If you’ve taken a train in any big city, you might think you’re a pro on this mode of transportation. It’s quite simple, buy a ticket, wait for the train, get on the train, get off at your designated station. Simple as pie. But add the 6.9 million people who use the local trains for daily commute in Mumbai and the pie just blew up in your face.
The commercial capital of India has an area of 437 sq. km., is surrounded by the sea on 3 sides and is slim at the bottom and widens as you head northwards. At the southern most tip lies the main business district, which effectively means that the majority of the population is headed north to south in the morning and the other way in the evening. The main mode of transportation for the working class is the network of local trains. Running over a total of 427 kms, the train Network in Mumbai is divided into Western, Central and Harbour Lines out of which the Western line handles the most number of travelers. The trains don’t have airconditioning, which means the doors are open at all times, making it quite dangerous to stand at the door when the train is in movement.
So with that background, here are the simple rules of traveling on the local trains (or locals) in Mumbai.
1) Buy a First Class ticket: There are two classes of travel, First Class and Second Class. Second Class compartments are always crowded, so finding a place to sit is difficult at times, and impossible in peak hours. First class compartments are comparatively less crowded, but come at a price, approximately 10 times the price of the second class compartment. But that’s not much. The minimum fare is INR 4 (US$ 0.09) for second class and INR 41 for first class (US$ 0.91). Buy your ticket before you board the train. Many a times there are serpentine queues of people waiting to buy tickets, but you can head to the front of the line if you’re buying a first class ticket.
2) Avoid peak hours: Unless you want your toes tread on, or get someone’s armpit shoved in your face (yes, it does happen), avoid peak hour travel on the train network. During peak hours each compartment holds at least 500 people, compared to the rated holding capacity of 200 people.
3) Know your destination station: Check whether the train is stopping at the station you want to get off at. There are 2 types of trains running, ‘Fast’ and ‘Slow’. These names are not related to the actual speed of the train, but depend on the number of stations that the trains stop on. The ‘Slow’ trains stop at all stations on the route, the ‘Fast’ trains stop at only the major ones.
4) Get on the train: During peak hours, getting on the train seems like one of the toughest things on Earth. People are packed tighter than peas in a pod. Getting in is next to impossible, and very often you will have to leave a train or two. Once you get to the door of the train, climb in and push with all your might to get into the train.
5) When in doubt, ask a fellow traveler: The indicators on the station platform mention the abbreviations of the last stop of the train, which can be very confusing for a new traveler. Also, once inside, there is no way of knowing at which side of the train the next station will come. Therefore, it’s always better to ask rather than scramble across the compartment at the last moment, earning yourself a lot of angry stares.
6) Don’t be in a hurry to get off: Trains with open doors mean that people get on and off the trains before they stop. So, never stand close to the door, thinking you’ll be the 1st one off, because then you’ll have to get off before the trains stops, which needless to say is very dangerous.
7) Look after your stuff: Take care of your belongings as pickpocketing does happen.
8) Enjoy the commute: Mumbaiites spend many hours in their daily commute by trains (Some commute 2 hours on the train, one – way). So the trains end up becoming a moving marketplace, with people selling a variety of fruits, newspapers, keychains, pens and other trinkets. You also have beggars singing, in the hope that you loosen your purse strings.
But like everything, practice makes perfect and after a couple of times you’ll be able to travel on Mumbai locals quite effortlessly.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Using an 18th century watch to tell time in Jaipur
“Tu toh Hrithik Roshan dikhe hai” (You look like Hrithik Roshan). In
Here I was at the
I’m a marwari and my hometown is 240 kilometers from Jaipur. Even though I live in Mumbai, my family and I visit our hometown twice every year to pray to our Kuldevi (Family Goddess). During these trips we also visit other places of worship like Salasar Balaji temple, Khatu Shyamji temple and the Ajmer Sharif dargah.
It’s 8 in the morning and I stretch myself as we wait for our taxi to pick us up from Jaipur airport. I see a man dressed in traditional Rajasthani attire with a placard. I crane my neck to see if our name was written on it, but alas, no such luck there. We’ve just arrived on a 6 am flight from Mumbai, which basically ensured that you don’t have a good night’s sleep. I was lucky in a way, as the 2 seats next to me on the flight were empty so I lay down and had an hour’s nap.
A white coloured Toyota Innova rolls to a stop before us (after some frantic waving by dad) and we load our luggage, take a seat and head off to Salasar. We make an early stop for some diesel. 9 km from the airport (area called Sahakari Bhavan) is a petrol pump of BPCL, where 95% of the attendants are ladies. Quite a rare sight in
On the way to Salasar, we stop for a quick breakfast 62 km from Jaipur, at a restaurant called Jhalak (Immediately reminded me of Himesh Reshammiya, his cap and his nasal twang). The pattern breakfast in the north of
A few kilometers ahead is the town of
Rajasthan is one of the drier states of
Our talk gets cut short as we reach a Toll Booth and we need to pay 25 INR. A couple of young boys run up to the car offering fresh mullis (radish), 2 for 10 INR. The toll tax that is being collected is being put to a good use as the roads are in good condition and speeds of 80 kmph are achievable even though it is a two way road.
One thing you should know about Raju, is that he seems to be a big fan of Formula 1 racing. He might not know the names of the drivers or their teams, but he’s very good at imitating their on-track antics as he pushes the
On the way back to Jaipur we cross Navalgarh (140 km from Jaipur). This is a small town which hosts a camel fair for 10 to 15 days near the end of October. From here the fair moves to its more famous avatar at Pushkar, where the fair is held during from 12th to 21st November.
“You went to Jaipur and didn’t see any of the palaces?” is what my friends would have told me had I returned to Mumbai without taking in some of the sights of Jaipur. So the next day we head out to see some of the city’s heritage before we head home.
The City Palace of Jaipur is where the current King, Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh, still resides with his family. A part of the palace is open for the public to see and enjoy. Our guide, Digvijay, accompanies us through the palace and entertains us with trivia about the palace and the erstwhile kings. Our first stop is the Mubarak Mahal. Built by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II in 19th century to entertain his guests, today it has on display an array of robes, bedspreads, turbans and other textiles used by the kings and queens. A wedding robe, made of muslin from Dhaka and having 320 pleats, Maharaja Man Singh II’s winter as well as summer polo attire, Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II’s (who was 7 feet tall, had a chest measuring 4 feet and weighed 250 kgs) robe and pyjama and many other clothes are on display.
The Diwan – i – Khaas (Private meeting chamber of the King) has 2 large Silver Urns. These urns weigh 350 kgs each and can hold 900 galloons of water. Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II would drink and use only water from the River Ganga to bathe. When he went to
A little ahead was the Diwan – i – Aam (Public meeting chamber of the King). The grandeur of this room is a sight to be seen. Intricate leaf and flower patterns made using real gold, adorn the ceilings. A crystal chandelier hangs in the centre of the hall. This chandelier was brought from
An interesting fact that I learned here is that the modern game of Polo actually originated from
Even before that, polo has been popular in
Jantar Mantar
Yantar means instrument and Mantar means formula or calculation. But over time, the Y of yantar got converted to J, which is why it is now known as Jantar Mantar. The Jantar Mantar is located opposite the
The gem in the Jantar Mantar’s crown is the 90 foot (27 m) tall Sun Dial (World’s largest) (also called Samrat Yantra) which tells you the time with an accuracy of 2 seconds. Jeetendra Singh, our guide, pointed out one important fact, “The Sun Dial can tell you the exact time at Jaipur. But since Indian standard time is derived from
Other instruments like the Jaiprakash Yantra tell you what Sun Sign the Sun currently is in, while the Narivalaya Yantra lets you know whether the Sun is in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, all based on where the Sun’s rays fall. Further down, are 13 constructions of stones (some in the form of stairs, triangles, etc.) facing a particular direction and set at a specific angle. When you look along the plain of the top end of the construction you can see the North Star or the star of the particular Sun Sign that the construction corresponds to. These contraptions can be tested only at night, but unfortunately the Jantar Mantar shuts its doors at 5 pm.
“The level of perfection that Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II wanted in these instruments can be seen in the fact that each instrument was first made in the form of a rough model, then a miniature scaled model and finally the actual instrument was constructed” points out Jeetendra. He adds that all three models of each instrument are still present here.
All the instruments are made specifically for Jaipur’s location (Latitude of 27 degrees North), so if they were to be exactly replicated at any other place they would not work correctly.
I’m so glad I took some time out and visited the
Before we said our good byes, I had one last thing to ask Jeetendra. “Why is Jaipur called the Pink city? Is it because of a certain stone used in the buildings?” Laughing, he replied, “Nahi Sir, in 1853 the Prince of Wales was visiting India and the king at that time (Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II) got the city painted pink, since pink was considered the color of hospitality. From that time on, the main road inside the walled city, where the Hawa Mahal stands, is pink in colour and Jaipur is known as the pink city.”
This makes me curious, why is
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Best Mother in the World
Beep beep! I turn to pick up my mobile to see who had sent me a SMS. This is what flashed on the screen:
“Motherhood’s the toughest 24 hour lifetime job. No pay, no days off, no qualifications or training are given and most unappreciated and yet resignation is impossible! So send this to anyone who’s a terrific mum and let her know she’s absolutely wonderful”
A small message but it’s bang on target. It correctly defines every mother on this earth. I immediately forwarded it to my mom. If I could, I would have forwarded it to every mother on this planet because so many of us take our mothers for granted, that it’s our God given right to demand things to be done by her.
Many of you must have read the comic strip “The Family Circus” by Bill and Jeff Keane. I remember this particular comic strip that appeared in a newspaper in Mumbai, where the mother is sitting in a bank. She has filled a form, and in the field ‘Profession’ she’s written ‘Housewife’, but in her mind are running these thoughts ‘Baby sitter, driver, cook, cleaner, laundry in charge, doctor, teacher, counselor’ and so on. This is so true, every mother has to juggle so many roles but she always manages to conduct a fine balancing act.
Many forget to acknowledge and recognize the positive impact that their mother has had on them. After all it is usually the mother with whom the child shares the closest bond, for it is she who has carried the child in her womb for 9 months and nourished it from an embryo to an infant.
It is the same for me; I share a very strong bond with my mom. She’s more of a friend than a mother. What I am today is all thanks to her teachings, her sacrifices and her efforts.
How do I count the ways in which my mother has positively impacted my life? How, when I was ill, she wouldn’t sleep the whole night just to make sure that I slept well. How she patiently helped me read and write. How she taught me to pray, not just for myself but for others as well. How she rarely went out with her friends at night, just so that I would not have to sleep alone. How she would keep fasts in the names of different Gods and Goddesses, so that no obstacles would block my path. How she was stern and sweet, both in good measures.
Always leading by example, these huge efforts by my mom will always stay etched in my mind when I raise my children.
There were many instances when I would be upset with my mother and throw childish tantrums because some whim or fancy of mine had not been fulfilled. Quite often my grandma would give in to these tantrums of mine just to keep me happy, but it was in these instances that my mother would have to go through her tests of fire. She would quite often hold her stand and didn’t mind being labeled the ‘villain’ by me. She knew that she was providing the balance required to bring up a well mannered child. In the long run, it has paid off well and I am extremely thankful that she was strict with me at times, for otherwise I would have become a spoilt brat.
When I was fresh out of school, this chubby, insecure, shy teenager would tremble at the thought of making new friends. I remember how my mom forced me to join a public speaking class, and that was one of the biggest turning points of my life. I shed my inhibitions and became an active participant in all extra curricular activities in my college. The introvert had been transformed to an extrovert who went on to become the vice chairman of his extra curricular club.
I remember reading this line on the internet - “You can learn many things from a child, how much patience you have, for instance”
My mom always had a lot of patience with me. She would take as much time required in explaining things to me and work on my faults and mistakes without losing her cool. She has always taught me to stay away from comparisons, never to compare myself to another and to be happy with what I have. Everyone has their own destiny; their own place in this world. This is why I am content with my current place in the world and am not part of the rat race.
As a kid, I had some trouble with my ‘R’s but it’s all thanks to her that the kid who used to say “lound the lock the lugged loaver lan” instead of “round the rock the rugged rover ran” now lends his voice to radio spots, corporate videos and effortlessly anchors shows in front of a live audience.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have such a gem of a mother. I truly believe that I must have done a whole bunch of good deeds in my past life to have her as my mother in this life.
Many would say “All mothers do this; my mother also brought me up with great pains. She is the best mother in the world”.
You’ve told me, but have you told her?
“Motherhood’s the toughest 24 hour lifetime job. No pay, no days off, no qualifications or training are given and most unappreciated and yet resignation is impossible! So send this to anyone who’s a terrific mum and let her know she’s absolutely wonderful”
A small message but it’s bang on target. It correctly defines every mother on this earth. I immediately forwarded it to my mom. If I could, I would have forwarded it to every mother on this planet because so many of us take our mothers for granted, that it’s our God given right to demand things to be done by her.
Many of you must have read the comic strip “The Family Circus” by Bill and Jeff Keane. I remember this particular comic strip that appeared in a newspaper in Mumbai, where the mother is sitting in a bank. She has filled a form, and in the field ‘Profession’ she’s written ‘Housewife’, but in her mind are running these thoughts ‘Baby sitter, driver, cook, cleaner, laundry in charge, doctor, teacher, counselor’ and so on. This is so true, every mother has to juggle so many roles but she always manages to conduct a fine balancing act.
Many forget to acknowledge and recognize the positive impact that their mother has had on them. After all it is usually the mother with whom the child shares the closest bond, for it is she who has carried the child in her womb for 9 months and nourished it from an embryo to an infant.
It is the same for me; I share a very strong bond with my mom. She’s more of a friend than a mother. What I am today is all thanks to her teachings, her sacrifices and her efforts.
How do I count the ways in which my mother has positively impacted my life? How, when I was ill, she wouldn’t sleep the whole night just to make sure that I slept well. How she patiently helped me read and write. How she taught me to pray, not just for myself but for others as well. How she rarely went out with her friends at night, just so that I would not have to sleep alone. How she would keep fasts in the names of different Gods and Goddesses, so that no obstacles would block my path. How she was stern and sweet, both in good measures.
Always leading by example, these huge efforts by my mom will always stay etched in my mind when I raise my children.
There were many instances when I would be upset with my mother and throw childish tantrums because some whim or fancy of mine had not been fulfilled. Quite often my grandma would give in to these tantrums of mine just to keep me happy, but it was in these instances that my mother would have to go through her tests of fire. She would quite often hold her stand and didn’t mind being labeled the ‘villain’ by me. She knew that she was providing the balance required to bring up a well mannered child. In the long run, it has paid off well and I am extremely thankful that she was strict with me at times, for otherwise I would have become a spoilt brat.
When I was fresh out of school, this chubby, insecure, shy teenager would tremble at the thought of making new friends. I remember how my mom forced me to join a public speaking class, and that was one of the biggest turning points of my life. I shed my inhibitions and became an active participant in all extra curricular activities in my college. The introvert had been transformed to an extrovert who went on to become the vice chairman of his extra curricular club.
I remember reading this line on the internet - “You can learn many things from a child, how much patience you have, for instance”
My mom always had a lot of patience with me. She would take as much time required in explaining things to me and work on my faults and mistakes without losing her cool. She has always taught me to stay away from comparisons, never to compare myself to another and to be happy with what I have. Everyone has their own destiny; their own place in this world. This is why I am content with my current place in the world and am not part of the rat race.
As a kid, I had some trouble with my ‘R’s but it’s all thanks to her that the kid who used to say “lound the lock the lugged loaver lan” instead of “round the rock the rugged rover ran” now lends his voice to radio spots, corporate videos and effortlessly anchors shows in front of a live audience.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have such a gem of a mother. I truly believe that I must have done a whole bunch of good deeds in my past life to have her as my mother in this life.
Many would say “All mothers do this; my mother also brought me up with great pains. She is the best mother in the world”.
You’ve told me, but have you told her?
Mumbai Cycle Night Ride
Mumbai, In the light of my cycle lamp
The cycling enthusiast in me was very excited. A group of cyclists were organizing a night cycle ride. Mumbai roads are usually bursting at their seams with more than 1.5 million automobiles spewing out Carbon Monoxide and other gases. This pretty much nullifies the health benefits of cycling. So a chance to cycle on the city roads, without having exhaust fumes blown into my face, made me rub my hands in glee.
The ride was to start from Bandra (North Mumbai) at 8 pm and head to Bade Miyan’s at Colaba (South Mumbai ) where we’d stop for a bite to eat before heading back. Bade Miyan’s (meaning ‘Big Brother’) is a roadside stall selling scrumptious North Indian (Mughlai) food. The fan following for this roadside foodstall can humble many an established eatery.
Helmet, check. Water bottle, check. Tail light flashing, check. Since I live in between Bandra and Colaba, I join the ride mid-way. “Suuuummmmmiiiiiittttt”, is all I hear as a group of cyclists zoom by. I yell, wave and jump on my cycle. Pedaling furiously, I’m soon riding with the group. Along the way, I slow down to cast a glance over some old buildings dwarfed by massive upcoming constructions. Within 6 months, the middle class tenants will leave and these old buildings will make way for glass faced residential high rises for the über rich. Mumbai is constantly changing, but not always for the better.
“Buck up, or you’ll be left behind”, shouts out Zubair, as he gestures for me to speed up.
We reach Bade Miyan’s by 9.30pm and are immediately the center of attraction. All heads turn to see a dozen cycles being parallel parked. Zubair goes around asking the group for their food preference. Accustomed to seeing guests arrive in expensive cars and motorbikes, our 20 – something waiter was stunned for a second. But he recovers quickly as Zubair rattles off our order.
“4 chicken tikka roll, 2 bheja fry, 3 reshmi tikka roll, 3 mutton roll, 4 Coke, 5 Sprite aur 3 paani ka bottle”, repeats Ayub, while simultaneously scribbling on his little white pad.
After having our fill of yummy chicken tikka rolls and laughingly asking Ayub for a discount, since we were using a green form of transportation, we mount our cycles and head back. The return journey is at a much slower pace, to enjoy the nocturnal sight and sounds of the city. The bright lights at Chowpatty beach turn out to be an unexpected pit stop and an impromptu decision is made to have gola, kulfi, falooda and other yummy desserts to complete our meal.
The smell of the sea, the throbbing of my legs and the taste of some ice cold kulfi, what a way to spend a Saturday night.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Ramleela at Chowpatty
I’ve lived in Prabhadevi my entire life. Many people don’t consider this to be South Mumbai (Central Mumbaite is what I am told I should call myself). But schooling and college days have been spent in SoBo. So by that virtue, I consider myself to me a Townie.
One of the age old traditions of South Mumbai is the staging of the Ramleela at Chowpatty, Marine Drive during Navratra.
The Ramleela has been staged there for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never taken out the time to stop and have a glimpse. I guess it’s one of those things that you procrastinate about, saying you’ll go tomorrow/later (like the dentist’s appointment, going to the gym, etc., you get what I’m saying)
But this year I finally set out one evening and landed up at chowpatty to watch the Ramleela.
I had certain expectations of the place, would chowpatty be a clean area? Will there be families or only people trying to swindle you with different schemes? Would Lord Rama still be able to pull a crowd of faithful in an age where a movie has been made of his arch enemy?
But I was pleasantly surprised. Chowpatty has been cleaned up. The food stalls which would dot the beach had been shifted to one corner, thus giving an organized look to the whole area.
And it no longer looked like the seedy place where people from the underbelly of the city would come at night to carry out their shady business.
Instead, families spend quality time here savouring the delicious foods on offer while little kids are ferried about in toy jeeps blaring hit music from the latest bollywood release.
And scores of faithful still do come to watch their lord and master fell his adversary. The organizers have set up chairs for people to sit, but the crowd exceeds the number of chairs forcing people to either stand or sit on the floor. But no one is complaining.
So I watched with a smile on my face as Ravan threatens Sita to marry him, glad to see that people still revel in the simple pleasure of watching the Ramleela under a starlit night at Chowpatty.
One of the age old traditions of South Mumbai is the staging of the Ramleela at Chowpatty, Marine Drive during Navratra.
The Ramleela has been staged there for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never taken out the time to stop and have a glimpse. I guess it’s one of those things that you procrastinate about, saying you’ll go tomorrow/later (like the dentist’s appointment, going to the gym, etc., you get what I’m saying)
But this year I finally set out one evening and landed up at chowpatty to watch the Ramleela.
I had certain expectations of the place, would chowpatty be a clean area? Will there be families or only people trying to swindle you with different schemes? Would Lord Rama still be able to pull a crowd of faithful in an age where a movie has been made of his arch enemy?
But I was pleasantly surprised. Chowpatty has been cleaned up. The food stalls which would dot the beach had been shifted to one corner, thus giving an organized look to the whole area.
And it no longer looked like the seedy place where people from the underbelly of the city would come at night to carry out their shady business.
Instead, families spend quality time here savouring the delicious foods on offer while little kids are ferried about in toy jeeps blaring hit music from the latest bollywood release.
And scores of faithful still do come to watch their lord and master fell his adversary. The organizers have set up chairs for people to sit, but the crowd exceeds the number of chairs forcing people to either stand or sit on the floor. But no one is complaining.
So I watched with a smile on my face as Ravan threatens Sita to marry him, glad to see that people still revel in the simple pleasure of watching the Ramleela under a starlit night at Chowpatty.
Festivals of Maharashtra
Every culture has its own nuances, its own traditions, its own heritage. Very often cultures are pretty much standard across a country, but this is where India differs. Cultural beliefs, prayer rituals and traditions are vastly different over the length and breadth of this vast land mass.
Be it the colossal durga puja celebrations in Kolkata, or the total shutdown of Gujarat during the 5 days of Diwali, each region seems to celebrate festivals in its own way.
To enjoy the beauty of every festival one would have to spend a full year in a particular region of India, because no photos or videos can duplicate the sights of the place and the energy of the people during a festival celebration.
But a cultural show in Mumbai is aiming to give its viewers a full fledged feel of the festivals, in 1 hour instead of 1 year.
Utsav – Festivals of Maharashtra showcases 8 festivals of the state of Maharashtra and a Maharashtrian marriage in a period of 60 minutes.
The narrator explains the significance of certain rituals and the legends behind the festivals and the dance troupe comes on stage to enact the festivals in song and dance.
How did the elephant-headed God Ganesha get his head? Why is a bamboo pole adorned with a piece of cloth, a garland and a pitcher and hung outside every maharashtrian house? What is the reason for clay pots filled with curd, milk and prize money being hung in the streets and for boys forming human pyramids to break them? Why is a fire lit on the night before the festival of Holi?
All these and many more questions are answered during this show.
You watch in bated breath as the young Lord Krishna is lifted on top of the human pyramid to break the clay pot, and you get goose bumps all over on seeing the anger in the eyes of Goddess Durga.
The vibrant colours of the costumes and the beats of the music make you feel like a part of the celebrations and not just a bystander.
So if you’re looking to enjoy a yearload of festivals compressed into 1 hour of enjoyment and celebration, then make sure to add ‘Utsav’ to your itinerary.
Utsav – Festivals of Maharashtra:
Date: Every Saturday until the end of March 2011
Time: 7 pm
Place: Mini Theatre, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai, India
Ticket prices: INR 900 (US$ 20 approx) per person
Contact: Mr. Suresh Singh Tanwar (mobile: +91 9820070925)
Email: supersic@vsnl.com
Website: www.supersonictravels.org
Be it the colossal durga puja celebrations in Kolkata, or the total shutdown of Gujarat during the 5 days of Diwali, each region seems to celebrate festivals in its own way.
To enjoy the beauty of every festival one would have to spend a full year in a particular region of India, because no photos or videos can duplicate the sights of the place and the energy of the people during a festival celebration.
But a cultural show in Mumbai is aiming to give its viewers a full fledged feel of the festivals, in 1 hour instead of 1 year.
Utsav – Festivals of Maharashtra showcases 8 festivals of the state of Maharashtra and a Maharashtrian marriage in a period of 60 minutes.
The narrator explains the significance of certain rituals and the legends behind the festivals and the dance troupe comes on stage to enact the festivals in song and dance.
How did the elephant-headed God Ganesha get his head? Why is a bamboo pole adorned with a piece of cloth, a garland and a pitcher and hung outside every maharashtrian house? What is the reason for clay pots filled with curd, milk and prize money being hung in the streets and for boys forming human pyramids to break them? Why is a fire lit on the night before the festival of Holi?
All these and many more questions are answered during this show.
You watch in bated breath as the young Lord Krishna is lifted on top of the human pyramid to break the clay pot, and you get goose bumps all over on seeing the anger in the eyes of Goddess Durga.
The vibrant colours of the costumes and the beats of the music make you feel like a part of the celebrations and not just a bystander.
So if you’re looking to enjoy a yearload of festivals compressed into 1 hour of enjoyment and celebration, then make sure to add ‘Utsav’ to your itinerary.
Utsav – Festivals of Maharashtra:
Date: Every Saturday until the end of March 2011
Time: 7 pm
Place: Mini Theatre, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai, India
Ticket prices: INR 900 (US$ 20 approx) per person
Contact: Mr. Suresh Singh Tanwar (mobile: +91 9820070925)
Email: supersic@vsnl.com
Website: www.supersonictravels.org
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Singapore Formula 1 Race (2010)
This year I was able to fulfill a long standing dream of mine, to watch a Formula 1 race live from the stands. And I did it at a landmark race track, the only night race in Formula 1 history.
Since 2008 Singapore has added another feather in its well decorated hat by successfully hosting the 1st night race in Formula 1 history. A mind boggling array of lights convert the 5.073 km Marina Bay Street circuit into a place where it seems that the sun never sets. 240,000 Formula 1 fans watch the race live at the track in Singapore, and millions across the world.
The city gets into Formula 1 mode much before the actual race, with part of the streets being blocked off from the Tuesday before the race. On Wednesday, I got lucky as the barricades were not completely placed around the track and I snuck onto the actual race track for a look. It’s an overwhelming feeling when you actually get to step on the track where you’ve watched your heroes race their mean machines. Let me put this into perspective for my cricket loving friends: imagine being allowed to walk on the cricket pitch at the Lords. Yep, same feeling. And the icing on the cake was seeing Fernando Alonso (2 times world champion) cycle around the track with his engineer. The cherry on top of the icing would have been to see Michael Schumacher, but I guess that will have to wait till some other day.
There is a lot to do at the race track, besides watching the actual race. International music stars like Mariah Carey, hip hop superstar Missy Elliot, American Idol alum Adam Lambert, etc entertain and stunts by bikers on dirt bikes enthrall the crowd. At the same time the aroma of scrumptious food and the sheen of F1 merchandise vie for your attention.
Along with Formula 1, the BMW cup and the Porsche Cup races are also held on the same day, but at an earlier time.
An hour and a half before the actual start of the race, a drivers’ parade is conducted. The Formula 1 drivers are ferried around the track in vintage cars. This is the best opportunity to see the Formula 1 drivers, as otherwise they zip by, tucked in their Formula 1 cars, faster than you can say “hello”.
As the sun begins to set, the lights come on and the track comes alive, engines roaring, loudspeakers blaring and fans cheering. You can feel the excitement rising in the stands. My own heart starts to beat faster in anticipation, and I almost forget to use the ear plugs which I had bought at the venue. Ear plugs? Why would I need those? For the first few laps of the race you might not need them, but to prevent damage to your eardrums and to save yourself from a splitting headache, its advisable to use them.
Once the race begins, the sound of 26 Formula 1 cars going at full throttle is (for lack of any other word) deafening.
My friends and I were seated in the Bay Grandstand. Our seats were just above the corner of the track, where the cars take a 90 degree left turn and go under the stands (turn 18). This was also the site of the crash of the cars of Bruno Senna (Hispania Racing) and Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber). Plus the straight before the turn was the point where Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus car caught fire in the last few laps of the race. Besides getting a ringside view of all this action on the track, we also had a splendid view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino (Singapore’s latest landmark). It is a 57 storey hotel, consisting of 3 towers, in the shape of packs of cards.
It was an eventful race, but in the end only 1 driver gets to stand at the top of the podium, and what a celebration it was by Fernando Alonso and the Ferrari team.
As the crowd heads home after the race, so do I, but not before soaking in as much of the atmosphere as I can. There was a sense of satisfaction on having fulfilled a dream of mine, but also a sense of curiosity, wondering when I will be able to see my next Formula 1 race. Maybe New Delhi in Oct 2011?
You can check out my rough documentary about my trip on Youtube (It's in 2 parts, as Youtube doesn't allow videos of more than 15 minutes)
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqoCgASxzYs
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4QOlBzcCOc
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