Great to read and wonderful to know! having never got to participate in one (a dim memory from childhood surfaces, but I'm not sure I can trust it), someday I would definitely want to give it a shot. but your line "if we will ever again meet as a group in the colony where we grew up.." stirred something else within me...of playing endless games of cricket on the road where I lived. maybe some day.
Omg do you remember that one didi who would always dress up in the most elaborate and stunning outfits but then dance dandiya as if she's in battle 😂 I was always terrified she would either decapitate me or gorge my eye out. Good times 💃🏾
Dandiya Night is a relatively recent phenomenon in Bhubaneswar ( SLB and his movies probably had a part in it entering the already crowded October festive calendar). But whatever few of them I have attended I used to be scared of being called up to dance with those dandas! And also in awe of the everyone who could move with grace ! Great piece , bring back some memories..
That reference to the North Korean army had me laughing out - them doing dandiya is something I may have dreams about. And I LOVE parlour aunty. Totally love her.
Super! my first brush with dandiya was while reporting in Jamshedpur on the navratri event at the Gujarati Samaj. Prior to that (and even after that) it has only remained Durga Puja for me.
Hahaha, I did not know Dandiya was this intricate. Back home, Dandiya was overshadowed by Durga Pujo consuming every second of our lives during the Navratri week. But there would be a one-off Dandiya party, featuring, obviously, Falguni Pathak, and most people would just stand around waving sticks in the air, a little abashed. Parlour Aunty would have been an icon at those Dandiya nights.
Great to read and wonderful to know! having never got to participate in one (a dim memory from childhood surfaces, but I'm not sure I can trust it), someday I would definitely want to give it a shot. but your line "if we will ever again meet as a group in the colony where we grew up.." stirred something else within me...of playing endless games of cricket on the road where I lived. maybe some day.
Thank you Venkatesh :) You should write about it! First step. Haha
Omg do you remember that one didi who would always dress up in the most elaborate and stunning outfits but then dance dandiya as if she's in battle 😂 I was always terrified she would either decapitate me or gorge my eye out. Good times 💃🏾
Haha I think I know who you're talking about XD
Dandiya Night is a relatively recent phenomenon in Bhubaneswar ( SLB and his movies probably had a part in it entering the already crowded October festive calendar). But whatever few of them I have attended I used to be scared of being called up to dance with those dandas! And also in awe of the everyone who could move with grace ! Great piece , bring back some memories..
Haha. Thank you Sanket :)
That reference to the North Korean army had me laughing out - them doing dandiya is something I may have dreams about. And I LOVE parlour aunty. Totally love her.
I'm still laughing at the vivid descriptions you wrote😂
And I'm yet to hear a single normal story about any parlour didi. Guess they are all unique!😂
Thanks Abhishek! :) Perhaps the normal stories are too boring to be told.. selection bias :P
Super! my first brush with dandiya was while reporting in Jamshedpur on the navratri event at the Gujarati Samaj. Prior to that (and even after that) it has only remained Durga Puja for me.
Thank you Savvy :)
Hahaha, I did not know Dandiya was this intricate. Back home, Dandiya was overshadowed by Durga Pujo consuming every second of our lives during the Navratri week. But there would be a one-off Dandiya party, featuring, obviously, Falguni Pathak, and most people would just stand around waving sticks in the air, a little abashed. Parlour Aunty would have been an icon at those Dandiya nights.
Lol! The dandiya I've described is very amateur :P Take a look at what the people in the background on the left side are doing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTGenarICcc&ab_channel=Dance%F0%9F%92%83365
I can barely follow but they seem to know who to dance with next
I love how they are not bothered one whit by the people strolling around them. Peak driving in Indian vibes.