Kerala, is observing Chhath Puja in all its piety and sanctity for the third consecutive year.
The Jharkhand Story correspondent spoke with Reeshma Ramesan today to learn about her experience of observing the rigorous rituals of Chhath Puja, despite hailing from Kerala, where Onam, the festival of harvest, and Vishu, the festival marking the start of the New Year, are celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm.
Reeshma, whose roots lie in a region where Chhath Puja has yet to gain widespread prominence, shared how she embraced the strict fasting traditions of Chhath Puja where there is the longest spell of fasting that too ‘Nirjala’ (without even a drop of water).
Celebrating each other’s festivals
Reeshma Ramesan said “I am married to an IPS officer Anjani Anjan who hails from Bihar. His family is common and simple. It has deep and sincere roots of religion.”
“I observe Chhath Puja. My husband observes Onam and Vishu. It’s a grand amalgamation of two cultures. It’s a joyous fusion of life, tradition and culture. We respect each other’s festivals. It adds sparkles in our lives.” said Reeshma Ramesan.
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“We love doing festivals of each other like my husband celebrates Onam when it’s there and I perform Chhath Puja when it comes. So it’s a very special sailing for us so far as celebration of the festivals is concerned” reiterated SP Palamu.
Balancing faith and duty
Reminded that it’s peak election time where election works just refuse to end, how easy or difficult she finds it to manage faith and duty at the same time Reeshma Ramesan said “I have a very good team here. I am doing my job with utmost precision. Individually or professionally I find no hiccup anywhere.”
“Chhath Puja is a community based festival. It’s a ‘lok parv’. Onam too is a mass festival. So where the festival is of the masses, things just move on for you. You are not to look around much” Reeshma Ramesan said in a very philosophical tone.
Again asked if Faith does come in the way of duty to which SP Palamu said “Never. Not at all. There is no question of any adjustment. Faith and duty go together. It adds to each other.”
