Our (lovely) Neighbours

A bright Sunday morning; you are sipping a hot and refreshing cup of ginger tea; sun rays are giving you the warmth you really need in winter; those small conversations with your husband - a perfect day and a perfect way to spend some quality time with him. Just when you are enjoying yourself thoroughly; your doorbell rings. You open the door, spot another smiling face that says:

"can I get a cup of sugar please?"

Sigh!

Just because your neighbour does not want you to think that she is here only for some work, she will start talking to you. Your five minutes are gone, husband has a newspaper in his hand and your sink awaits for your ice tea.

We usually associate neighbours with either gossips or our SOS when we do not have some ingredient that's is essential for cooking. We count on them for a tomato, or a cup of milk, or a needle; but we do need them.

But they needing us? - hmmm, that can be a bit frightening; especially when they leave their kid with us for a few hours; who has a tendency to break anything and everything he touches; or when we have to take care of their dog when are are away on a few days trip; and the dog loves to pee on the carpet.

We loathe them when we happen to be a teenager; parents are out of town and there is a party at our place. Few guys and girls are about to enter when Mrs. Sharma opens her door; looks at you and gives you that "I know what you are upto" smile.

Zynga Company - the makers of farmville game - has studied the behaviour of neighbours pretty well; for, they have made sure that you have to ask for something or the other all the time from your farm neighbours.

Real world or virtual world; neighbours do matter to us all the time.

Sometimes we are jealous of them when they upgrade themselves; we compete with them just to prove our point to them; we stand by them when a tragedy has struck them; we dance with them if there is a wedding in their family.

We need them as much as we run away from them.

The great cliche applies here about our neighbours:

"You love them or you hate them; but you cannot ignore them"

Image Source: http://www.digitalrampage.com/images/neighbours.jpg

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2010 - Part 2

Hello,

The Disqus comment form for my last post was just an experiment which most of you did not like. I am re-posting my latest post - the only way to change the comment form back to default.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF); as people say; is an experience you cannot easily forget. It stays with you for a long time. Those who missed reading the first part, can click here.

KGAF is all about Arts. Artist from various fields showcase their talent here. Various musical shows, plays, films etc. is performed on this stage.

I was unfortunate to be there in the afternoon; and the shows started by 4 pm; I could not see a single performance thanks to my so called busy schedule. But few amusing things made the visit quite an amusing one. For instance; this huge bell:

And the artistic nest made of golden wires:

Apart from such artistic beauties, there was a dedication to our ancient beliefs about Mannat (wishes). A young couple is spotted there. The guy is tying the thread to the wish board while the girl is all smiles.

In the Hinduism, it is believed that tying a thread to the tree leads to fulfillment of wishes. Since the trees are scarce now, people are satisfied with a wooden fence which is made of that auspicious tree.

There was one stall that offered small children to showcase their talent too. They were given a brush, colours and plain white T-shirt. They drew mountains, birds, sun, flowers, rivers and such. Some simply stroked the brush randomly; while others copied them and trying to do better.

The same stall offered hand made sketches too - the real one and not the computerized one that looks like a hand made sketch. I got mine made too. Though it does not resemble me much, but I still like it.

There are many things to be shared; many photographs to be displayed; but I do not want to bore you people. Hope you enjoyed this virtual journey as much as I enjoyed the real one that had ragda patties too with the Arts.

Ragda Patties Image Source: http://jugalbandi.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/ragdapattice1.jpg

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2010 - Part 2

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF); as people say; is an experience you cannot easily forget. It stays with you for a long time. Those who missed reading the first part, can click here.

KGAF is all about Arts. Artist from various fields showcase their talent here. Various musical shows, plays, films etc. is performed on this stage.

I was unfortunate to be there in the afternoon; and the shows started by 4 pm; I could not see a single performance thanks to my so called busy schedule. But few amusing things made the visit quite an amusing one. For instance; this huge bell:

And the artistic nest made of golden wires:

Apart from such artistic beauties, there was a dedication to our ancient beliefs about Mannat (wishes). A young couple is spotted there. The guy is tying the thread to the wish board while the girl is all smiles.

In the Hinduism, it is believed that tying a thread to the tree leads to fulfillment of wishes. Since the trees are scarce now, people are satisfied with a wooden fence which is made of that auspicious tree.

There was one stall that offered small children to showcase their talent too. They were given a brush, colours and plain white T-shirt. They drew mountains, birds, sun, flowers, rivers and such. Some simply stroked the brush randomly; while others copied them and trying to do better.

The same stall offered hand made sketches too - the real one and not the computerized one that looks like a hand made sketch. I got mine made too. Though it does not resemble me much, but I still like it.

There are many things to be shared; many photographs to be displayed; but I do not want to bore you people. Hope you enjoyed this virtual journey as much as I enjoyed the real one that had ragda patties too with the Arts.

Ragda Patties Image Source: http://jugalbandi.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/ragdapattice1.jpg

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2010 - Part 1

The roads of Mumbai have huge hoardings of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF). Name of the sponsors are more evident than the name of the event. Black and White theme of the posters with a colourful surf excel logo look quite interesting.

My numerous visits to Colaba and none at KGAF has left me curious - space management is the question I have been thinking about; which is answered as soon as I reach there. Whole place is transformed completely. Shops and restaurants have moved two steps backward to make space for the colourful stalls; each corner has something to offer - from food to eco-friendly Tees, bags, wall pieces, paintings, artifacts, jewelleries and such.

Among these colourful stalls, we find the Kala Ghoda (Black Horse). This Black Horse has a different story to share altogether.

The Drought

I am tired.
There is a change happening around me, which has speed. There is a drought of pure and honest thoughts. Creativity has dried up, relationships are breaking apart like hollow branches, responsibilities are too heavy to sustain. Minds are lost in the dry jungle with no freshness; only dry creepers entangling everything around. Humans have the power to change it, but the power is in DROUGHT. We are waiting for our wills to act, to break the shackles and free our self. Waiting for the shower of freshness which is only possible if we are greener from minds and hearts.
I am tired.
There is a change happening around me.
Which has speed.

I am fast. NO. I was fast.

- Yuvraj, Dipali, Rishi and Santosh

There are many messages about saving our earth. Many images that move your heart; leaving you wondering about what we have done with our planet and what we still are doing.

Extensive use of plastic will soon take over our trees too; if at all there will be any remaining then.




Domnic Anthony insists on installation of the earth with this unique concept!



Plastic is a demon..



Save the Earth..

And the image that left me really curious. I spotted it when I entered the KGAF. I do not know the meaning behind it. If any of you has visited KGAF and know the meaning behind it, please let me know.

Hidden Identity

This strange world of blogging!

Here, people call themselves lonely heart, crying eye, running skeleton, stupid character and what not. And they all are proud of these names. Call them by this in real life and see their reaction! Don't sue me if they beat the hell out of you.

There are few who have a decent names too. They don't want to reveal their identity or they can relate to that term really well. Few of them become really popular bloggers too. But people know the pseudo name of the person. Popularity is yours but the name isn't! Hmmm.

I was a geek when I joined this blogworld. (I still am, reasons best known to me!) I did not know how things work here, how one starts a blog; or anything. I created my account with my name and surname as the url, uploaded the coolest looking picture of mine (the current one is cool too), named my Blog as Neha. I was not even aware that people have a name for their blogs too! I told you I am a geek!

When I realized this, it was too late. My blog was popular (?) as Neha, I was popular by my name and photograph. I could not change anything. Dumb me! But I am fine with this arrangement (like I have any other option); now there is a feeling of "my own space" as I use this name.

Hidden Identity is not a common phenomenon only on blogs. It is common at chat rooms too. Nah, not those chat rooms where you speak with cool dude, sweet girl or adorable puppy; but our personal chat list where the name of your friends do not change to attract you-know-who! But the nature of hidden identity changes here.

My friend Prikant Shednekar (name changed for security purposes), who happens to be the co-author of my other blogs (oops, I revealed his identity, but I am sure he will not mind); he has downloaded a new kind of a messenger, where the idle status is one of the options along with busy, available, invisible etc. He says, it is very easy to avoid people on your list. Just set your status as idle and decide whom you would like to speak with. Rest will not bother to ping you after seeing your status. Hmmm, interesting!

Then there are those who always remain invisible. They either want to avoid people or work in peace. Or maybe concentrate chatting with one (or more) person only! God knows what is the logic behind this; but yes, they are perpetually invisible. Oh I forgot to mention one thing; I am one of those invisible souls too.

All identities accepted; but have you ever wondered, how many 007's are around this virtual world? You even tend to forget which cuppy cake you spoke with last evening.

But I guess people are happy with hidden identities! They will remain neglected creature even after 50 comments; lonely tree after 100+ followers and invisible even after blocking 50 people!

Image Source: Google Images