Slow death to God!

They take God down to the river
They say it a tradition
They get hold of the horns
Land up it's beard
Rip off it's ears
and entomb it into the bank

And one day, sea takes it along....
The "rotten God" to the endless sea
"Free.. Free... Free"
The birds sing around!

People propound it...
Say its water pollution!
But its a slow death....
Death to god....

I wonder their reasoning...
to submerge the idol
to set it free
into the eternal waters!
And as I leave....
Water goes on flowing
The trees keep growing
But with the singing of birds
God's small voice remains stilled
And unheard...

Spirit of Holi

You are walking down a restless street of your city and suddenly, you find a water balloon crash against your unsuspecting skull. Bursts of water come in piercing torrents and it's hard to count the number of colours on your white kurta. Are you're still wondering what's happening? Well, for those of you who are still guessing, it sounds a lot like Holi! Yes, the festival of colours is here and no amount of skill in tactical warfare and ambush attacks will get you out of this. The streets are full of people smeared in a spectrum of colours and spotting familiar faces is almost impossible. This is how drastically the parameters of normalcy change on a normal Holi day in any part of India.

Holi is one of the most popular Hindu festival celebrated to mark the incoming spring season. The day is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month also known as phalguna. Also known as Dolyatra or Basanta Utsab in West Bengal, Holi is one of India's most popular festivals. The main day, also known as Dhuleti, is the Holi we all know. The day is celebrated with people throwing coloured powder and water at each other as friends and family meet up.

The celebrations, however, start the night before when a huge bonfire is lit in memory young Prahlad and his miraculous escape when Holika is burnt to death.

Different regions in India have come to celebrate the festival in their own unique way but the spirit of the festival still remains the same. One of the most popular traditions of the festival is exchanging sweets. Get your near and dear ones some great delicacies from one of these sweet shops. There's a better chance of finding a fire cracker go off on Holi than finding a person not smeared in colour. With all those soiled clothes buying a few new ones from one of these garment stores won't be a bad idea. They also make for great gifts. Take your family and friends out to one of these restaurants.

Personally, I love Holi. I love the spirit.  The family time, friends, sweets, laughter and love... It all fascinates me! But this year, i'll try and celebrate holi in a natural way. It's kind of difficult for me but I'll try my best.

So get all your combat training together, if any, and brace yourself for this Holi this year on March 1...
Happy Holi!!

Bura na mano.. holi hai!!

I was headed out of my colony to the market and was discussing something intently with my friend when suddenly we hear a PHAT!! And another PHAT!!! And realized a couple of water balloons had been aimed by the kid next door. My friend's light grey top were splattered with coloured water. The kid immediately ran inside his house. We went and rang the door bell. Noone opened the door but his father came to the balcony and asked us what happened. So we told him that his son was throwing water balloons and it had narrowly missed us. And all he had to say was “Bura na mano holi hai. Yeh to hota hi hai. bachche to khelenge hi.”I asked him if I could slap him and get away with “Bura na mano holi hai”. He had nothing to say for that. I asked him what if his son threw a balloon on someone who is driving a car or riding a two-wheeler and caused an accident. His son isn’t a little kid anymore but is old enough to now understand this. We had to leave then because we were getting late.

I have also played holi as a kid and I still play. But it is only in my colony that I have seen people throwing balloons randomly at strangers and passers-by. I fail to understand what is the fun in this. I was a pretty naughty kid myself but had the sense not to throw it at random people. The one and only time I did something like this, it landed on my dad’s friend who was in his white shirt. I was lucky it only had water in it and not coloured water. My parents however, were anything but amused. I have seen kids here throw it on the delivery boys on their 2 wheelers or at drivers (including a few on a bus driver who was driving at that time) which can cause a serious accident. Don’t their parents ever think of that?

I don’t mean to be the criticize Holi but I don’t understand why it cannot b restricted to friends and families and not the passers by. I still don’t think that Holi gives anyone the license to misbehave. So people better celebrate Holi with their friends and family and not with the people who dont want to be a part of it!