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Kashi 3.0

Memory is unpredictable . One never really knows what we will remember and what we will forget. Which is why nostalgia arrives in unpredictable waves, highlighting something and skimming over others. Recently, I have found myself thinking of how memory works, as I was assailed by nostalgia over a trip to Varanasi, a city I prefer to think of, as Kashi. The nostalgia hit right as we landed at Varanasi airport. The last time I was here, it was 1988, I was 13 years old, the airport was brand new… regular flights hadn’t started yet (I think) … flights landed about once a week, and for the rest of the time, everything was open to those of us who lived in the airport quarters nearby. There were fields everywhere, vast expanses of green… I have vague memories of corn and sugarcane… and being overwhelmed by the vastness of the fields (this was the first time I was in such close proximity to them), and the warm hospitality of complete strangers who lived and worked amidst these fields. I h...
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Faces in the Crowd - the girl drawing a rangoli

It has been a long time since I posted anything in this series, so reviving it with this pic from the Sirpur Village.



We were wandering around Sirpur village, when I noticed her. I am always drawn towards Rangoli, and hers was the only one in the village! When I asked, she said that they rarely drew Rangolis, unless it was a festival. "Why now?" I asked, and she replied "Because we cleaned our front porch and I felt like!"

P.S. I recently visited Sirpur to attend the Music and Dance Festival on invitation from Chhattisgarh Tourism. Read my other posts on the trip for more details and information,
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Location: Sirpur, Chhattisgarh 493445, India

Comments

  1. Ranjana's craft blogJanuary 27, 2015 at 11:56 AM

    The happiness of drawing Rangoli is seen on her face too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:37 PM

      Absolutely, Ranjana. She wasnt doing it because it was the norm, but because she wanted to. and that makes all the difference, doesnt it>

      Delete
  2. BikramJanuary 29, 2015 at 3:04 PM

    She looks HAppy doing that .. lovely rangoli too so many colors

    Bikram's

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:38 PM

      Yes, Bikram, she does... as I said above, i guess its because she was really enjoying it

      Delete

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