The entire evening yesterday was full of the feel of "dahi handi". Practically everywhere, at every crossroad, were these speaker walls screaming, rather screeching, the famous Bollywood "Govinda" songs. Psychedelic light beams were swirling across every nook and corner. The (now no longer only Pune special) dhol-tasha pathak's were as decible high as possible. The auto fellah I hired provided a round-the-city tour of this scenario under the pretext of Tilak Road being jam-packed, but actually to hitch a free ride for his elderly relative!
Later, by 9.30ish, wapp groups started flooding the mobile with videos/reels of the actual human pyramids. It is undoubtedly an adventure sport. In Spain, especially in Valencia, this game, known there as 'castelles', is indeed hugely popular. It is a show of co-operation, team work, faith in each other and bravery-n-courage. Shows how across spaces and belief systems, the human heart yearns for the same rush of the adrenaline high.
In Maharashtra, however, it is more eventbaazi, I feel. Why do I think so? Well, if it were not so, every chowk would not have huge flex of the who's who providing the money and muscle power for the entire dramebaazi, the noise pollution mentioned above, some small time or big ticket "star, yaar, surely not kalakar" accepting the "supari", the "Bhai" doing the inaugural gestures, the mad mob dancing the most vulgar way possible to provocative tunes, right?
I would not even mind this tamasha. Does any of the above-mentioned worthies care about the safety of the govindas? Is there any safety net provided at the venue of the event? At the places where they practice? They are mostly from lower middle class families. If an accident takes place, who takes care of the wounded, the injured? Basic human(e) questions! Ignored year after year! Hence the title!
Much worse is the parody of the original quasi-religious myth that is (un)knowingly mocked at in the entire eventbaazi. Absolutely mixed-up it is. Hence the 'combo' title to the blog!
In the Krishna myth, why did he go for the stealing of curds and milk? Surely he needed neither. He was a born prince, and was being raised as one. The Krishna practice is actually a very democratic sharing of the spoils in a playful, happy, together way. The lowest of the low is thus enabled by the ruler, the prince, to share the best, and in a joyful, lovably mischievous, together way, right?
The contemporary drama has none of this principle. Instead, it is an ugly show-off of sick glamour, moolah and muscle power which is sad, mad, and bad! Hence this blog with that title to mourn the mockery of a good concept!
Pratima@Oh, Lord, save the crooked. They know exactly very well what they are doing!
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