Go for a Plain and Simple Diwali!

A 10 year old girl discovered smog for the first time. It was the day after Diwali, when her mom was cleaning the terrace that was mauled by crackers. Welcoming the advent of winters – she announced to her mom that the fog has come. Her mom, not so enthusiastically, told her that it is not fog – it is smog! Looking at question in her eyes – what is smog?, her mom continued telling her that it is the product of pollution that comes from crackers that people burst during Diwali. The 10 year old was not excited anymore. She looked closely at the layer of smog. It appeared like a black mass resting between the sky and earth. It looked beautifully calm, but it was the calmness that was haunting! Like a predator, moving slowly towards a prey. And till the time the prey realizes that, it is dead!

After that day she did not burst crackers. The haunting image of smog appeared in front of her.

Source: The Logical Indian

Now there is something doing rounds on social media – against an annoying pretentious friend who insists on a plain and silent Deepawali! Check it here >>

The claims made by this message include the following and I bring to you my opinion about the message that is being extensively shared by people who enjoy bursting crackers.

1. The major source of pollution - vehicles and industries burning fossil fuels. Hits the nail on the spot. That is why renewable energy is being so talked about. That is why carbon credits exist. That is why we protest deforestation.

2. Even smoking a cigarette is much bigger source of pollution
If cigarette haunts you so much, then during Diwali a non smoker inhales smoke that is equivalent to 100 sticks. 

3. The deadly CFC gases from the ACs these leftists pseudo-intellectuals put in their comfy rooms. Can we live without ACs? Climate change is inevitable – the only possibility is to delay it by being responsible towards environment. Rather than using ACs in all the rooms, use AC in just one room, keep the temperature between 22 to 24 and stuff.

4. Mere 1 day's worth of air-travel in the world produces much more deadly pollution that a Diwali celebration that we observe just once a year.
Exhausts out of an Aero-plane are under checks – exhausts out of crackers are not!

5. We're silently suffering million times more pollution then we shouldn't complain about something insignificant in comparison. As long as people do it in moderation, and enjoy it no one should have a problem.
It could appear insignificant to those who do not suffer. An asthmatic person suffers and while the regulated industrial limit does not seem to kill a lung patient, crackers bursted on the Diwali day do! Who keeps a check on moderation? We do not have any regulations to limit using crackers?

Author's Note: Please do not pick a better wrong out of many wrongs. Celebrate plain and simple Diwali. Celebrations must not encourage damaging the environment. 

Happy Women's Day

A few points to note this year on Women's Day, but before I starting typing them down, lemme be a bit generous to wish all the ladies out there a very Happy Women's Day. For me the best women are my moma, sisters, and all my lady friends!

Well has it been really 'a Happy day'? Let me outline the first one as UN Asia-Pacific Human Development Report. The report brings forth that the condition of women worse in Asia, as compared to the rest of the world. The report also outlines that women earn less as compares to their male counterparts. The report's concern with the absence of a female voice in the Asia-Pacific’s political systems was strengthened by the harassment of Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari with torn pieces of women's reservation bill of 30% in parliament in the Upper House of parliament. The first thought that crossed my mind was are these bunch ill-mannered of people holding seats at Rajya Sabha? I am sure I am gonna cast my vote under section 49(O) for the coming few years.

The first Oscar award to a lady director, Kathryn Bigelow for her movie 'The Hurt Locker' . This certainly an achievement! Anything that comes first at Oscars makes news, be it Rehman being the first India to fetch an award, or Bollywood movies like Laagan, Taare Zameen Par getting nominated under an insignificant category. But on retrospection, was their really no even a single women director worthy of the Academy Awards (known as Oscars) whose 1st ceremony took place way back in 1929. Is it only after close to 81 editions that someone could qualify for it?

Author's Note: For me, I acknowledged that its the Women's day only after I wished a colleague Happy Birthday and wished me Happy Women's Day. Then another friend calling up to wish! Late at night my college sweetheart messaged me, it was then that I felt that all the significant ladies have to be wished, and I quickle bulk sms'd to them!

PS: I don't think that women need a day to convey that we can do it better, be it the parliament, Oscars, Household or corporate!

Buzz Around Valentine's

My commiserations to the lover fraternity who couldn't celebrate the Valentine's day on the 14th, given a Sunday and parent questioning post all the hype created by news channels about the eve. So on the 13th decided to take a stroll in the market to study the revelry a day before. To my anticipation, most of the couples were together, celebrating the day in advance. 

As I had plans to go out on the day i.e. Sunday, no VHP / BJP / RSS or allied body demonstrated their anger, over celebrations of Valentine's day. Though their protests hardly bother me, I have faith in my self proclaimed punching/slapping and hitting capabilities that I decide to move out of house. Moreover when I introspect I believe  that I am capable of fighting with five people at a time - so a typical example of the fact that looks can be deceptive.. 

Too much of blabbering about something thats beyond the point, getting back to the D day celebrations! Many of my friends questioned on facebook, whether we need a day to express love? I don't have any opinion about it! All I feel that if we don't need a day for out Valentine, than do we have to celebrate a day to acknowledge the onset of a new year/mother's day and the likes? At last I feel that the day provides an opportunity to convey to significant people that you care, it could be your best friend or a boy friend. 

Author's Note: I use to dread moving out of home on V - Day, as young turks start acting foolish. This time I did go out and stood corrected about that years old misconception. 

Beating Retreat!

Marking the end of republic day revelry is the Beating Retreat Ceremony held today at Vijay Chowk. The the ceremony that dates back to the time when sounding retreat pulled to a halt the day’s fighting during the time of war. The idea for the parade goes like this:

In olden times, when the hours of darkness meant a cessation of hostilities until the following day, the object of the call was to collect and post the necessary guards for the camp, garrison, etc., for the night. It was also a warning for those outside the camp or garrison to retire or they would be kept outside the night. We thus find that there is some confusion arising between "Retreat" and "Tattoo". This confusion may, in part, have been caused owing to the French using the word "Retraite" for the familiar call to our "Tattoo". From the following extracts from old orders, it would appear conclusive that Retreat was meant to be separate from Tattoo and to be beaten at sunset.

Coming to my experience of the ceremony, well we were late for the ceremony and the place we were supposed to be seated was full, so we had to rush to the arcade towards the left of where some of the seats were supposedly vacant. Reaching there was a task too, as we managed to enter the arcade, we had a hard time locating somewhere to sit. Where-ever we stood, people seated behind us started shouting, and it was quite an experience... Clearly you should not block some one's view, and as a friend said to me be the change you want to see, we decided to stand somewhere we would not block view of others.

It was then that the smartness of an engineer came to play. Well my sister located two un-taken chairs and rushed to ask the security personnel, sir can I take the chair. He promptly agreed and here were we both trying to position the chair towards a metal chamber so that we can stand up on the chair and get a frontal view of the ceremony. It was like two people standing on one chair.

Now we all could pay attention to what was going on at Vijay Chowk. The President Pratibha Patil, was sitting conveniently inside a glass chamber along with the also the Supreme Commander of the three Forces, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, the audience also sat through a ceremony that elicits a feeling of nationhood and pride! The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also sitting amongst the audience with wife and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.





Thirty-five bands from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force took part in the ceremony that began with the arrival of the President marked by fanfare by trumpeter. Well synchronized parade playing bands were performing and adding poise to the retreat were men on camels standing inside Rashtriyapati Bhawan! The pillars also stationed some buglers who kept playing their musical instruments at frequent intervals, in tune with the band marching performance. The tempo set the feel and audience did not miss applauding several times through the ceremony.

A brief research took me to the sequence of the ceremony, which goes as:

The first march of the massed band was the popular Sam Bahadur, named on a popular Indian army officer. This was followed by the performance of pipes and drums which had the audiences tapping the feet with their Surya, Sky Boat Song, Pipers Cave, Highland Laddie and The Marquis of Huntly, among others. The Naval and Air Force Bands, striking in their appearance and confident in their bearing, charged the atmosphere with their repertoire that included the beats of Ocean’s Splendour, Bharatiya Navsena, Sky Hawks, Nocturnal Cry, Swatantra Bharat ki Shan and Subroto. The military bands with their Hanste Lushai, Gangotri, Abhinandan, Dhola-Re-Dhola were as spectacular to the eye as they were an aural treat. Next it was the massed bands again enthralling the audiences. Their quick march to the tunes of Saare Jahan Se Acha brought the curtains down on the ceremony!

The president's house and the parliament was lit and it looked like a marvelous palace, wow came out of everyone the moment the place was embedded with golden yellow lights! Now the horses started marching towards the parliament, as it was getting dark, the spark generated due to friction between horses' shoe and concrete road was added zing to the festivities. Following it was the indicators of bikes and jeep signaling that its the time to go. By this time the audience started moving out of the arcade, but we stood there for some more time as we did not want to miss anything and also we had to locate a friend, who had to park the car. India gate was also decorated with an imprint of tricolour.

We could see him, kept waving at him as he was waiting at the other side of the arcade, where we were suppose to be technically seated. As no mobile phones were allowed and I succeeded in shouting his name, I went home happy that I am not a complete cell phone dependent :D

It is an art, science and a theatrical display of courage, spirit of nationhood, patriotism, and a call for global peace!

Author's Note: The Beating Retreat ceremony is worth witnessing.. I wish I have done justice to the ceremony through this blog post!

Happy Lohri

First of all Happy Lohri to all... I know you al would be reading it a day after, but still better late than never!

Its coming a bit late but I have celebrated the festival today! I simply love this festival coz, its a feel of warmth in cold january night. Bonfire, pop corns, peanuts, rewari, gajak and the rituals that my mum follows the next day marks the beginning of the new year for me in true spirits! The sundar mundariye song, dance, roof top late night party all are just related to the festivities of Lohri! Taking rounds of the bonfire, and making a wish has always been a ritual for me. I get a high during this festival with the true punjabi spirit!

I feel its the cleanest of festivals, overlooking the pollution caused by the bon fire. Diwali clogs my respiratory track as I am allergic to pollution, and during holi I prefer staying indoor coz I dont want a water baloon to hit me on the head, leaving me wondering if I am hit, though I just admire the spirit with which all festivals are celebrated.

Author's Note: Happy Lohri!

Happy Twenty 10!

This year the Delhi government is geared to host the Commonwealth Games 2010. The year gone registered hike in bus/metro fare, even rickshaw pullers gauge the opportunity by asking for a bit too much. I keep loosing track of petrol, diesel, LPG cost as it kept changing very frequently!

On a personal account, the year gone went great. I am finally looking forward to life. Yes I was upset in 2009, but on retrospection I feel that there was nothing to be upset about! Putting it in simple terms, such feelings exists when one is reaching office at 9:30 and reaching home after twelve hours!

Though its not that the year went really upsetting, I did spend a lot of time with myself and my loved ones, took long walks alone on a weekend. Posted blog posts more often, thought about starting a contemporary dance group.. Just thought about it, nothing concrete came out of it though. You know its the same situation where I day dream and try to gauge the feeling something that does not exist as of now, but under all possibilities its gonna come up some day. 

In 2009 I stuck to my resolution, 'to stop people I know from littering around'. Yup I know two people are smiling, as they have to carry plastic bottles for miles while accompanying me to those long walks, in order to throw it in a dustbin.

Well 2009 was also the year where I happen to witness two theatre plays in which my youngest sister acted. Hey sweets I hope to you you in more such plays in the coming years! So have placed a picture too.

Amongst the accomplishments in 2009, I happen to find my childhood friends, it was memoir of years that just passes like waves in ocean! Love you all, facebook and orkut are beautiful creation of the virtual world!!

Next good thing is Nevitta, my best friend's daughter. She is such a cute baby. I hope that her parents are reading this :). When I first went to meet her, she was mearly a week old and kept sleeping. On other occasions she often pulls my hair or scratches my face.

Another achievement is that I happen to see Omar Abdullah, he is such a hunk and his style is just awesome. I also met the Indian Formula 1 racer Karun Chandok, gotta crush on him too. Yes Joe, Kay, Nish and the likes, I know that you are smiling :). Apart from that I also saw minister Salman Khurshid, self proclaimed environmentalist cum minister Jairam Ramesh, Delhi CM with a hat-trick Sheila Dikshit, celebrity Chef  Sanjeev Kapoor, Nutritionist Shikha Sharma amongst others.

For the coming year, I would stick to the last year's resolution! Try spending more time with my loved ones. Post more blog entries. Keep planning for an entrepreneurial venture. Dance often! Yup I do it when I go home, but winters have got me struck to the quilt. Keep teasing my sister.. as that is my birth-right :p

Not to forget to mention that I don't carry any hard feelings for anyone. I would prefer taking it out then and there!

Author's Note: Happy New Year Twenty 10 to everyone! Please chase your dreams, believe you me 2010 is the right time for that.

Jingle Bells

So there is something happening in my office, a game, which goes like: 

The Game ‘Secret Santa’ - You simply pick a chit with a name on it, and you’ll be the secret Santa for that person. Remember, don’t you leak out the name on your chit! Now it’s up to you to pamper the lucky one for the entire week starting tomorrow till weekend (Thursday, 24^th Dec ’09)..... 

Got this mail on 21st December 2009 and  on 22nd December 2009, when I went to the pantry for lunch, someone left a packed on my desk. I came back and knew that its my Secret Santa who has left the gift. It had a candle and some chocolate...

I am also playing secret santa for someone..

Author's Note: Wanted to thank my secret santa, since its a secret till 24th December, I thought of putting it on my blog!

Celebrate with true spirits

Well its coming a little late, but in full Spirits.. Wishing you all a very happy Diwali. It is festival of lights, sweets and gifts! It was celebrated on the 17th October 2009. 

While I am least concerned about the puja part, I had to participate in on as a part of family decorum. The moment the puja was over, I hopped on to sweets. That's the best part about the festivities. I just love to gorge on anything delicious. I am sure even if I gain a hundred kilos I will never be able to stop myself from having good food. Secondly the lights, I love the feeling but ironically the twinging lights coming inside my room from the shield of a window and curtain is still irritating posing as a hindrance to get me asleep. And about gifts, ask yourself who don't like gifts.. We all love it, isn't it??

The most amazing part, and sadly the most unfortunate part is the crackers bursting. It take the pollution levels to a toll. My little cousin, who is not even a year old was to be hospitalised. He got respiratory infection due to increased pollution. I myself has been advocating crackers free diwali within my family. Thankfully my siblings subscribe to same school of though. But people don't despite being well apprised abut the noise and environmental pollution. 

Author's Note: I strongly feel that people turn blind eye to anything bad! Same goes with pollution. We all must celebrate festivals with true spirits to maintain cleanliness in the air, water and land around. I don't really know this post will be of any persuasion, but still I wanted to speak it through my blog.