Skip, Jump n Spin

I had unexpected chance to visit Ahmedabad again. Visiting home town always brings cool content after refreshing social links of generations given in inheritance but there are few special days when it brings extra cheer. Yes, although I could not play garba much we visited the Vibrant Gujarat celebration for Navaratri (festival of dance for non stop for 2 weeks).

A massive ground was coverd in smooth hessian not allowing a spec of dust to fly and comforting to the feet. Beautifully decorated gates allowed entire city to walk in without stampede. Inside the ground every year there is exhibition based on one concept displaying interesting details of achievements, heritage, projects, places of Gujarat. Some areas had temporary landscape gardens. They even had Maduradam (Holland) style miniature Gujarat with its hills and ropeways etc. There were makeshift temples, replica of ancient carvings of 7 forms of mothers from Vadnagar. All emergency services. Facilitating public services such as fire, police and ambulance. Number of stalls for local handicrafts from genuinely rural Craftsmen needless to add number of mouth watering food joints. Everything is so well organized and chaos and mess free, it is simply enjoyable.

Then comes the main part, the garba. I find the words most fascinating! Who is preparing to worship Goddess and how? And the lyrics describes everyone from Mochi, Kumbhar, Soni, Suthar (shoemaker to Carpenter) and how they use their skills to offer tribute to Ambaji in terms of creative and playful worshipping. Surely, in ancient times these labels were not social statements for high or low place in society but mere introduction of ones profession when yellow pages were non existent. It suggets in ancient times castism or classism was not used to discriminate or appeasement. Next comes special needs people, yes garba goes to celebrate how a deaf and dumb and crippled and handicapped joined in celebrating the festivity and faith. Oh, does that mean equal opportunity was weaved in social inclusiveness ? Then comes the shringar rus… look at how they describe Goddess herself dressing up to hilt to dance and in addition she comes down from her seat and villagers to join in the party times. Wow that’s is very in-vogue Goddess we have!! Thats just 3 garba sampling and there are tons of lyrics to suggest and celebrate many such aspects human existence.

I remember some years back there was monopoly of expensive ticketed club style dandia. Now this state sponsored free picnic for citizens have changed the scene. Young and old, highly skilled and young along with arthritic geriatric civilian all enjoy. As Keyur says ‘where would you find entire population, most modern jeans generation, globally attuned youth yet dressed in most traditional folk costumes and still flaunting themselves?’ Good thing is, to dance in main circle wearing traditional outfits are complusory, however there is plenty of room outside this open yet fenced circle and people walking in casually are welcomed to do garba in their little groups all over the place. To recollect the vibrancy and flare of each costume is going to take another mail shot!! Even the boys are dressed in colours and they spin better than girls. How restrictive for the boys in western world to remain imprisoned in blue and grey without even a day of vaction to colourful ‘me’. I think this colour therapy helps them detox and destress along with physical MOT to check stamina and energy.

The new metro passes through this venue 10 km on both sides. Metro is free and roads and tracks are ready in impressive way. When you see all dressed up families and groups and couples and vehicles of all sorts passing and walking through, you forget whether it is 11 am or pm. There is lot to write about inauguration and closing events as well. All the folk artist of other corners of india are invited to perform sharing the stage at same time about 800 of them as state guest artists. At the time of Aarti Raja and Praja join in together. CM of the state, top industrialists, artists and 10-15,000 civilians all sing together in pleasant dark holding diya in their hands. Hard to find such open air show anywhere else!

Jay jay Somanath, jai ho Gujarat!

At Ahmedabad airport the billboard displays the temp 42’ and pilot announces landing at Bangalore 24’, reverse! May be the heat released by youth using their energy in to the air!

Coming back to Bang is truly exotic experience. Again the whole place covered in banana stem/leaves. Entering my carpark makes me wonder if there in mass collection of honeymooners as each car is decorated with flowers and garlands. Some have 2 banana stem sticking like wipers and some well travelled vehicles had 2 leafy broom sweeping the roads of banglur. Its Dussera, remember?! Drivers spent hours doing puja of their vehicles as if it were a human. I will feel lucky if my heart warms up enough to do such gesture to at least a human. I have been told that to watch stately parade of gold studded elephants of mysore king the top ticket costs 5000 ruppees! Lets see if I get chance next year!

Let me stop before I impair your vision by attacking you with colours!