Making a Tradition.

Making a tradition.

Have you noticed recently that every few days, we are told that something or the other is being celebrated?

It is either a happy realization day, or a happy musician’s day, or a happy dance day, or a happy ‘relationship’ day and of course a happy earth day.  While only some of these have relevance, they all do have a history and origin and a bunch of wise people who started it. Don’t you think?

That’s where my story fits in.  Nine years ago, one fine day, my friends and I, a bunch of young adults in our early twenties got bored.  And contrary to belief, our boredom was the creative force behind an idea.

While ‘hanging out’ at one of Dubai’s malls, we decided to come up with a dress code for the following weekend meet up.  After much contemplating, the code was decided to be orange.  Anticipation and planning, and that weekend finally arrived. It was the 1^st of June 2006, the birth of Orange day.

We all followed the code, even though some of us felt it was silly, we wore orange and wished each other a Happy Orange Day.  People were inquisitive, and asked why the code. We didn’t really have a reason other than “fun”, so we made up stories. Some very seriously told a tale of standing up against the cutting of Orange trees while others pretended to be Netherlands football supporters.

That was the start of a tradition. Today, as I looked at the calendar, I realized that this year will be the ninth anniversary of Orange day. Who would have thought we’d make it so far.

In nine years, some of us got married and some of us even had babies. Orange day now is a big family tradition, with new members and old. With baby members who come dressed up in orange hair bands, sneakers and the cutest orange clothes. It makes me wonder, who knows…maybe these little ones might just carry the tradition forward and there will reach a time when Orange day will have a 100^th year celebration.

For all these years, we made sure to meet on or around the 1^st of June, in orange attire. Some of our founder members, who moved on to other countries, took the tradition along with them and started it in their new homes. And Orange day spread to London, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore.

For me Orange day is a day of creativity, silliness, fun, friendship, unity and celebration without a reason. Any idea that brings people together in happiness is a good idea, whether it is to support orange trees or the Netherlands football team or for absolutely no reason at all.

Orange day makes me happy, makes me reminisce and makes me grateful for a bunch of friends with the same amount of zest to make a silly idea come to life.

Cheers to all who have at some point been a part of the Orange Day celebrations.

Wishing you a Happy 9^th Orange day in advance. 

Lets talk Love

Lets talk Love

(inspired by real & never ending conversations about love, with my dear friend) 

ME:    Love is all that there is...

HIM:   It's an illusion, that's what it is.

ME:    Love is what heals.

HIM:   From reality, your eyes it seals.

ME:    Open your heart and feel!!

HIM:   Heart is just an organ pumping blood; Please get real! 

ME:    Then why is it, that when I see him, my heart beats so fast!

HIM:   Don't worry, it's only in the start. It won't last.

ME:    When he holds me, I want to stay in his arms forever.

HIM:   In some time, forever will change to never.

ME:    All that happens in the day, with him I want to share.

HIM:   I'm sure the man doesn't care.

ME:    I can listen to him talk for hours non-stop

HIM:   You mean, while with his credit cards you shop?

ME:    I think he is my soul mate.

HIM:   You need a doctor to check your mental state.

ME:    You will never understand what I mean.

HIM:   I only believe what I have seen.

ME:    Oh! I hope that Love finds you quickly, my dear friend.

HIM:   Is that a curse that you send?

ME:    It's a prayer; that you fall in love soon some day.

HIM:   I think I prefer staying this way.

ME:    Let's wait and see what your fate has in store.

HIM:   So love will find me? Why are you so sure?

ME:    B'coz Love is all that there is.

HIM:   Again I say this; it's an illusion. That's all that it is.

2 States (Movie Review)

I finally watched 2 states and I enjoyed it a lot more than expected. The characters were potrayed so beautifully and even though I heard so much praise for bhatt, I thought Kapoor was outstanding! 

Yes stereotypes are not always a reality. But this movie of stereotypes has taught me a little. 

1) My (earlier) idea of Punjabis – Fun, full of love, live life king size, party hard, beautiful poetic language. Basically I was always fascinated by them and really loved them. Stereotypical Punjabis (movie version) – Loud mouths, alcoholics, lack of respect for women, families the size of a village, extravagant weddings, materialistic love, foodies, men treated like gods, with ‘market value’ price as dowry. (Hilarious!!) No love lost for you Punjabis… Well, maybe a little…

2) My (earlier) idea of Tamilians – Loud and rude, extremely proud, and a very rough sounding language that always made me wonder if everyone just argued with each other. Stereotypical Tamilians (movie version)– Soft spoken, timid, such simplicity that can be misunderstood for poverty or being misers, cultured, educated, respectful, accepting, disciplined, boring people.  Oh and the language actually sounds sweet if spoken well. New found respect for you Tamilians!

3) Ego will fuck you ultimately! Choose love over ego. 

4) Broken relationships with family (n by family I mean your parents/siblings not the village) can be mended. If you drop the ego, you will notice the love!

5) A parent can be wrong, a son can raise his hand on his father, and a father can apologize n fix it. No one becomes small with an apology. And no one goes to hell for a mistake. 

6) Make a boy go the distance for you. If he loves you, he will. You are worth it.

7) If a boy goes the distance for you, don’t lose him. :)  

8) Women should start respecting women before they demand it from the men. Seriously? You still pay a boy to wed you? 

9) Men are treated like Gods even though they behave more like dogs. I still don’t get that. Maybe that has something to do with the rapes?? Correct me if I’m wrong please. 

10) Differences can be beautiful, that’s the most attractive bit in India. So much to see, learn and experience in just one country. 

11) Life is so simple if we get rid of all the labels we have put on for society. Religious labels, cultural labels, class labels. The list is never ending.

12) Stereotypical stories can be good lessons…sometimes.

If you are offended by this, it’s your ego, and your labels that you need to work on. I meant absolutely no offense to any culture. This is just an honest opinion of a viewer, who is an outsider, and is in love with a Punjabi Tamilian boy. :)

Cheers!