Column | Window Seat

• Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

  Holi

  Holi or the fesval of colour is celebrated vigorously mostly in the North, West and East

  Indian states. It has several mythological and historical stories. There are several legends

  around the theme of Holi associated with many Gods and Goddesses of Hindu mythology.

  There is this legend of Holika, a she-demon dahan (burning). However, most of the legends

  are around Krishna and Radha. In fact, Holi is the biggest fesval in Mathura and Brindaban,

  (considered to be the birth and work place of Krishna) where people indulge in sprinkling of

  colours with gay abandon. There are many folk and semi-classical songs on Holi, many

  alluding to the playful banter between Krishna and Radha and her friends.

  Like several other fesvals, which have their origin in religious pracces but have become

  more of a social fesval with people of all religion, caste and communies taking part- Holi

  has become a big social fesval of fun and merry making. Food, especially sweets is integral

  part of most of the fesvals of India. Holi is no excepon. Good for people who love food like

  me.

  Photo: Tanmoy Bhaduri

  Rain before Holi

  Holi marks the beginning of summer in Eastern States. The temperature begins to rise

  considerably from this day.

  But this year, thankfully we had rains just on the eve of Holi and somebody promptly sent

  the following in the social media

  Ghabraiye mat

  Barish ka mousam

  Suru nehi hua hai

  Yeh to Sri Krishna apni

  Pichkari check kar rahe the.

  1
• 

  Exam Season

  In Odisha matriculaon examinaon just got over and ICSC examinaons have just begun.

  While going on morning walk I 4nd middle aged couples discussing only about the

  examinaon of their wards. They wear a serious face and talk endlessly how examinaons

  are becoming tougher and tougher every passing year with introducon of increasingly

  di5cult subjects in the course. The play grounds are wearing a deserted look. So do the

  hang out zones of the youngsters. I am told, youngsters are taking examinaons far too

  seriously than we used to do in our mes. They are far more career-focused that we were at

  their age. Or is the parents, who are pushing them too hard to ‘do well’ in the examinaon?

  And are the parents doing right? I am li;le confused on this.

  Bank Charges

  The way banks have begun to take money from the customers for various services, may

  people like me have taken to disliking vising banks. Why should the customers pay charges

  for withdrawing money in cash? This is atrocious. In small towns and villages people rely

  heavily on cash. People sll are not very comfortable in paying through mobiles and the

  facilies simply do not exist. Penalising people for that is just not done.

  Tailpiece

  Wife asked a rered (from work!) husband - "What are you doing?"

  - "Nothing"

  - " That you did yesterday, too" "

  - "That's right- kaam puurraa kahana hua!"

  ***

  The columnist a journalist turned media academician also writes 4con. He can be

  contacted on mrinalcha;erjee@ymail.com