Lucky 13!

13 years and a long journey ... An address book with 1500 plus names, some acquaintances, some crossing that invisible line to become friends. Adding to the ever expanding encyclopedia of mind and heart, creating new memories on the way! 

Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing...

So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another....

Today marks the anniversary of the journey that I started 13 years ago - from Banaras to Bombay and I complete a full circle sitting in Mumbai today facing the vast Arabian Sea from the hotel window. 

It has been a rollercoaster ride, have had moments of fun as well as pain, have met some really wonderful people on this journey. 

Thank you Friends for your love, support, guidance as I continue walking,

Pooja

December 17, 2014

Celebrating Eid... My way!

As I promised myself yesterday, I am back! And keeping another promise to self, had a lazy day ... Well almost, apart from couple of calls, few emails and some whatsapp messages with other people who were sadly working!

I had music on my mind, and as I rummaged in the shelf found a 1960 Akashvani recording of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb which included thumri and kajri. I didn't even remember buying it! Few days back, I had attended a concert where I had a chance to listen to some Banarasi music and I wanted more of it. It was a perfect weather to listen to a rare old recording. 

Rummaging further, I found CDs gifted by a dear friend while he was moving houses, and next on the line was listening to Ustad Amir Khan, followed by Pt Jasraj. 

A sukun walk in the park, watching the airplanes fly by ready for landing, promise of rain in the cloudy skies above to end the day.

While I missed seviyan today, wishing that I had a foresight to buy some and make it at home, and remembering that special day when I started my professional life, I pray and thank God for the journey since. 

And looking forward to the festival season in India, Eid starts the celebrations and rakhi, janmashtami and Independence Day in the next fortnight, festivities and fun will continue. And so I hope my musings!

Pooja

July 29, 2014

To the Eternal City ...

I have made two trips within a fortnight to the world's oldest living city, Banaras. The city as usual inspires me, takes me back to the roots of Hinduism, but sometimes also disillusions me. On my last visit I landed on the Maha Ashtami during Navratras, and the whole city was doused in the religious fervour. Banaras is indeed a City of Temples, one can literally fina a temple in every corner - on every nukkad or chauraha, on the side of a road, below peepul trees, near a pond and of course, on the ghats of the Ganges ... in all sizes, of various deities. 

While it is called Shiv ki nagari, people celebrate every festival, pray to all Gods... And as we travelled from airport to BHU, through the city, we saw all temples decked up with flowers and lights, offerings of fruits and sweets in their decorative patterns. Devotees thronged not only the puja pandals, but the temples nearby as well. 

And while people went on going around celebrating and worshipping, one could not help observe the nonexistent roads, power through gensets, debris strewn across and the piled up garbage. The administration in its efforts to widen the roads had also razored parts of the bundling on the sides which had resulted in not only the debris but mud and slush. A good monsoon season and the non-stop rains post Phailin cyclone further exposed the crumbling infrastructure and administration of the city. Being one of the important destinations for not only Hindus, but also for Buddhists and Jainists - the town is a major tourist place. And the city plays host to plane loads of tourists every day post monsoon season. 

It makes me wonder that the infrastructure in this ancient city must have been exemplary in the past to cater to tourists from all over the world. The city has been talked about by lot of travellers, poets and other historians. Infact, the city I remember from my childhood days was a lot cleaner, unpolluted and traveller friendly. 

So who takes responsibility of making this city habitable for its residents as well as the visitors? In the election year, what promises will be made by the political parties and what will be delivered? Will the city ever gain back it's grandeur or will it perish in the years to come?

To Banaras...

Pooja

Dil maange more!

Another classical musical evening, a slice of Banaras, and memories of time gone by. Listening to three generations of violin player playing together, N Rajam with her daughter and grand-daughter, transported me to my childhood days, when she shared the boundary wall with my masi, and we could hear the strains of violin almost throughout the day. The joy on their faces as they played the classical ragas, the seamless coordination between the trio and the mutual encouragement to each other showed a shared warmth of similar such rituals and practices. The Banarasi in her could not resisted playing a Bhajan celebrating ramnavami as well as a Banarasi dhun. This performance was not only the showcase of Indian culture of teaching, guru-shishya parampara, but also of the myriad musical culture the country has.

From instrumental to vocal, it was the turn of Pandit Jasraj to take the stage. My first introduction to him was also at Banaras, at the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh - an annual musical festival in the temple. He is the reason why I started listening to Hindustani classical vocal music few years back, and today I fell in love again. On the menu today was Bhakti Ras, and he spread the Ras in the audience. I have listened to him couple of times in the last two years, but it was different today, almost magical. For me personally, it was to hear him singing live my favourite compositions that truly made my day.

A lovely evening which came to an end too soon ... The music still haunting me as the day too comes to an end.

Do I dare say I want more of this,
Pooja.
April 6, 2013