FAITH defies logic and the youngsters are no different. In today’s ‘mobile’ world, faith has assumed significance for them even in the form of devotional ringtones, caller tunes and wallpapers of gods and goddesses. From Hanuman Chalisa, Gayatri mantra, Ganesh mantra to Gurbani, ringtones based on devotional songs and bhajans have now comprehensively replaced the monotonous filmy tones inherent in the mobile handsets of particularly the youths. Shlokas, hymns and chants are also the sounds that are making rounds as SMSes and alarms on mobile phones. Unlike some years back when the restless youngsters preferred rocky, hippy film ringtones, they now are mostly hooked to the .
For them, in the age of speed this is one of their modes to resort to spirituality when they need it the most.
Sonal Agarwal, an MCom student of Ravenshaw University, who has a Ganesha caller tune and wallpaper on her mobile phone says, “I set the tune on the Ganesh Chaturthi day and I continue to have it till date. It literally means anytime, anywhere blessings. No intermediaries.” Sonal also has a set of shlokas which she keeps circulating among her group of friends.
Another college-goer, Sundeep Singh, a student of ABIT, says it gives him a sense of satisfaction when he hears the Gayatri Mantra set in his mobile phone as the ringtone. “There are times when it’s just you, your God and your cellphone. Not just spiritual satisfaction, it also helps me gain confidence,” he says.
Ankit Mishra has always set Sai bhajans as his ringtones. “My family has been involved with ‘Sai Bhakti’ for so many years now. So preferring Sai bhajans to film downloads come naturally to me,” he says.
Mobile operators providing ringtone download facilities say youths mostly prefer the Gayatri Mantra, Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh, Devi Jagrata, Om Jai Jagadish Hare, and Venkatesha Suprabhatam and many region-specific aarti songs and mantras as ringtones. Mobile companies and operators see a huge trade opportunity through this trend, as industry sources estimate that over 40,000 devotional ringtones are downloaded every month by young customers across the country.
Dr D.K. Pal, a psychologist, says this is the reflection of modern Oriya youths. “They cannot let go of their roots even as they cling on item songs and wallpapers of under-clad nubile women. While “Dhan te nan” song is one of the most popular downloads at present, so is the Gayatri Mantra,” he said.
Psychologist and the Chairman of Psychologists Association of India Gopal Kar says the trend of devotional ringtones has lately caught up due to stressed out lifestyles of the youths. “These religious songs act as stress-relieving channels as they are soothing on the mind. And as mobile phone usage is normally high among the youths, they keep these songs as welcome notes or ringtones,” he adds.
To keep up with the times, even mobile phone manufacturers have come up with different schemes to cater to the religious tastes of the youths. There are companies that make phones which come with pre-recorded prayers.
diana@expressbuzz.com