It's a chilly Sunday morning. There is lot of commotion in the living room. I am half awake. Been so from 4.30 in the morning, ever since my in-laws started their kitchen work. They are getting ready for a local trip around Bangalore.The calling bell rings to announce the arrival of the taxi.
My mother-in-law comes into my room and says, "My dear, I have made idlis and rice for you. Take care and eat well." The calling bell rings the second time. My brother has come. He is to keep me company till the arrival of my family. I have been bed-ridden for the past one month as I have been advised by doctor to take reat. Books, laptop and the phone are my all time companions.
My 13-year old nephew calls out to his mother, my elder sister-in-law, "Mom, I am taking my little cousin down-stairs. Ask Aarthi to carry our bags." My sister-in-law warns him not to open the lift door till it lands properly on the ground floor. Aarthi, his sister, carries the bags and accompanies her brother. Their 5-year old cousin, my younger sister-in-law's daughter, is all smiles. Both the kids have been telling her what all they were to see that day. They will be going to the Bannerghatta national park, will see zebra, girafee, bear, lion, tiger.......all the three are excited.
My sister-in-law comes into my room and tells me that its very bad that all our plans are spoiled and I am not able to accompany them. It would have been more fun if I too had been able to go with them. We had planned this trip two months before. I wish them all a great day ahead. My husband kisses me bye and they all leave.
If all this were to happen, and I didn't have to imagine the whole thing, if my nephew really did take his cousin with him, if my little niece walked with her cousin, if my sister-in-law didn't have to lock her son in the cab and ask the driver to take care................My nephew's brain has not developed enough to guide his physic to perform the day-to-day activities while my niece has a defective heart which does not let her exert herself physically.
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Friday, December 28, 2007
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
The Fest
I am just back home after soaking in the 4-day long Sundaram Finance - Mylapore festival which is held every year during the week before Pongal. I was not able to attend the first two days of the fest though.
It’s a unique community festival organized by Mylapore Times, a neighbourhood newspaper. Each day starts off with a concert by the budding young talents in the lush Nageshwara Rao Park.
On Saturday evening, there was a choir by young girls and boys who had performed earlier in the week and were invited again to give a guest performance. Each one had a huge smile and was so enthusiastic. One of them was on the dholak and his beat sense was very excellent. Must be a Marathi, my friend said and I believe he turned out to be correct (The kid's name is Himanshu...).
On the evening of the final day, there was a concert by young children from a government school and there was this young boy. He must be just 7 or 8 years old. He was on the drums. It requires lot of concentration to bring in the coordination between the hands and the feet. This guy was amazing. He gave a non-stop solo performance on the drums and tango for about 10 minutes. The crowd was mesmerized.
It’s a unique community festival organized by Mylapore Times, a neighbourhood newspaper. Each day starts off with a concert by the budding young talents in the lush Nageshwara Rao Park.
On Saturday evening, there was a choir by young girls and boys who had performed earlier in the week and were invited again to give a guest performance. Each one had a huge smile and was so enthusiastic. One of them was on the dholak and his beat sense was very excellent. Must be a Marathi, my friend said and I believe he turned out to be correct (The kid's name is Himanshu...).
On the evening of the final day, there was a concert by young children from a government school and there was this young boy. He must be just 7 or 8 years old. He was on the drums. It requires lot of concentration to bring in the coordination between the hands and the feet. This guy was amazing. He gave a non-stop solo performance on the drums and tango for about 10 minutes. The crowd was mesmerized.
Then came a performance by specially abled children who can not hear. But how did they know when to start the performance and how to proceed? They never missed a beat and the choreography was so fine. I was surprised!
In addition to encouraging not so popular folk and other art forms, this festival has been a platform for these young kids to expose their talents. Wish many more communities come forward and do something of this kind.
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