Office Rangoli

Three unusual happenings - all related to the office.

Monkey - the other day, only like two weeks after a monkey gang attacked the Deputy Mayor of Delhi which resulted in him falling off his balcony and dying, I heard a big sound outside my window, which is like 2 ft from where I sit in the office and expected to see birds nesting on the A/C again. Instead a monkey was jumping around the neighborhood. I haven't seen him at the office (or anyone like him) in several years.

Cricket - So I admit I kinda got into watching it during the recent 20/20 tournament that India won. 20/20 is a few hours long (like a baseball game) so more tolerable than the 5-day matches. No tea breaks. Then Doug invited me to join him in Jodhpur for a long Thanksgiving weekend as the American Embassy folks were invited to play in a charity tournament hosted by the Maharaja of Jodhur. I said yes because though I've spent a few hours in Jodhpur, I've never explored the fort or the rest of the town and it sounds cool. Plus I haven't been to Rajasthan in awhile. Somehow though joining him turned into playing. So I had Satender (my driver) go buy me the necessary equipment (bat, ball, gloves and wickets) and now every afternoon for lunch I go out to the nearby park and he teaches me cricket. This attracts a huge crowd - first because everyone loves cricket and would stop and watch no matter what. But that it's a white girl is just too much so the office guys have started playing and then kids appear out of nowhere to play catcher (wicket keeper) and fetch stray balls. This might be better than the tournament!

Rangoli - We celebrated Diwali at the office today with a Rangoli contest and movie. I at first was disappointed as we usually have a big party where I can wear a sari (don't have many excuses and have two new ones). And I don't want to see a hindi movie - that's not social. But they made me a judge of the Rangoli contest at our two delhi offices and it was really pretty. Rangoli is a traditional art/prayer done in doorways during celebrations. Although one website I checked said, "In a traditional household, the lady of the house starts her daily chores with purifying herself, drawing some Rangoli lines in front of the pooja room and the tulsi. Her regular routine begins after this ritual. With this, her entire day remains fresh and lively."It varies from culture to culture around India but usually it's done with colored sand, chalk or rice. Often accompanied by lights (especially around Diwali) and flowers. Various departments competed. The top two pictures won their respective offices. Others integrated condoms and PSI very creatively! As last year I learned that Diwali in my house is unbearable due to the very loud fire crackers my landlord sets off just outside my window I'm running away to the beaches of Goa for the actual holiday (which is Thursday).

Happy Diwali!