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Swati Punjabi greets Yusuf Rassiwala |
Yesterday’s Hajj tragedy that claimed over 700 lives in a stampede in faraway Mina cast a long shadow on this year’s
Eid-ul-Zuha at the Garden. None of our Muslim members were present this morning – barring
Yusuf Rassiwala. Being Bohra, he celebrated
Eid the day-before yesterday. But he had an air of gloom around himself and shared his grief over the loss of so many lives, even as
Swati Punjabi playfully tried to cheer him by dancing around and twirling his hand. That was her way of greeting him and invoking the festive spirit – unbecoming as it might have seemed at that moment.
On our part, we raised a fourth laugh after the exercises and wished one another ‘
Eid Mubarak’ as per Club tradition.
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An almost all-male group for the exercises |
Over the years, another practice has gained currency during this
Festival of Sacrifice. Many members have started exchanging/ distributing mutton from the sacrifice as a gesture of goodwill – a quaint custom that was not so apparent till a couple of years back. Now, even an ailing member like
Najma Sayyad (who is down with a crippling knee problem) observes this ritual religiously as a means to reaffirm her association with the Club every year.
Strangely enough, the absence of Muslim members on this festive day left us with an all-male group for the exercises. This is rather unusual. And it would have remained so, were
Kiran Waghmare, followed by
Monthi Serrao and Swati not to join us later. Still, we were a healthy complement of 22 making merry on a pleasant, sun-drenched morning.
Eid Mubarak, everybody!
Harish Wadhwa:
It must have been real fun -- a silent exercise session without the ladies! Right? At least today, the focus must have been on executing the exercises the correct way.
1 comment:
It must have been real fun and a silent exercise session, without the ladies ! Right ?. Atleast today, the focus must have been on exercises and executing them the right way.
Happy Eid to all my brother-en.
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