My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.
Every morning I wake up to realise how many things are overdue, and top on the list is this blog. I have been meaning to post everyday, and believe me, I have loads to write about. But some problem or the other comes up, the latest of which is that my Picasa account is full! There is no more space to upload photos, and I have had to create yet another account just to load my pics! All you photographers out there, how do you manage to save so many photographs....free. Yes, the keyword here is 'free'. Other than upgrading my account, or getting a pro Flickr account, any other ideas???????
Meanwhile, here's one long overdue post about a wonderful event we attended in Mumbai. We had just returned from Tirupati, and I found this email about this event which was to end in just a couple of days. I hurriedly booked tickets and rushed off, thanking my stars that I wasn't too late! The event in question was the International Clown Fest held from the 5th to the 14th of November. Clowns from the USA, Canada, Europe and Japan were part of this event held all over the city. Their last show was on the 13th at St.Andrews Auditorium, Bandra, and this was the one I attended.
I dont know what I can write about a show that was pure entertainment. From the word 'go', it was a laugh riot which the kids enjoyed thoroughly. For once, no one asked them to be quiet, and they laughed and shouted with sheer happiness as one performer followed another! As to us adults, it was evident that it wasn't all that easy to clown around, and we really enjoyed it too, becoming kids with our own kids in tow!
Here are a few pics from the performance. Usually, I avoid using my camera in auditoriums, but this one was special, and they openly allowed us to click away, and lots of people were even taking videos. I stuck to stills, though... and here they are... They aren't all that great, but I loved the way the camera captured the motions.... so coulnd't resist sharing so many of them with you!
Isn't that headgear interesting?? It was amazing the way he made it in minutes for the kid who was called up to participate.
Isn't that kid's excitement palpable???
This was something I loved...and the photos are interesting too! Couldn't imagine how he managed to skip the way he did! and look at the way the motion has been captured!
This was a performance Samhith loved - playing with 3 flutes at once! Yes, this pic shows just two, the one with the three didnt come out well :(
Here are the lucky kids who got to get on the stage....
More of the lucky ones!
These were again really interesting....
This is my favourite.... which is yours???
And finally, here are all of them....
From the left are Debbie Fowler (USA), Mike (Canada), Harlen Pierson (USA), Martin D'souza (India), Jonathan (Cananda), and Bob Neil (USA). Behind them is Molly Kleeman (USA).Unfortunately, she cant be seen in this pic.
After the performance, we could meet the clowns and interact with them, which means that all the kids rushed to take pics with them!
Yes, of course, Samhith did too..... Here he is, with Bob and Martin....
It was a wonderful evening, one we enjoyed to the hilt. Samhith was thrilled by the announcement that this would now be a regular, yearly affair, and that they would be back again next year with more performers! I really look forward to that!
There should be more such performances all over India, and at various venues so that more people can go and see what real clowns are like. As they say, clowning is serious business too!
I can imagine how Samhit must have enjoyed it. Lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteOh the good old days of the Circus! And we grew up to learn about cruelty to animals and the sorry lives of the performers :(
ReplyDeleteYour photographs are so bright and close in sequence scrolling through them they seemed to dance to life like and old time flicker movie. Happy WW
ReplyDelete@Mridula: Thanks.... if it ever comes to Delhi, do take Chhavi for it.. she will love it... and actually, am sure the other brats will too :)
ReplyDelete@Usha: yes, but when we go to the usual Indian circuses which come up here, we still feel that, but these guys are different.. as one of them said, parents do tend to look up with surprise when you say you are going to be a clown,but then it isnt so easy to become one either. each of them have worked in other fields before, and apparently have chosen this field early in their career, and they love it... it comes through in their performances... wish u could have come along!
@Sukhmandir Kaur: thanks a lot!
Hi Usha:
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed being part of the International Clown Festival, chose this career, and have a very happy life I am not sorry for in any way.
These are some new good days of a new humane circus revival.
Regards from,
the juggling, unicycling, globe skipping, plate spinning clown in the above pics....
Jonathan Seglins www.circusjonathan.com
Toronto, Canada
luved the pictures :) am sure ur son wud've enjoyed it
ReplyDeleteabt storage, i also created another picasa account to share the pictures :) i still have not ran out of space for my blog, but then i have abt 3GB paid space.