OH15 ELECTION AND NAVRATRI FERVOUR

Life has been pretty interesting at OH since last one month. There was an amalgamation of political and cultural activities  in OH.

Almost 4 months ago, the builder of OH has handed over the maintenance and other issues to the society residents. Few people were nominated by residents and did all the assigned jobs of taking over from the builder. As usual, there is always another group who want to take hold of things for reasons best known to them. Lot of muck and abusive language was used on the whats-app groups for the people who were doing the job and spending so much of time and extra efforts to setup the systems. 

Though lots of rubbish is being thrown to these people, they were undeterred and did their job with honesty and conviction. They did a real good job. This was proved by the election result, which was won hands down by their team of 11 people. So, on 25 September, 2016, OH has got it's first elected management committee and thankfully, all the colourful language is stopped for the time being. It must be a great relief to all the people who are not used to such colorful language. It was the worst kind of language, I have ever read or heard in my entire life. 

It actually shows the deterioration in society and I felt bad and sad that I am part of this kind of society. I have grown up in the extremely learned atmosphere of university campus and had lived in the corporate colonies of public sector giant, Indian Oil Corporation where people were very careful and respectful towards each other. They were culturally much ahead. 

The OH management committee has 11 elected members. It comprises of chartered accountants, senior bankers, doctor, engineer and successful businessmen. So, a lot of experience and skill sets is there in the team. I wish the new "ELECTED" management body good luck and expect high standards of living in OH.

As the navratri fever has been gripping the city, how can OH community be left behind? The garba classes have started at the onset of September. A garbs tutor was invited to do the job. Another class was organised by some resident garba lovers . The practice time was around 9pm  as it was convenient for the "annapuranas" to finish the dinner of the families. 

I had also joined a class, but somehow on the way, I lost interest as the fun of dancing was being lost in complicated steps. I think, it was important for the trainer to teach complicated steps to satisfy his ego but as a learner, I felt lost in 1,2,3,4, left and right. Unfortunately, this class has created an aversion towards dancing in my mind. I did not try to remove it at all. I was more interested in clicking pics this time. May be next year, I will tap foot on the beats.

The festival arrangements were taken care by a newly formed Navratri Committee. A small temple was erected in the lawns with divine mother's picture. Every day, an aarti to please and request for blessings in the glory of divine mother was performed which ends with the distribution of prasada. The prasada was contributed by the residents. After the routine aarti and pooja rituals of half an hour, the garba fervour started and it went for almost 3 hours and some times more. Few stalls were erected which served popular food items like idli, sambhar, pav-bhaji, paani poori, ice cream and many more. It was fun to sit and watch the enthusiasm of residents. The women took great care and lots of efforts in dressing and makeup.It was time to catch up with friends, have fun and real great festivity. It went on for 10 days. This year , many days were spoiled due to rains. It has been said to be the wettest navratri ever.

In Gujarat, there is a tradition of eating fafda and jalebi on Vijaydashami . On the last night of navratri,  the fafda-jalebi shops are open almost whole night. They do a brisk business in few thousand crores  in just one day. This year, I also had the chance of going out on a night to relish fafda jalebi at midnight. It appeared as if whole city was on roads and almost all the fafda jalebi joints were serving to their full capacity. Finally, we reached a joint in Prahladnagar , where we could park our car. It feels good to be part of the festivity of the city crowd.

 On Vijaydashmi , arrangements were made to serve fafda jalebi in the society. Fafda is eaten with sweet gujarati kadhi and raw papaya chatni. I loved the papaya chatani and will make it some day. Fafda is made from besan chickpea flour, lots of oil and soda. 

Its always good to analyse the jobs done. The scale of  celebration and arrangements were better than the last year, but there is always scope of improvement.

1. Decoration was better than the last year. 
2. DJ for all the 10 days was great. How about having live music and singing next year? 
3. In-house dinner "MAHABHOJ" on Navami was good. I like all dishes, except bhindi, which I do not like  otherwise.
4. The food counters to serve mahabhoj, were very less as compared to the coupons distributed. People have to wait for at-least 30-40 minutes in line. No one wanted to visit again to fill the plates because of long ques, much food is wasted as people fill their plates to avoid next visit.
5. The less number of distribution counters on Vijayadashmi were again a pain in neck. Just one counter ? The distribution system needs improvement.

Have a glimpse of the festivities in OH: 

 

OH7: Festival Flavours in community living

Hi,
Long time! You know how the Indian festivals are :).
Lots of hungaama and being busy in dressing up, eating up and adding kilos. Anyway, eating is part of festivity fun. few inches here and there do not matter. :P

The festivities started from Navratri days, Dushhera, Karwachauth and now Diwali.

Nine days of navratri were great with all late night dancing. It was fun to get dressed and see the beautiful , smiling action oriented people all around. Though the OH occupancy seemed to be approx 30 % of the total occupancy, the regulars dancing brigade kept the flame of festivity alive.

No, I was not a regular participant for all nine days. I detest regularity so need to take a break here and there. Then there were some freelancing ID project which were to be submitted in between and hence I participated in the fun and frolic from my balcony. I had a great view and felt like being there.

Last few days, a DJ was invited and it was more fun than our desi music vendor. I only hope, next year, OH will arrange for live music if there are people with a greater vision .

Last four days, some snacks were also served. They were just YUCK and not eatable at all. The first day idly and utppam were all kachcha. Accompaniments sambhar and chutney were horrible and not hygenically made as many people have heard having stomach upsets. Next day's snacks were ragda- patties which really gave a great "ragda" to my apetite and tastebuds.

The "horrible meter" to rate the food was rising towards the unhealthy and tasteless preparations. On 3rd day, we went late, around 10pm for snacks. Surprisingly, it was better than the first two days. "Pav Bhaji", an Indian curry (bhaji) with bun (Pav). Though, later on I came to know the Bhaji became tasty because of one resident's misadventure into the kitchen which resulted in adding tomatoes and other masalas worth Rs. 2800.00. With tomatoes around 40 - 50 rs, per kg, I do not know how much he has added and masalas. Clearly appears to be a case of overcharging. This caterer should be blacklisted as he was neither a good cook nor a good businessman.



Dushera was celebrated with gujarti flavours fafda - jalebi. The fare was okay this morning though arrangements were not so. Why the cooks were making the jalebis in sunlight? It was terrible hot day with bright sun. I did not like this.

Dushhera evening was made most beautiful by live singing programme organised by our OH

 resident, Sh. Satbir Singh ji and his troupe and orchestra. He is a professional singer. It was a very kind gesture from him as he has not charged a single penny for himself and his singers. Only orchestra people were paid. Song selection was great. Songs of all moods and genre! Song with great lyrics. It was a wonderful evening that started from 9 pm and melted into next morning and time just flew away! I loved every moment of it. The artists were doctor, a physics lecturer and other professionals. A big thanks to the whole group.

Accounts statement this time was the most innovative part of the whole programme. For the first time ( I have attended 3  functions before this) a detailed statement of account is issued. A closer look clearly shows the need for better negotiations skills for food , lighting etc and controls in otherwise random expenses. Public money accountability is very important for people who enters into this domain. the societies / organisations where matured and committed people enters in this arena are definitely better managed.

Karwachauth was celebrated on 30th October. It is a festival of married women, who fasts for the long life and well being of their husbands. I do not celebrate Karwachauth as on my first karwachath, my husband has asked not to do this as he cant fast with me for my long life and he does not want to live longer without me. moreover, I also do not have any faith in such beliefs, so this karwachauth celebration was never part of my life. But I have no less respect for women who do it with wholehearted devotion.

I remember an old incident about Karwachauth. My son Vaibhav must be around 5 years old then, when we were living in IOC colony Noida. Ladies in full karwachauth dress code were doing katha and pooja in the society gardens. Vaibhav came running home and asked, mom there is something going on in the garden. why donot you join them? I told her aunties are fasting and celebrating a festival. Vaibhav was never a fond eater of any kind of meals, said " wah auntiyon ke to maze ho gaye, aaj khaana nahin khaana padega." Everyone has different perspective of being without food.

We will be celebrating  Dipawali tomorrow. Thus all major festivals of this year have come to an end. Next festivity will be in December for Christmas.

OH is a vibrant community where resident do not leave any opportunity to discuss any issue and convert it into non issue or take up a non issue and convert it into issues. The Latest issue of discussion is  the place where the firecrackers should be burnt?  Inside or outside the society. With so many vehicles parked all around the residential complex, it is a wise decision to burn the crackers outside. It will be safer for children to be away from vehicles to avoid any mishapping. I wonder, if this issue needs any debate at all.  finally a safe place has been assigned for fire crackers.

Wishing all a very happy and safe diwali! May the new year brings in more compassion, understanding and mental peace to OH residents.

OH 5: KITTY @ DIMPLE'S

Yesterday, the monthly get-together was at Dimple's place. We are a gang of 12 ladies who are members of this kitty party, which is the first kitty party of the OH. 

Sometimes, I wonder why these girlie get-together are called kitty parties? 

The word 'kitty' originally meant the pool of stakes to be played for in certain card games. In colloquial use, it also referred to any fund or savings for joint use like the chit fund. Later, the system of raising a common fund became very common among women of high societies. In this system, every month each member contributes some amount of money. Some games are played, some gossip and great food sums up the kitty party. It is a miniature form of the cooperative credit societies.

Our kitty party is a theme party, which is the host' prerogative. Dimple , the host of October kitty kept the NAVRATRI theme. The theme is most appropriate as it's almost navratri time and Dimple is the garba tutor of the society. Most of the members wore chaniya -choli ( lehenga - choli). I did not . :( 
Food was delicious gujju food minus the floating oil. A vegetable like baingan was made so delicious. 

Kitty party is generally looked down by the working and conservative ladies.  Kitty parties is not  about gossips or bitching. It's also not about whiling away time by stay at home women. It's about sharing one's interests and problems. It's about creating a support system in a new surroundings. It's about understanding human behaviour. It's about learning too. It's about communication.  It's basically an idea exchange platform. 

I have made some great friends for life in this OH kitty ! Thanks to all who are members of this group!