a must read for a mumbiite - II
The ‘Ganpati Festival’ is finally over in my complex. And what a success it was!!! From fancy dress to talent hunt to aarti sandhya, every program was beyond my expectations. Hey…wait a minute, I know what you are thinking….as you might suspect, my expectations were never really very low….but for a society program, if little kids’ group comes in full costumes with appropriate stage settings as well…well it came as a pleasant surprise to me. Accolades to the kids for their hard work and to the parents for their efforts!!!
Well I am feeling a ‘hangover’, the type you feel after returning from a big party. And….guess what…. people here are already talking about ‘navratras’. As I earlier said I really appreciate the spirits of Mumbai-ites. They know how to work hard and then how to party harder.
This suddenly gives me an insight into this lively, resilient spirit of Mumbai.
They always have something to look forward to. It is made sure that all their events are social events, bridging all social, cultural, lingual, even economic gaps. I am new to Mumbai, so I might have not seen it all, but I saw what you people might have missed-
1.First there are rains. When it starts to rain, I think god forgets to close his taps. And I believe that the flooded roads are the best levelers. All and sundry have to use the most primitive mode of transportation-their own pair of feet. Now be it Amir Khan or his driver, be it a marathi manoos or a bihari, every individual offers his hand to the other to prevent him from drowning in that holy mixture of- drain water, spit, excreta, and what not!!!!!!
2.Then come Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratras both spread over multiple number of days. Each more famous than the other one. Mind it that I am talking only about those social events which are peculiar to Mumbai-maharashtra and are celebrated as group festivals. Every one is in party mood, trying to put aside their flooded days. If you are able to escape this enthusiam, the contagious partying spirit, I will suggest you to renounce the world.
Here again all differences are kept aside. You will find a Ganpati on every nook and corner and a ‘ganpati bappa mourya’ on every lip, or a dandiya in every hand, be it rich or poor, hindi speaking or marathi speaking, if you want to participate you are welcome!! After all its ‘aamchi Mumbai’
(this way goes the six out of the twelve months of the year, i.e mid june to almost November))
Keep it up Mumbai….however hard they may try, now I am sure, they will not succeed in their efforts of tearing apart the social fabric of Mumbai. After all they can have only four-five months each year to brainwash you.
You know na…..whom I am talking about????
Well I am feeling a ‘hangover’, the type you feel after returning from a big party. And….guess what…. people here are already talking about ‘navratras’. As I earlier said I really appreciate the spirits of Mumbai-ites. They know how to work hard and then how to party harder.
This suddenly gives me an insight into this lively, resilient spirit of Mumbai.
They always have something to look forward to. It is made sure that all their events are social events, bridging all social, cultural, lingual, even economic gaps. I am new to Mumbai, so I might have not seen it all, but I saw what you people might have missed-
1.First there are rains. When it starts to rain, I think god forgets to close his taps. And I believe that the flooded roads are the best levelers. All and sundry have to use the most primitive mode of transportation-their own pair of feet. Now be it Amir Khan or his driver, be it a marathi manoos or a bihari, every individual offers his hand to the other to prevent him from drowning in that holy mixture of- drain water, spit, excreta, and what not!!!!!!
2.Then come Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratras both spread over multiple number of days. Each more famous than the other one. Mind it that I am talking only about those social events which are peculiar to Mumbai-maharashtra and are celebrated as group festivals. Every one is in party mood, trying to put aside their flooded days. If you are able to escape this enthusiam, the contagious partying spirit, I will suggest you to renounce the world.
Here again all differences are kept aside. You will find a Ganpati on every nook and corner and a ‘ganpati bappa mourya’ on every lip, or a dandiya in every hand, be it rich or poor, hindi speaking or marathi speaking, if you want to participate you are welcome!! After all its ‘aamchi Mumbai’
(this way goes the six out of the twelve months of the year, i.e mid june to almost November))
Keep it up Mumbai….however hard they may try, now I am sure, they will not succeed in their efforts of tearing apart the social fabric of Mumbai. After all they can have only four-five months each year to brainwash you.
You know na…..whom I am talking about????
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