Devotion - The driving force

Last week our group of friends have gathered in yet another Get-together function, which we make on birthday or wedding day of any of our group members. That day it was no different but added more fun, because my friend started an interesting argument. The argument was about his favourite film actor. To say least, my friend is a die-hard fan of the actor. He will be the first man to gain entry in to the theater for the first show on day one. I admired him many times for possessing this skill. This time also he was the first man to watch the movie on very first day. The movie flopped is a different matter. It would neither bother nor refrain him from the next movie. He strongly and very loudly presented his statements. His voice rose unusally and reached highest decibel level. And that is his strength. He said at one stage of argument that He is ready to dance in front of the theater like many other devotees, who do dancing during processions. What a true statement is it. I have seen many people, from six years old to sixty years old, both genders included, dancing in front of processions during Ganesh chathurthi and other festivals. I wondered, whether they have ever envisioned themselves dancing in front of a crowd, whether they are drunk, or lost their ego. In some other processions, I have seen many people with arrow pierced through their cheeks, and pulling cars with needles hooked on their body. Don't they feel the pain? What is driving them to perform this kind of impulsive activities? I can only say, it is devotion. True devotion. It may look eccentric sometimes. But, it is devotion which drives them to act in an unusual manner surmounting the ego. Ego is the most powerful force we, human beings, possess. But, it is the same damn thing that stands in-between our spiritual advancement. That is why, our culture advocates for dancing, tonsuring, colouring, masking etc as divine activities. It is the strong devotion, that moves us towards godliness. It has the power to drive us to perform extraordinarily. Also, devotion is the easiest way to reach god, according to 'Srimad Bhagavath Geetha'. True devotion doesn't expect benefits in return, like the flopped movie not desisting my friend going to the next one. Then, what is in store?. It is just that thrill and fulfillment.