1.

Read the following passage carefully. What comes to your mind when you think of the word “festival”? If I was asked this question a decade back, I would immediately picture lights, colours, sweets, sitting with the family at a puja, even church hymns and Christmas carols. But now, when someone mentions Diwali, I think of the new clothes in the shop window which my mother promised to buy me. Christmas makes me think of the wrapped boxes sitting under the miniature tree or on my bedstead — or of the “cool new” products shown on TV which they claim are a “must-have” for the season. And I know it is not just me. Commercialisation has changed the way we look at anything in today’s world. Advertising has channeled our minds in such a way that we only think of what we stand to gain during a festival. Gone are the “festivals” I knew as a child — back when nobody cared about what you wore or what you got as a present, but instead all that mattered was having fun and appreciating the day for what it symbolized. Weeks ahead of Christmas, Easter, Diwali, or almost any other existing festival, we see advertisement boards on the streets flashing their discounts and their “specials”, and turning on the TV means being shown about a hundred different advertisements about different brands and their attempt at “spreading the festive cheer” and using the season as an excuse to exploit the wallets of eager consumers. Commercialisation of festivals has eaten into the essence of why we celebrate these festivals and is also accused by many of being a “sacrilege”. A main concern, especially for environmentalists, is the commercialisation of Diwali, and the use of firecrackers, which cause various types of pollution, which make conditions worse for humans as well as animals.If we think of festivals as simply another way of indulging ourselves and spending money, it ruins the very purpose of the religious celebration. The effect of commercialization can be seen especially in young children — how many kids are there who are more concerned with why Christmas or Holi are celebrated, than about what they will be receiving for them? Festivals are not meant to be opportunities for financial gain for brands and companies. They are meant to be occasions for religious observance and for people to understand and respect the meaning behind them.A. On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary— minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.B. Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.

Answer»

A. TITLE: Festivals Commercialised 

NOTES : 

1. festivals a decade back: 

1. had religious significance 

2. sanctity 

3. had no association with must-have products 

4. meant fun and appreciatn of what it symbolised 

2. festivals today mean: 

1. buying latest product 

2. new ciths 

3. comer 

4. indulging ourslvs 

3. impact of advertising and comer 

1. brands attempt to spread festive cheer 

2. exploit eager custmr 

3. eat into spirit of fes 

4. child unaware of their sig 

5. increase in envir polluters e.g. firecrackers 

Key to Abbreviations 

appreciatn : appreciating 

ciths : clothes 

comer. : commercialisation 

ourslvs : ourselves 

custmr : customer

fes : festival 

envir : environment 

B. SUMMARY 

A decade back festivals had religious sanctity and were appreciated for what they symbolized. They were fun to celebrate and were not associated with buying ‘musthave products’. Today festivals mean indulging ourselves by buying the latest products and new clothes. This is due to the commercialization of festivals through advertising. Advertising attempts to spread festive cheer thus exploiting the customer. This has eaten into the spirit of festivals. Children are unaware of the significance of festivals. Commercialization has increased environmental polluters like firecrackers especially during Diwali.



Discussion

No Comment Found

Related InterviewSolutions