Archive for the 'functions' Category
Sunday, August 12th, 2007
Come December
Of all the months in an year, i like February most. i dont know why. May be because its the shortest month. I like it, I think Feb is kind of cute and baby-like.
Other than February, I like August. August has Nehru Trophy Boat Race It is the biggest water festival of Alappuzha. where black snake boats compete for the prized trophy signed by Jawaharlal Nehru. August has a fresh charm of a new year- the skies are clear after the rains, the trees and plants more green, some of them with flowers.
Until a few years back, December, was a little gloomy, dark and sad month for me. Except for the cake and wine at Christmas, and the non stop parties on December 31st.
Not any more. In the last few years, It has become the most *happening* month.
For Its the month that hosts FOSS.IN.
This year, if you would pardon the cliché, its bigger and better.
Lots of new stuff, new ideas, and more fun and excitement !
From December 4 to 8. at IISC
Apart from lurking around, i made some banners and buttons for your websites and blogs. Go, Get them, and put them up !
Tuesday, April 17th, 2007
fireflies festival of music
Three years in a row, i missed it. This time i was not letting it go like that.Not the work, nor the rain. Music, Ahoy !
So on a saturday evening we left to the Fireflies Ashram, 18km from Bangalore, off Kanakpura Road.
You have to go past the carbon monoxide farms and the huge glass structures. Jump over the glaring horns, and turn left from the huge metal and concrete walls of multinational conglomerates.
After a short ride, you frighten the simple villager while asking them the way, with all your jacket, helmet, bullet and other paraphernalia. With an innocent curiosity they show you the way.
No huge welcome boards, no commercials, no one to open the doors.oh, no doors even.
Before the harshly lit up tree is a small white stage and a sound system. find a cool spot and settle.
Welcome to the Firelies Festival of Sacred Music.
The evening started with a performance by Geetha Navale, on Veena. Then the show went on with a few interesting performances before we got to oikyotaan.
They just blew me away with the way they performed, These guys are real passionate about it. Kartick Das Baul, was singing with his eyes closed, most of the time. You really feel that its only his music that’s in his mind. So dedicated. Bonnie sang a few songs, all bengali. Let me just admit my ignorance in the technicalities of the singer, song, voice range, tonal variations etc, and I am least bothered about them, all i can say is that it indeed was a great performance.
Dollu kunitha- the simple drum dance of Karnataka. Stage, mic, or backdrop is a luxury and irrelevant for them, while the other artists mumble about it for a long time. The stage is only a stop in their journey- they come with the drum beats, performed and left the stage, but continued playing in the courtyard till it was time for the next performer on stage. I am sure the city crowd would have danced to their hearts content with out a dance floor and phychedelic lights.
And many more soul stirring performances.
Morning trusting the little coffaine in blood, struggling to keep the weary eyes open, drive back to bangalore.
In my dreams, After taking attendence the project Manager asked us to recite a baul song. The browsers fought with each other to the rhythmic tunes of Dollu Kunitha. W3c Watched from the reserved VIP class. The programmer was hanged for the cardinal sin of browser incompatibility.
I need sleep !