There was a time when people used signs to com-municate with each other because they did not haveany other option before language developed. Thosesigns slowly began to take shape in the form of pat-terns and pre-historic men began drawing on walls ofcaves. Cut to the modern age and nothing haschanged, it seems. We still use signs to communicate.Perhaps we don’t go about drawing on the walls ofcaves any more. Instead we use a short cut communi-cation message through the all-pervasive and popu-lar ‘emoji’. It is described as, “a small digital image oricon used to express an idea or emotion in electroniccommunication.”

As emojis proliferate in different avatars, there issome soul searching going on too. Has the emoji madelife easier to communicate in this rush-rush age?

How are the millennials faring when it comes to theuse of emoji?

But first, why do we use the emoji?“We mostly use emojis like gestures, as a way of

enhancing emotional expressions,” points out LindaKaye, senior lecturer in psychology at Edge HillUniversity in the UK.

“There are a lot of idiosyncrasies in how we gesture,and emojis are similar to that, especially because ofthe discrepancies as to how and why we use them,” sheadds in article she was quoted.

The quickest way but too impersonal...Many agree that the emoji makes a message too

impersonal. However, the silver lining is that it is thequickest way to convey one’s message.

“Emojis are certainly a good way to communicate

an idea in the quickest way possible. But I also think itmakes the communication impersonal,” says filmmak-er and LGBTQ activist Sridhar Rangayan.

Tulika Bhaduri, a Kolkata-based PR professional,feels that an emoji can never substitute a live conver-sation.

“Emoji exaggerates communication gap since everyemotion can’t be justified with a mere symbol. Therehas to be a soul in a conversation which the use of theemoji can never fill in,” she feels.

Some like international Tennis umpire SaibalBanerjee feels that the concept of emoji is flawed.Banerjee states that one should communicate for theneed of it. “If I want to wish my mother on her birth-day, I should be able to pick up the phone and call her.And if that is not a viable option, a simple messageinstead of the emoticons is way better.”

Age doesn’t matter, personality does “The way millennials use these emojis is amazing

while expressing themselves, and certainly theyunderstand it better,” says Rangayan.

However, US comedian Dane Cook has a theory ofhis own.

Catering to a room full of listeners, he jokes, “It’slike Egyptian hieroglyphics, you can”t decipher it.Nobody knows, only the Illuminati knows what thef**k those girls are sending back and forth to eachother.”

The punch line is met with loud cheers and claps.It’s only a joke, or is it?

In a 2014 survey among Americans, around 1000 innumber, the data showed that only 54 per cent of

emoji users were in the age group of 18-34 (millenni-als).

Use of emoji may actually be more closely related topersonality than age, say experts.

Racism? Diversity? Take your pickOn July 17, an unsuspecting Tim Cook tweeted that

his company Apple was launching a new set of emoji,one that consisted of a ‘hijab’ emoji. What followedthereby was a tug of war between people who thoughtit was a great idea and the others who slammed it forbeing too pro-Islamic.

Replying to Cook’s tweet, a Twitter user wrote: “Thehijab is a symbol of oppression. By including it as anemoji you are showing your support for the oppressionof women.”

While another user tweeted sarcastically: “So Appleis launching a hijabi emoji? Great! When can weexpect one glorifying #FGM? Or marital rape? Maybea suicide bomber one?”

Another recent development in cases of emoji is theuse of various shades.

In text messaging App like WhatsApp, a user canopt to send either a white ‘thumbs up’ or a black one ora brownish one, depending on his or her wish. Earlier,it was limited to just one colour: golden.

While the golden emojis are there by default, theadded flexibility has raised an important question: Doemojis promote racism via colour segregation?

“Probably promoting racism on a lighter note; how-ever, you never know how colossal it might becomewhen taken seriously,” feels Bhaduri.

Contrary to Bhaduri’s observation, Rangayan statesthat it bridges ethnic identities.

“Multi-coloured emoji are again a move towardsembracing diversity and I feel it is a very welcomechange. I see it as bridging ethnic identities,” he states.

Banerjee feels that multicoloured emoji were wel-comed by certain groups in parts of America andEurope, who stated that it was one way to relate withone’s heritage, and hence the blame, if at all, should beshared by all users.

LGBTQ emoji definitely a welcome idea...but has itsflip-side

If there is one thing agreed on about the LGBTQemoji and the virtual world is that it has certainly donebetter than in real life in terms of acceptance.However, there is a flip-side too.

“Inclusion of LGBTQ emoji is definitely a very wel-come idea and the community feels included and inte-grated into mainstream conversation. The virtualworld is definitely more open and embracing of diver-sity,” says Rangayan. But he adds, “Therein lies a dan-ger too. Most youngsters seem to be comfortable in thevirtual cocoon and can get very depressed when theyencounter discrimination and violence in the realworld because of their sexual orientation or genderidentity”

For Bhaduri, the issue should be looked into withmore detail and consideration.

“LGBTQ is a serious subject and according to me ithas to be considered on real platforms rather thanacknowledging it on virtual ones,” she says.

Even though cyber bullying is a grave crime, thenumber of deaths resulting from it is much fewer thanthose stemming from shootouts and knife attacks.

This issue also has Rangayan worried. As he says,“In the virtual world people can only troll with words,but in the real world, they can be even physical in theiraggression.”

It can be racist in a way. It can churn up a contro-versy, but there’s no denying that emoji are a go-totool in electronic conversations today. However, noth-ing beats a short crisp sentence, while trying to conveya message. (TWF)

Navratri is a nine-day festival whichholds immense significance for theHindus. Moreover, it is also one ofthe most ancient festivals.

The festival was held in its most elemental form evenin prehistoric times as Maa Shakti was worshipped. Inorder to have the blessings of Maa Shakti in human life,Hindus worship Maa Durga and all her feminine aspectsof divine femininity over nine days and nine nights. Theessence of the festival has found its way into the collectiveconsciousness of the devotees.

As most festivals are intertwined with their seasonalaspect, Navratri is hardly an exception. Navratri is held atthe two most important junctions of the year - during theonset of spring season and again during the commence-ment of the winter season. Navratri is celebrated fourtimes in a year, but the most significant in terms of pub-lic celebration and elaborate rituals are Chaitra andSharad Navratri. Chaitra Navratri marks the first day ofLuni-Solar calendar of the Hindus, which generally fallsin March or April. Similarly, Sharad Navratri marks theglorious period starting during the months of September-October. The ninth day during Chaitra Navaratri is cele-brated as Ram Navami as the birthday of Lord Ramawhile Sharad Navratri culminates in Dussehra or'Vijayadashmi'.

In both Chaitra and Vasant Navratri, allnine days are dedicated to the worship ofthe nine forms of Maa Shakti with theelaborate customs and rituals.Chaitra Navratri is also known as'Vasant Navratri' and is rooted inthe legend of prince Sudarsana,who emerged victorious in warwith the blessings of Maa Shaktiand performed 'havan' in herhonour during Vasanta Navratri.Sri Ram and Lakshman, duringtheir ordeal to save Mata Sita fromher captivity, performed a simiar'havan' and emerged victorious in theirtask. During Sharad Navratri, VijayaDashmiis celebrated to mark Shri Rama's victory over Ravana,creating an exhilarating mood.

The devotees sincerely worship the nine incarnationsof Goddess Durga for nine days to overcome the effect ofnegative forces through her blessings and protection.Each day has its own significance as it is dedicated to oneof her forms: Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta,Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri,Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Devotees observe fasting,chant mantras, sing hymns, recite chapters from

Markandeya Purana and sing devotionalsongs during Navratri to be blessed withprosperity, health and wisdom in their life.While fasting and praying is a strong prac-

tice, it is believed abstinence from alcoholicdrinks, grains, wheat and onion help seekers

to be better able to imbibe the traits that MaaDurga in her different forms represent. 'Jaagran'

and 'Mata ki Chowki' are an integral part of the tra-dition to invoke the goddess name and to be in harmonywith the divine energy of Maa Durga.

NINE DAYS OF NAVRATRINavartra literally means 'nine auspicious nights'. It is

actually the worship of the Goddess of power in order toseek her protection from any possible kind of threat andcalamities that may destroy the peaceful life of people onearth. As she is the goddess of power, she is believed tohave the power of creation, preservation and destruction.

Navaratri is separated into sets of three days i.e. intothree sets. These sets are made in order to adore differentfacets of the supreme goddess. On the initial three days,the Goddess is invoked as the supreme powerful forcecalled Durga. Goddess Durga is meant to all our contam-inations, evils and defects. On the next three days, she isworshipped as the mother of spiritual wealth, GoddessLakshmi, She is the one who is considered to have thepower of showering on her devotees with the blessings ofnever-ending wealth. In the final set of three days, theGoddess is worshipped as the goddess of wisdom,Saraswati. The one is responsible for spiritual enlighten-ment and overall success in life.

She is also worshipped under nine different names forthe nine days in Navratri. Every day, she assumes a newcharacter, a new look and a new duty. She is worshippedas Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta,

Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, MahaGauri and Siddhidatri. For the initial six the Pooja cele-brations are limited to home. The celebrations acquire afestive form since the seventh day when the festivities ofNavratri surround the atmosphere.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazineAA ppoooorr sshhooww ...Page 4 Roots of Rajputs..Page 3

MESSAGEIN A

SHORT CUT

The devoteessincerely worship

the nine incarnationsof Goddess Durga for

nine days to overcomethe effect of negative

forces through herblessings and

protection.

SHARAD NAVRATRI

FIRST DAY POOJAThe first form of Goddess Durga is called

Shailputri . She is considered the daughter of theHimalayas. She is a form of Shakti, the consort ofLord Shiva.

SECOND DAY POOJAThe second form of Goddess Durga is known as

'Brahmacharini'. Her name is derivative of theword 'Brahma', which means 'Tapa' or penace.She is also a form of Uma or Parvati, a form ofMata Shakti.

THIRD DAY POOJAOn the third day the goddess is worshipped as

Chandraghanta. She is the symbolic representa-tion of beauty and bravery.

FOURTH DAY POOJAKushmanda, is the form of the goddess which

is worshipped on the fourth day. It is believed thatKushmanda is the creator of the entire Universeand she has created the entire Universe by herlaugh.

FIFTH DAY POOJAOn the fifth day, the form of Goddess is called

Skand Mata. She is actually called so becauseshe is here represented as the mother of Skanda,the chief warrior of the Gods army.

SIXTH DAY POOJAOn the sixth day, the goddess is worshipped as

Katyayani. Seated on her vehicle lion, Katyayanihas three eyes and four hands.

SEVENTH DAY POOJAOn the seventh day, the Goddess is wor-

shipped as 'Kalratri'. As the name suggests, Kalratiis as black as a dark night. She has four hands, sheis meant to make the devotees fearless.

EIGHTH DAY POOJA On the eight day, the Mata Rani is worshipped

as 'Maha Gauri'. She is considered to extremelybeautiful, white like snow and accessorized withwhite colored ornaments. She represents calm-ness and exhibits wisdom.

NINTH DAY POOJA On the ninth day, Durga is worshipped as

Siddhidatri. It is believed she consists of all theeight siddhis. She lives on lotus and is worshippedby all the Rishis-Munis, Siddhas, Sadhakas andYogis.

Courtesy :http://www.indiaonlinepages.com

While emoji-crazy millennials grow in number, the digital modern day ideograms pop up in newavatars too, capturing everything from religion and race to sexual orientation. Sudipto Maity probes