Yesterday was World Water Day. One gains a new appreciation about the
significance of a supply of public drinking water while in Bangalore. The city used to have adequate drinking water
for all its residents, but over-development is now creating water shortages
that are significant.
Some have proposed
to begin charging for water, so that it could then become the private property
of the newly monied. Standing on a
balcony in an old neighborhood in Bangalore I watched as housemaids came in a
steady stream to the public water tank to refresh basins for the homes of those
who either can’t afford or aren’t supplied with running water.
Whole neighborhoods in Bangalore, including
some affluent neighborhoods have been at a loss for running water since early
in the spring (it’s now summer here.)
Some families have moved out of their homes due to lack of water and
inability to find replacement sources.
Of course, this is not a Bangalore problem.
In Kolkata we found ourselves not liking to
drink the filtered water that came from the public supply because of its very
sweet taste. We wondered what additives
had been put in the water that would cause it to have such a clearly
discernible artificial taste.
Today is Ugadi, the beginning of a new year in the Hindu
calendar. This festival is celebrated in
Karnataka, but not in all regions of India.
According to the Times of India:
“Ugadi is the start of a new era – a new beginning. The age in which we are living – Kali Yuga -- started the minute Lord Krishna left the world. It began on Feb 17/18 in the year 3102 BC. In this terminology Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu year ( it occurs in March/April) – mainly celebrated by gatherings of extended families and large feasts. It starts on the first new moon after Spring Equinox. Eating a specific mixture of 6 tastes is part of the feast.” These tastes are:
“Ugadi is the start of a new era – a new beginning. The age in which we are living – Kali Yuga -- started the minute Lord Krishna left the world. It began on Feb 17/18 in the year 3102 BC. In this terminology Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu year ( it occurs in March/April) – mainly celebrated by gatherings of extended families and large feasts. It starts on the first new moon after Spring Equinox. Eating a specific mixture of 6 tastes is part of the feast.” These tastes are:
> Neem for bitterness, signifying sadness
> Jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness, signifying happiness
> Green chili pepper for its hot taste, signifying anger
> Salt for saltiness, signifying fear
> Tamarind juice for its sourness, signifying disgust
> Unripened mango for its tang signifying surprise
> Jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness, signifying happiness
> Green chili pepper for its hot taste, signifying anger
> Salt for saltiness, signifying fear
> Tamarind juice for its sourness, signifying disgust
> Unripened mango for its tang signifying surprise
Later in the day, people gathered to listen to the ritual reading of Panchangam (the almanac) of the new year, and the general forecast of the forthcoming year. The advent of television has changed this. The almanac used to be read by a wise elder – now people turn into TV to hear the recitation.
It is marked by poetry readings, literary discussions, music
and dance performances.”
Lots of theater performances. We plan to see Copenhagen (which we have also seen in New York and London), so it will be interesting to see how it is adapted here in Bangalore.
Lots of theater performances. We plan to see Copenhagen (which we have also seen in New York and London), so it will be interesting to see how it is adapted here in Bangalore.
Also in this weeks newspapers, a limerick that I thought my
friend Laura might enjoy:
"There was a young man from Trinity
Who solved the square root of infinity.
While counting the digits,
He was seized by the fidgets,
Dropped science and took up divinity."
Happy New Year -- Happy Ugadi!
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