100HappyDays Day 28 - Tribal Music

Happiness is listening to tribal music

The tribal music in Rajasthan is very soothing. During my trip to Jaipur this week, I came across the women who sing from door to door.

The family wedding celebrations were on, all the women were busy tattooing the henna on their hands and feet. Normally there are dances and singing by family members during these occasions. But the ceremony had just started, we were all spread out in the big lawn and all we could hear were the murmurs of the private conversations and soft breeze in the air.

Suddenly we heard the loud beating of the drums. At the gate were two women, one playing the drums while other woman singing folk music. It was pleasant to the ear. I went forward to click their pictures and the singer began to dance as well, her long skirt spread out like a balloon as she twirled round and round.

It was a happiest moment to see them perform so spontaneously.

So here I am, with the project of ‘100 Happy Days’I am posting pictures each day here on my blog then sharing the link on my page on FB too. You can enjoy my work either here or on my page at FB at Pushee’s World

100HappyDays – Days 23-27 Family reunion

Happiness means spending quality time with cousins

I did not blog for 4days, but that does not mean that I was not happy. Actually I was so occupied in fun activities that I had no moments to blog. 

I made a trip to Jaipur to attend a wedding.

It was a family union. I was in deep pain, just recovering from a serious knee injury, but since my family insisted that I attend the wedding, I took flight and travelled on a wheelchair. Most of the time, my movements were restricted but that did not prevent me from having fun because I was surrounded by my family all the time and they chose to sit next to me whenever they could. There was no moment to be alone or even check my email.

The days passed quickly in laughter and song. I was meeting cousins after a long time. I belong to a large family and am very close to my maternal and paternal cousins. Feel blessed sometimes. My family made sure that I was comfortable. Late nights and early mornings were passed chatting about old times, remembering the aunts and sharing childhood stories.

I am so glad that I was able to spend quality time with my family.

So here I am, with the project of ‘100 Happy Days’I am posting pictures each day here on my blog then sharing the link on my page on FB too. You can enjoy my work either here or on my page at FB at Pushee’s World

Shopper's Agony

She told me to meet her at Bandra, Hill road, the big shopping area of Mumbai. One month from now is her marriage and she has not yet purchased her wedding gown. We go to this boutique at Hill road. The sales girl switches on the shop lights and AC as we enter the store. In the times like these, salesgirls are instructed by their boss to sit in heat and dark unless the client enters the store. She is quite pleased with our entry, happy that she will have somebody to chat and enjoy few moments of light and cool air.

There are bright-colored-stone-sequined- clothes on the rack for display. There are brocade saris, salvar-suits, ghagra- cholis. I assure her that this store has reasonable rates and that other well-known designers with branded labels have crazy rates. She believes me and follows me as I sift through the clothes on the rack, one by one.

There are two dresses that she likes a lot. One is the Gagra choli and other is chooridar set. I ask her to try it onto know the fitting. She wants to know the price, its forty-two grand in INR. She is hesitant. She finds the futility of spending too much money for one-day wear. She prefers to save the cash for a rainy day instead. Maybe for a trip abroad? I tell her that she will be somebody special on that day and its one-day affair of her lifetime and she must look her best. She relents and picks up both the sets and enters the trial room.

She has well shaped body with just the right curves. Both the dresses suit her and do justice, the color and the style, both are perfect. But she finds the price is too expensive. I inform the salesgirl that we are undecided and would like to visit some more stores before we can narrow our search. The salesgirl understands our plight. She quotes her last price lowered by three more grand to guarantee our return. We exit.

We visit few more stores, still confused.