Despite tall claims of not being superstitious, when it comes to filing nomination papers, all party members, barring CPM, are waiting for Pitru-Paksha to get over.
Pitru-Paksha is the fortnight during which rituals like 'shraddha' or 'tapan' are performed for ancestors (pitaras) and is considered to be inauspicious.
The Pitru-Paksha started from the day after Anant Chaturdashi -- last immersion day of the Ganesh festival. During Pitru-Pakhsha, one pays homage to souls of their forefathers and is believed by many as an inauspicious time for any new beginning, important work or even for buying. The election commission announced the assembly election schedule with last date for filing nomination as September 27, 2014. However, Pitru-Paksha ends on September 24 morning at 11.43am. It seems likely that most of the prominent leaders would file their nomination papers on the 24th and after.
Admitting that such superstitions prevail within political circles, Congress spokesperson Anant Gadgil said, "I personally don't believe in it. If a particular day is auspicious for filing nominations, then all candidates filing nominations on that day should win."
He, however, pointed out that even if a particular leader does not believe in Pitru-Paksha, his followers or supporters force him to respect his electorate's sentiments and that is how they fall prey to superstitions.
BJP chief spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said, "As far as the BJP is concerned, I know that one of our leaders check for auspicious muhurat (time) for filing nominations. But, I believe, the leaders of Congress-NCP ruling alliance must not care about Pitru-Paksha or an auspicious muhurat since they are the ones who passed the anti-superstitions bill.'
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) state general secretary Ashok Dhavle told dna that talking about secularism yet being conscious of an auspicious day is nothing but hypocrisy, a line the CPM refuses to toe. He said that party candidates from Dahanu, Pathri and Solapur would be filing their nominations on September 22, 23 and 24. One of the NCP leaders, on the condition of anonymity, said nominations would be filed after the Sarvapitri Amavasya (September 24) which is the last day of the Pitru-Paksha.
Thane politicians to follow suit
Even Thane will see a rush for filing nominations after Pitru-Paksha is over. Pratap Sarnaik Thane MLA shares "It is an age old tradition and a personal choice and if i days are there hence, i would consider filing the nomination any day after 24th September 2014." Jeetendra Awhad MLA and minister of medical education and horticulture of Maharashtra said, "I am waiting for the list of party candidates to be announced. But I do believe in what society follows and also in our traditions that has been followed for so long."
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