Dashami is special. Each year, we have a small performance for all the children at dance class. They wear nice clothes and jewellery. Their faces glow with the anticipation of a dance programme. It's the one day in the year that parents are allowed to come for class and watch them dance! Dressed in their best, adjusting their bangles and dupattas, they are the stars of the show.Plus, there's food. It's like a party because our teacher, Mythili Mami, makes sundal for all of us. When I say 'all of us', I do really mean that. There are about 50 students in all, plus parents. There are workers in the society, who clean the hall and collect the garbage. There's the watchman and his family and other people who happen to be around. All morning, my teacher works towards making our Dashami special.Apart from sundal, we have chips and pedas. We dance and have a small ritual where we go … [Read more...]
Dashami Poojai
Each year, we have a poojai at dance class for Dashami. Now, at the Academy of Indian Dances, there are four teachers, including me. Mythili Mami is, of course, head; that goes without saying.On Dashami, a little girl crept up to the corner where we were standing."I want to speak to Ma'am," she whispered to my teacher.None of us knew how to respond to that - even the children call Mythili Mami 'big teacher'. She's the first "Ma'am", who makes the decisions. But clearly, this little girl did not want to speak to her."What happened?" Mami asked. "No, I want to speak to ma'am," repeated the girl. Much amused, Mythili Mami let her come to us."I have to call my mother!" said the little girl. "Okay ... Why?" She glanced back at Mythili Mami and turned back to us. Like most of the others, she was dressed up that day, with kajal, earrings and a pearl necklace. "I … [Read more...]