NOT ONLY GOD BUT ELECTRONIC GADGETS WERE ALSO WORSHIPED IN DIWALI PUJA

In the wake of serious threats to offline business from online retail, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on the festival of Deepawali today adopted a unique way to give a strong message to traders across the Country to up-grade and modernise their existing business format. In a complete blend of ages old Indian tradition and modern age, the CAIT worshiped electronic gadgets like I-Pad, Computer,Laptop and Mobile beside worshiping Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Hanuman in Diwali Pooja.

At a Diwali Puja held today at CAIT Headquarters in New Delhi, in a pure spiritual atmosphere and amid chanting of Vedic Mantras by renowned religious scholar Pandit Pramod Shastri, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi along with electronic gadgets were worshiped in traditional customs & rituals. To protect the offline trade from the clutches of malicious and unfair business practices being adopted by online retailers and the traders also worship Lord Hanuman who is more known as " Sankatmochan"-the savior from crisis.  The worshiping place was decorated with flowers, rose petals and traditional “Vandanwar”, the welcome sign. A standi of ‘Indianlala' holding the computer” depicted desire of  modernising Indian domestic trade. Small clay oil lamps (called Diyas) lit with mustard oil were lined to signify the prosperity through divine light.

While beginning the puja, the scholars while chanting the mantra“Ya Devi Sarvbhuteshu Laxmirupen Sansita- Namastasye, Namastasye Namastayah Namo Namah” called upon all God & Goddess to remain present in puja to witness the worshiping and prayed for smooth passage of puja. Amidst chanting of several mantras in Sanskrit, the scholars initiated the worshiping with customary ‘sankalp’. Both Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi were poured with milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, sugar ( panchamrita) and were also liberally poured over the coins and the deities were offered 16 types of  “pujan samagri” including roli, rice, fruits, sweets, incense sticks & dhoop, shreephal and a beetle affixed with “long” and thereafter the I Pad, Computer, Laptop, mobile and cheque book  were decorated with traditional “ Roli Tilak” and garlands. Amid chanting of 16 Vedic mantras, the worshiping concluded with "Aarti” of Goddess Laxmi followed by’ showering petals on the deities. 

" The worshiping of electronic gadgets in Diwali Poojan amply reflects our views that now it is the time for offline traders to bring necessary changes in their present business format by optimum utilisation of modern techniques of communication. The application like Whatsap, Viber, Instagram, Snapchat, Hike are  already contributing a lot in sending photos of designs of various products instantly not only between traders but also between traders and consumers. Through CAIT Retail School Project, we are already educating traders to use online portals as additional source of generating more business beside conducting business activities in brick & mortar shops"- said Mr. Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General, CAIT. 

However, the CAIT is committed to impress upon the Government to bring Rules, Regulations, Laws & Acts for online retail and to form a Regulatory Authority to regulate and monitor retail trade of India both online and offline. The CAIT also stood firm to its demand of conducting an investigation into entire business module of online retailers and for this purpose it is holding nationwide Dharna on 31st October, 2014. 

 

" Under any circumstances no business in India can run without any Rules & Regulations or checks of the Government. It infringes the principle of equality and also contravene our Right to Trade guaranteed under the Constitution and we are destined to fight for our right"-said Khandelwal.