Getting Set For Holi

Photo-op at Banoo Apa's big bash

From a jinxed picnic to the Woman of the Year contest to the managing committee elections, the Club has constantly been moving on from one event to another. And now comes the ‘festival of colors’ – Holi 2016.
With less than 48 hours to go, preparations for our annual jamboree in the Garden gathered momentum this morning. As chief organizer, Dilip Babani has taken on the responsibility of ensuring that the event gets off smoothly and everyone has a swell time. He is arranging for the colors and refreshments and has marshaled his forces directing all to chip in, in any manner they can. Even getting ice cubes from home and lugging along bottles of drinking water would do.
Banoo Apa offered to get large vessels from home to mix the thandai in while Arun Patil would be providing light entertainment with recorded ‘Holi songs’ to dance on. Efforts are also on to persuade Sitaram Hivarkar to get his dholak along on Thursday morning if that should inspire Siba Prasad Maitra to let his hair down and belt out some invigorating numbers suited to the occasion.

Gita Latte distributes prasad from
Siddhi Vinayak Temple

Maitra looks around helplessly as
two ladies terrorise him

“I will take part (bhaag loonga) and run away (bhaag jaaoonga),” promised the genial Bengali gent, arguably the only competent singer in our midst. What he did not divulge was how a couple of ladies had been terrorising him all morning. Apparently, their “sole agenda” was to color him red and green from top to toe on the 24th morning.
Meanwhile, in a surprise move, Banoo Apa landed with a load of eats which many described as a “monster’s brunch”. Indeed, this is one lady who believes in making it large every time she treats us, even as we try telling her not to bother and to please, keep it small. It seemed that she wanted to celebrate her election as Club secretary, a post she will be holding till April 2018.
Gita Latte too had good reasons to celebrate. Her brother has just become a proud owner of the iconic Royal Enfield Thunderbird motorbike and she wanted to share her happiness with luddoos from Siddhi Vinayak Temple. We are also happy for the young man, but still, would advise him to drive carefully and safely.
Lt Col Angad Singh from Mohali:
It is good to know that Holi is being celebrated with gusto and enthusiasm by all members. It is in the right spirit of Big Laaf. Kudos to everyone. Keep enjoying!
Bhaswati Bose:
Angad Singh-ji, are you in the stadium at Mohali watching the NZ-Pak T20 match today? I am trying to spot you on TV.