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Published: March 15th 2006
Trichy was the loaction of our first Arangatum - the first public performance of a Bharanatyan dancer after she has been deemed ready by her guru. We were dazzled by the skill and control in the dance, telling stories with her eyes and gestures. As always with these events in India there was a pause in the dance for speeches which last about an hour. Being in Tamil we understodd little of the content but competently laughed and clapped with the best of them.
We left Trichy late and missed the bus to Bangalore, so spent six hours crammed in the backseat of the car with three adults and a squirming 6 year old chasing the bus. We tried with all our might to get some sleep but it alluded us - what with the squirming and regular tea stops...eventually at around 4.30a.m we manged to get onto a bus and arrived in Bangalore at 7.30.am. Giving us 1.30hrs to sleep before running 2, 3hr long workshops - back to back. surely the worst journey of the trip so far. Needless to say after the 2nd workshop we just collapsed waking for hour to eat before collasping once again.
Our last week Chennai was one of fancy functions and events, with us being taken to dinner at some the most exclusive clubs in the City - The Gymkhana Club and The Cosmopolitan Club. Both of which leagcies to colonialism, with a faded decadence and air of austerity. People here speak in their best British accents and eat in a most refined way - no hands here all forks and spoons.
Vasanthi organised a special meal / party for us at a very fine hotel. to our delight when we arrived our names were in gold on the red board to inform people which room for which function -"Party for Emma and Sophia by Gels in Genesis"
We had been asked to prepare something to perform at the party. so in our best drama school/ community arts way wrote a small song about Vasanthi and the office which has become Gels office anthem. With it dedicated to Vasanthi - the madam, we carefully ensured a line about each office member. when we performed it there were shrieks of laughter and delight along utter surprise. and yes once again we had made fools of ourselves
So now we have escaped the sweaty, polluted city - otherwise know as Chennai - to the startlingly clean and fresh Pondicherry.
An old French colony there are wide avenues, and paved footpaths with names reminiscent of Paris 'Rue De La Bourdonais'. They even have a Rubbish collection service and people actually use the bins.
Even here there is no escaping the Hindu excesses with the festival of Maasi Nagam. Deities from 38 local temples are loaded onto floats and adorned with garlands of flowers pulled by a mixture of bullocks and men. sadhus sit on the edge of the floats doling out red and white powder to the devotees, whilst staccatto druming and squealing horns pierce the air.
In the sea devotees by the hundreds bathe and cleanse in the water, whilst the children play and screech, quickly moving to the side to allow boats, carrying yet more devotees, to the shore.
We were soon absorbed into the throng of people, making our way up the narrow streets lined with sellers of every kind grot imaginable. Religion here not only comes with neon but an overwhelming love of plastic in every colour and variation imaginable, becoming more and more gawdy by the day.
This excitment aside most of the time in Pondicherry has been spent relaxing and ambling or cycling around the streets, stoppinmg off at regular points for chai or food. With frequents forays into saree stalls and tailors to really kit us our Indian style!
again so much to tell and so little time to do it.
take care
lots of love
soph and ej xx
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anonymous
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Hi guys! Sounds like you're having a great time! Can't wait to see you when you get back. You're both loking fantastic too!! Check out my site http://spaces.msn.com/HelenMcmelon Take care H x xxxx