City in Pink

                               

Living in Jaipur, the Pink City of India, gives a different perspective about Indians from those shown in Bollywood movies. India is a vast country with diverse culture, heritage and food. One life is never enough to understand this land. May be in the next life, I could understand it better but for now I wanted to share my Indian experiences. As I write these sentences down, I am stuck to where to start. Let’s start from something we are familiar with. Kites.

When was the last time you flew a kite? May be yesterday or may be years back, travelling back to our childhood. This ordinary thin piece of paper put together with sticks represents more than just thin piece of paper. In countries like India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, it represents freedom. In some it was used to communicate messages between to battalion. And now days, it’s a mere childhood entertainment for children or is it?

Few days back, I met with a group of kite enthusiasts on the occasion of special Indian festival called Maker Sankranti. This year, it was celebrated on 14^th January and in Jaipur, it is celebrated with kites. After offering their prayers, young and old join together to fly kites.  This festival represents the changing of season from winter to spring and is celebrated in different manner in different regions of India, Like for example, in the State of Punjab, they called it “Lori” and they celebrate it by dancing and singing around a big bonfire. It also marks the occasion of the changing of the position of the sun to the northern hemisphere which considered to be an auspicious occasion.

I was in this large stadium called Chitrakut Stadium with hundreds of kites soaring above my head. Large and small, wide and weird. All covering the skies with their attempt to show off the other. Some were even trying to cut each other strings which put fears into the minds of kite enthusiasts that have come from other countries. As I was browsing through all the great kites, I was wondering whether anyone from my country has participated.

                                  

As I scan through the crowd, I saw two ladies in white t shirts with “INDONESIA” written in red. They were busy trying to loosen the knots of their string. I approached them cautiously, not sure if they are Indonesians!  I greeted them in Indonesian and they at once recognize it. They smiled, greeted back by adding that they are glad to find someone from home.  They talked a lot about their families and their love for kites.

I was in awe at their enthusiasm at their age. They showed me their kites. It was unfortunate that I did not had the chance to take a picture of their kites as they couldn’t fly it as the wind conditions didn’t support the kites properly. And they were afraid that their kites might get spoiled. But they did tell their stories and their experiences in India.

Most of them started their journey in Mumbai, the Bollywood city of India, where they met their coordinator. They were not alone, there were others from 55 countries. Some moved up to Chennai while others went to Ahmedabad, Gujarat. For the Indonesian team, they just continue their journey from Gujarat to Jaipur, Rajasthan from where some will go back home via Delhi while others will continue to Goa. I was a bit unlucky as I came on the second day of the festival and most of the main participants were not present. But they entertained me with their surprise at how different India is from the films. They realized that Bollywood films don’t really represent the India they experience. It is far from the truth. How far? It is for the readers to judge themselves

As I ponder at their amazement, I was immune to it for I have lived here nearly my whole life. I may not have the best judgment about my own home country but I know this land that have fascinated many in the past and it still fascinates me every day, some time with extreme joys and on other times, with grave disappointment. Thus, one life time is just not enough.

                             

A Nocturne Experience

I have always known that I can express myself better in words on a paper (in this case a computer screen) rather in the midst of a conversation. But then again it depends on the other person is and if we can connect on the same intellectual and emotional level. And I am lucky to find a few who can understand the need of my isolation. I love the solitude in the quiet corner, somewhere in the world, I think this is the reason I am driven to travel in search of places where in the middle of the crazy buzzing, I find a glimpse of sane humanity in a crippled beggar feeding birds or a kind smile of an unknown stranger.

How funny the world is with stranger? How many times have I been warned about strangers but I find them the most fascinating and to certain extent, tempting. As I wonder about all my traveling, I thought to myself, in breaking that one rule of not talking to stranger, I learned a lot about the larger population around me. I do admit I have met some rather sick people also whose morality I question. But that’s their moral perspective and if doesn’t suit mine, doesn’t mean that they are wrong entirely also. I just accept that they are many who may not see the world as I want to be.

The pictures in the following were taken in February 2015 where my friend, Prity came with me to visit Choki Dhandi. It is advised to come at 5 or after 5. It was a wonderful experience to have, two girls, a night out in a strange place. I think the ticket is Rs, 500/- which included a Rajasthan style thali (it’s actually all you can eat buffet but due to my low tolerance level for spice, I avoid eating a lot). We enjoyed listening and watching Rajasthan folk music and dances. I was most curious about the musical instruments they were playing. I was always curious about musical instruments. If anyone who has seen my room will be surprised to see the funny instruments or devices that made interesting sound. And I accept that I have few addiction, books and music instruments. 

 We sat next to these Mauritian origin British folks during dinner. And Prity kept mentioning that they looked like Indians but had this British accent. I was amused at her comment and bluntly out loud, in front of them! And then I explained to her the history between India and Mauritius. And then she said then that would mean they were Indians. I was stumped to how to explain further but then most Mauritians were Indian origins and if they took up some other nation’s citizenship, who am I to explain this to her. So I left and let her think of what she wants to think. In time, hopefully people understand how complex we made the world by dividing it into nations based on culture when honestly we eat, drink and breathe the same air.

Though the pictures cannot justify the beauty of winter night along with soft glowing lanterns which was the favorite part of my evening. He picturesque, quiet and solace I found in the darkness led me to peaceful thoughts of God’s creations and no matter how bad days can go, one just need to stop and slow the time down, I know that it is stupid but that’s what we do when we are with our friends and family. We slow time down to drown in every bit of indulgence we can. And that is the everlasting impression printed in our memories.