If you want to see the world don’t be the fulcrum pin of the ferris wheel. Rather be a nail on one of the benches in one of the cars.” ~Vineet Raj Kapoor
Category: Artifacts
Pop Goes The Weasel
I have loved merry-go-rounds right from my early childhood. It was the right kind of ‘calculated risk’, you get a ‘safe’ adventure ride, you get to ride a horse without the fear of falling off, and it’s a lot of fun. What is the title hinting at, you wonder? Well, it’s the second line of…
The Excitement!
Do you remember the last time you were at a fun fair? The fun foods the adventure rides? They didn’t seem rickety then, just a happy one-minute adventure. I miss those carefree days of life!
Watch Out!
As we saw celebrations of dusshera hit a crescendo, we in India woke up to the terrifying news of quite a lot of people being mowed down by a train. The burning of Ravaan is quite a sight, and in the northern states of the country is a symbol of the victory of good over…
Bappa Moriya!
Lalbagcha Raja (The King of Lalbaug) is one of the most famous Sarvajanik Ganapatis from Lalbaug, Mumbai, which is set up during Ganesh Chaturthi. Known as a Navsacha Ganpati (the one who has the ability to fulfill all wishes”), the idol is open to visitors for 10 days; and it is then immersed in water…
Marriages Made in Heaven
I enjoy the Durga Navratri, probably my second favorite festival after Diwali (that’s when I was born :-)). For nine nights, which culminates with Vijayadashami, we worship nine forms of shakti (Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati), who brings to us wisdom, fertility and strength. I have a smallish traditional golu setting this year. The lowest step celebrates…
Rass Leela
Rass Leela a dance which is attributed to Krishna, Radha and the other Gopis. It is further believed that Kathak evolved from the ‘Rass Leela of Braj and Manipuri Classical Dance’ and is often considered as the “Dance of Divine Love”. The story goes like this. One night, the Gopis in Vrindavan, hear Krishna’s flute…
Mysuru Dasara
As the cultural center of Karnataka, the Mysuru Dasara procession is a major tourist attraction. In fact, the city becomes a cultural focal point, as the 10-day festival brings the best of the state’s performers in one city. It reminds me of the Kala Ghoda Festival from back home in Bombay. Apart from the Golu…
Snapshots of my World 