[Per's bag still lies in the hallway. Abandoned,like a broken discarded limb. Articles of clothing peek out,playing a silent game of peek-a-boo with me. As I type, she has finally started a load of laundry and the bag now looks at me with a blanket or two resting on it. My unwashed suits wait patiently in a pile, i've done all my laundry except this. I reason that im too tired and will do this soon.
Rewind to the saturday night before samelan when the bag had only just been taken down. I had tried talking,cajoling,forcing even my little sister ( not so little anymore,i tell you) to go and she pleads that she really does not want to. With a pitiful face she types her status and I watch a movie,resting after im done packing. Then suddenly as I lose hope , its 2 am at this point, she hauls out the bag. I grin from ear to ear.
The next morning some very lovely people give her the news she wants to hear, and wham! She's a happy kid. Thanks to you satpal,amrit penji and whoever else ;)
Now rewind to a couple of years back, when I had realized that as much as I loved being a JC, or how amazing langgar,utility or any other sewa was, my heart was into darbar sewa. It just was. Maybe it was the meetings,missing ips,etc. Or maybe I just liked being near Guru Sahib.
Anyway, imagine how I must have looked when Ajeet kaur says, oh ashvin, you're the emcee the next day. Casually nonchalant,i should think.
Boom. Just like that, I m semi initiated into the darbar team. Sheepishly I smile remembering how I found out how tired I was one night. Forgetting the next line leading Sohila. Oops.
I had an amazing time,helping out (i hope I did) with darbar sewa.
Now, lets move all the way forward to day 5. Amrit sanchar. EVERYONE knows how special this day is. Baney worn since morning,blue, orange,white,even pink. Boys in kurtas. Paggs extra nice. Girls all falling over each other to get their dastars done. This time there was a white theme, and boy,did I enjoy looking at the Million kinds of white suits to be had! Chikan work, sheer with camis, cutouts at the back,cutouts at the front ( windows), salwar,pajama, long, short, stripey material,plain white,patterned, white with colored flowers, among others.
Its after rehras. Kids stream out for dinner ( bhaturey or puri I think) while we stay back. Gurleen has assigned pinday and I water duty. Big girls we feel, as we set up the huge drums Logistics has sent up. Water filled,thanks to the ever ready guys,and then candles. Hundreds of tea candles are ready, and some of us set them up on the huge stage, while others light em up on a path to the darbar. There are candles outside the main door, and they flicker, reminding us that rain is impending.
It starts drizzling. There has been a whole discussion since afternoon. No,it wont rain. No it definitely wont rain when Guruji arrives. Well we should prepare the vans in case. They use the vans. Drizzling stops. We light the candles again.
Kids file in,pledge in hand. Some solemn,but mostly they smile, looking around at how pretty the scene is. Then sewadars go to metha tek and emerge.
3 minutes to arrival, says walkie holding person. Ajeet kaur? Manpreet? Both? Its a blur now, the candles are long gone,wind whipping and drizzle steadily builds up.
The Alphards pull up, and the skies open. Rain spills. The guy holding umbrella carefully escorts Panj pyare holding Guru ji and the water begins to flow. Pour water wash feet wipe feet tears drop. Suddenly, all the panj pyare, the new amritdharis are all inside. With one last look, we head in. Manage to get spots somewhat behind. And sigh.
Darbar sewa. Amrit sanchar.
Piercing screams. A snake is placed on her shoulder. Well, serves the dude right for doing it. Puzzled? Moving backwards to the mighties carnival. Biggies have their modified paintball ( colored water) and mighties have pony rides, dunking pool ( never have I seen a line that long to GET dunked!) , sand art, face painting, gladiator, some animals; snakes,birdies,a vechara looking deer, some carnival type games, popcorn and even a chicken dance by the penjis. Not to forget the jumpy castles ( kids LOVE this) and the football thingie.
I see the look of pure joy on the kids faces. Well on the adults too lah! Meanwhile the biggies are multicolored now, paint on their selves.
Penji, are you sisters? Pink tshirt day. We were all the talk, all day. Why pink,oh guys wearing pink, oh that certain place dey lok wearing pink. And such. I tried combing her hair during cha and chill, and as we debate ( read: argue) about something, a cute little girl makes us laugh. Yes,darling. We are.
Samelan 2011.
]
Rewind to the saturday night before samelan when the bag had only just been taken down. I had tried talking,cajoling,forcing even my little sister ( not so little anymore,i tell you) to go and she pleads that she really does not want to. With a pitiful face she types her status and I watch a movie,resting after im done packing. Then suddenly as I lose hope , its 2 am at this point, she hauls out the bag. I grin from ear to ear.
The next morning some very lovely people give her the news she wants to hear, and wham! She's a happy kid. Thanks to you satpal,amrit penji and whoever else ;)
Now rewind to a couple of years back, when I had realized that as much as I loved being a JC, or how amazing langgar,utility or any other sewa was, my heart was into darbar sewa. It just was. Maybe it was the meetings,missing ips,etc. Or maybe I just liked being near Guru Sahib.
Anyway, imagine how I must have looked when Ajeet kaur says, oh ashvin, you're the emcee the next day. Casually nonchalant,i should think.
Boom. Just like that, I m semi initiated into the darbar team. Sheepishly I smile remembering how I found out how tired I was one night. Forgetting the next line leading Sohila. Oops.
I had an amazing time,helping out (i hope I did) with darbar sewa.
Now, lets move all the way forward to day 5. Amrit sanchar. EVERYONE knows how special this day is. Baney worn since morning,blue, orange,white,even pink. Boys in kurtas. Paggs extra nice. Girls all falling over each other to get their dastars done. This time there was a white theme, and boy,did I enjoy looking at the Million kinds of white suits to be had! Chikan work, sheer with camis, cutouts at the back,cutouts at the front ( windows), salwar,pajama, long, short, stripey material,plain white,patterned, white with colored flowers, among others.
Its after rehras. Kids stream out for dinner ( bhaturey or puri I think) while we stay back. Gurleen has assigned pinday and I water duty. Big girls we feel, as we set up the huge drums Logistics has sent up. Water filled,thanks to the ever ready guys,and then candles. Hundreds of tea candles are ready, and some of us set them up on the huge stage, while others light em up on a path to the darbar. There are candles outside the main door, and they flicker, reminding us that rain is impending.
It starts drizzling. There has been a whole discussion since afternoon. No,it wont rain. No it definitely wont rain when Guruji arrives. Well we should prepare the vans in case. They use the vans. Drizzling stops. We light the candles again.
Kids file in,pledge in hand. Some solemn,but mostly they smile, looking around at how pretty the scene is. Then sewadars go to metha tek and emerge.
3 minutes to arrival, says walkie holding person. Ajeet kaur? Manpreet? Both? Its a blur now, the candles are long gone,wind whipping and drizzle steadily builds up.
The Alphards pull up, and the skies open. Rain spills. The guy holding umbrella carefully escorts Panj pyare holding Guru ji and the water begins to flow. Pour water wash feet wipe feet tears drop. Suddenly, all the panj pyare, the new amritdharis are all inside. With one last look, we head in. Manage to get spots somewhat behind. And sigh.
Darbar sewa. Amrit sanchar.
Piercing screams. A snake is placed on her shoulder. Well, serves the dude right for doing it. Puzzled? Moving backwards to the mighties carnival. Biggies have their modified paintball ( colored water) and mighties have pony rides, dunking pool ( never have I seen a line that long to GET dunked!) , sand art, face painting, gladiator, some animals; snakes,birdies,a vechara looking deer, some carnival type games, popcorn and even a chicken dance by the penjis. Not to forget the jumpy castles ( kids LOVE this) and the football thingie.
I see the look of pure joy on the kids faces. Well on the adults too lah! Meanwhile the biggies are multicolored now, paint on their selves.
Penji, are you sisters? Pink tshirt day. We were all the talk, all day. Why pink,oh guys wearing pink, oh that certain place dey lok wearing pink. And such. I tried combing her hair during cha and chill, and as we debate ( read: argue) about something, a cute little girl makes us laugh. Yes,darling. We are.
Samelan 2011.
]
posted from Bloggeroid
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