Saw the burning of Ravan-effigy in Delhi this time after I don't know, how many years. I think that the last time I must have seen it was when we used to go to DCM Ramleela grounds near Rohtak Road, 30-35 years ago. After that I had seen it in the TV. But to be there in the middle of the crowd, feeling the excitement and the anticipation, the first wave of heat as the effigy takes fire, the deafening noise of the fire-crackers... is some thing else. Mika was there with me and we cluctched each other's hands when the flames suddenly engulfed the effigy.
On the way back, near the temple, trucks with the Ramleela actors was passing. Ram and his sena were on one truck and Ravan and his sena were on the second truck. Even these kind of processions were such old memories and I felt thrilled in spite of myself.
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The days of India-stay are rushing past so quickly. Today I hope to go and see Anita Ghai, my friend, who is a disability activist and a university professor. Rajouri Garden, where she lives seems so far away but I am hoping to travel by the new Delhi Metro.
Took the metro for going to Delhi university the other day. The train is exactly the same as they have in Rome - they must be buying it from the same source! And the travel is so quick. Metro network has changed the way we used to travel in Delhi. The advantage is that one can reach the outskirts of Delhi, that would have taken a couple of hours at least, in less than half an hour. However, from my experience with London metro, I think that metro travel means that you have no idea of the places you pass through, you form an imaginary idea of the city which is very different from the real city. But that is probably a small cost to pay for the saving of time.
The days of India-stay are rushing past so quickly. Today I hope to go and see Anita Ghai, my friend, who is a disability activist and a university professor. Rajouri Garden, where she lives seems so far away but I am hoping to travel by the new Delhi Metro.
Took the metro for going to Delhi university the other day. The train is exactly the same as they have in Rome - they must be buying it from the same source! And the travel is so quick. Metro network has changed the way we used to travel in Delhi. The advantage is that one can reach the outskirts of Delhi, that would have taken a couple of hours at least, in less than half an hour. However, from my experience with London metro, I think that metro travel means that you have no idea of the places you pass through, you form an imaginary idea of the city which is very different from the real city. But that is probably a small cost to pay for the saving of time.
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Here are some images from the burning of Dusshera effigies from Alaknanda in South Delhi.
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