Street Artists: A dying breed.

Yesterday I wokeup to the loud notes of nadaswaram - a wind instrument, similar to the shehnai of the North India. A little miffed at being so wokenup instead of my usual favourite FM, I walked out to see my mom generously giving alms to this person towing a decorated cow. Mom smiled seeing grumpy face, squinting at the early morning blasts of sun.

"Nadaswaram is a mangala vadhyam (auspicious instrument) dear" she smiled. "Traditionally you must have seen them in south-indian marriages or street processions but they started out as divine instruments used in temple worship. There were times when people used to flock for nadaswaram concerts and these musicians were a celebrated lot. Today see what they have been reduced to" she lamented.

Did a little reading on this endangered art form and came out understanding little more of them. I made a small vow to myself that the next time I come across such street artists, will spare them more than a few loose change.

Of Sabbaticals, Domestic Bliss & Homing Pigeons.....

I have written and deleted about nine versions of this post. Half the time wondering if I am really expressing what I am actually feeling. I also had this nagging thought that the moment I would put this in words my feelings might take a 360 degree turn. Am being a braveheart by going ahead and posting this, so don't you judge me.

'Domestic bliss' was a term I used to associate as a brand for selling modular kitchens at the most. Today on a short sabbatical I seem to find myself wallowing in this very same bliss of plain vanilla domesticity - and am actually enjoying it. Looking back as far as I can see I have never given myself the luxury of taking a break for more than 2 weeks. And those precious breaks used to be mainly while I was transitioning from one company to another.Today its more than 2 months of me waking up without having to wonder "What do I wear to office today?" and its simply exhilarating.

I used to find it rather condescending when people used to point out the long history of women's natural association with the home and domesticity. But perhaps its just the modern social conditioning that equates feminine domesticity to shameful captivity by the patriarchial society that we live in. I could never imagine why any woman worth her salt would want to regress to the era of being a homing pigeon, slaving it out in the kitchen and keeping the table spotless.

Today am amused to find myself secretly enjoying the very same things I used to shoo away from. Make no mistake, the thought of getting to confined to the coffee pot and knitting skeins of wool into dull socks and sweaters still nauseates me.

Its this new found domesticity that has me shamelessly enslaved - where I get an hour long morning seista of coffee and the paper, hearty unhurried breakfast, no more weaving your way through the traffic and no more worry of missed deadlines. Absolutely revelling in it..

More later....got to go wave my hubby 'bye' :)

Shubh Deepavali

Wishing a happy, prosperous and safe Diwali to one and all.




Glittering MG Road on Diwali night