A Delightful Republic Day!
Company get-togethers can be quite boring affairs for spouses. I realized that after I stopped working with DH. I would go to the event, and come away quite bored. However, the Republic Day outing was one I really enjoyed, because it was so very different, and brought back some dear childhood memories!
It was held at the Shankara Foundation (not to be confused with Ranga Shankara of recent fame), which is a sprawling campus with many interesting nooks and corners, and a lovely open-air amphitheater. The event had a complete village theme, not restricted to just the ethnic clothing, as is usually the case.
We were greeted with the nadaswaram-drum-decorated-bull ensemble at the gates, followed by welcome drinks of tender coconut. Bananas, "paanaka", butter-milk, and slices of water-melon kept us snacking healthy. Food was awesome with "jolada rotti", "neer dosa", many sweets and spicy pickles, all served on traditional banana leaves, with "paan" to top it all off!
The games included robust Kabaddi, played most enthusiastically by the guys who didn't mind a roll in the dust even in their silk jubbas; "Madike aata", which was a race with couples balancing 3 pots on the female's head; "Koli Katch", where a hapless hen was chased and caught within an enclosure (we did lodge our protest on cruelty to animals!); "Lagori" or seven stones; "Govinda", where guys had to climb on each other's shoulders and break a pot, whilst the opposing team threw water on them.
Balloons, kites, and "horse-jutka" rides entertained the kids immensely! Palmistry, bangles, mehendi, and try-your-hand-at-pottery were ongoing in the welcome shade.
The higlight of the evening was a demo of Kalariyapattu by folks from a leading school in Kerala. I was too busy with lil D to catch the complete details narrated by the host, but the show itself was totally awesome!
I think I'm having a "delightful" spot in my life right now - this was a really delightful way to spend the day!
It was held at the Shankara Foundation (not to be confused with Ranga Shankara of recent fame), which is a sprawling campus with many interesting nooks and corners, and a lovely open-air amphitheater. The event had a complete village theme, not restricted to just the ethnic clothing, as is usually the case.
We were greeted with the nadaswaram-drum-decorated-bull ensemble at the gates, followed by welcome drinks of tender coconut. Bananas, "paanaka", butter-milk, and slices of water-melon kept us snacking healthy. Food was awesome with "jolada rotti", "neer dosa", many sweets and spicy pickles, all served on traditional banana leaves, with "paan" to top it all off!
The games included robust Kabaddi, played most enthusiastically by the guys who didn't mind a roll in the dust even in their silk jubbas; "Madike aata", which was a race with couples balancing 3 pots on the female's head; "Koli Katch", where a hapless hen was chased and caught within an enclosure (we did lodge our protest on cruelty to animals!); "Lagori" or seven stones; "Govinda", where guys had to climb on each other's shoulders and break a pot, whilst the opposing team threw water on them.
Balloons, kites, and "horse-jutka" rides entertained the kids immensely! Palmistry, bangles, mehendi, and try-your-hand-at-pottery were ongoing in the welcome shade.
The higlight of the evening was a demo of Kalariyapattu by folks from a leading school in Kerala. I was too busy with lil D to catch the complete details narrated by the host, but the show itself was totally awesome!
I think I'm having a "delightful" spot in my life right now - this was a really delightful way to spend the day!
posted by thoughtraker at 8:35 PM
5 Comments:
kabbadi!! wow! that was a fav game at one time!
so did u take part in the madike aata? :-P
that was a wonderful description ano!! sounds like lotsa fun.
PS: i wanna play koli katch!! :-))))
sounds awesome...thanx for the details...:-))
Wow Ano, That is awesome. Sounds like a movie or something. And this is Republic Day Celebrations?!!
Are you sure the organizers didn't celebrate Sankranti on Republic day? I mean, matka phod and Kabaddi on Republic day?? Hmmm...probably the foundation's own way of displaying might and strength, parallel to the Rajpath parade. Anyway, you seemed to have had a great time. Enjoy!
-TII
IBL - that's what we always do on republic day, which is why this one is all the more delightful! :P
resh - no, we were behind lil D all the time - she was having a blast running around the place unfettered...
TII - it wasn't organized by the foundation as far as i know, and it was definitely not to celebrate sankranti!! :)))
and yes buck, funny, ssm, adithi - it was definitely loads of fun!
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