Autumnal Festivity

The autumnal festivities have just begun. Through the nine nights of Navaratri, we are propitiating the Mother Goddess in a ritualised whirl of garba and dandiya dance at every neighborhood corner. In between, we shall be celebrating Durgotsav or the Durga Puja from Saturday which would culminate on October 24 (Wednesday) with Dussehra – to be followed by Diwali or the festival of lights in mid-November. The common thread running through all these festivals is celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
Being an auspicious time of the year, the overly devout are already busy with their pujas and rituals and have stopped visiting the Garden to exercise. Some have left for their ancestral homes to invoke the goddess there. But that did not deprive us of our daily dose of morning entertainment – Nahid Khan (right pic) being at her cheekiest best today. She took a dig a Srichand Arora, advising him to take badaam (almonds) to get his memory back for conducting the exercises. Arora’s fault: He goofed up on the sequence of the laughter round.
Earlier, for the Lion and Lioness Laughter, when Arora gave the call, “Chalo, sher ban jaao” two late-comers ambled in and joined the circle – only to provoke others to comment, “Sher aa gaye!” Nahid looked around and her eyes fell on the gentleman (name withheld) who is somewhat vertically challenged. Without a second thought, she blurted out, “Sher nahin, sher ka bachcha!” Shocked, the whole group broke into titters. But Nahid kept a straight face, earplugs firmly in place, as though nothing had happened.
Small incidents like these add to the festive spirit, of joy and bonhomie, without anyone having to make a song and dance about celebrating. Still, in keeping with the occasion, Harish Wadhwa (left pic) sang a soul-stirring number on public demand.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
"What's on your mind Madam?"
"Nothing, was just thinking of which pose suits me?"
Harish Wadhwa:
* Nahid-ji, your picture resembles that of the Murphy Baby of yesteryear... just that he has an innocent look and smile.
* As I can see Mrs Harbans Singh coming regularly, I request her to get us some home-made kada-prasad that she makes so good. The 'news' of it and its khushboo will attract many more members and improve the attendance. You see, we care so much for each other, their health and well-being... that we can go to any extent to woo them to the Garden. (I hope she is reading this; else someone can pass on the message gracefully to her.)