I've recently started going to the temple with my mom on weekends. It's fun. Really. We walk about a mile, the walk being the main purpose, the temple the incentive. I'm not religious, and not too much of a believer either, so all I do there is listen as she recites prayers for one god after another, beginning with Vishnu and ending at Hanuman. She knows a lot of mantras, and says them in reverent whispers, so as to not disturb others. The sequence is the same; always. Another reminder of how I love routine.
There are other kannadigas there too; and I love listening to people other than my family speak kannada. It makes me feel different, feel good. Probably because I've never lived anywhere in a place where the local language is kannada. Strangely enough, when I come back to Delhi after a holiday down south, I feel like I'm home. This duality in the lives of people living in a place not ethnically their own will always remain. I used to find it quite peculiar initially when I used to support South Indians when people criticised them here, but I supported North Indians when people down south would criticise them. Delhiites call me a fake Delhiite, kannadigas call me a fake kannadiga. It was confusing earlier, now I'm just used to it. I don't quite mind contradictions, like a very wise friend said, we don't have to label everything, it's simpler, but in other ways, life is harder if you categorise and sort every single thing, every person, every trait, every habit.
I also think duality keeps us self-sufficient. It might sound like a very narcissistic idea, but it's pretty logical: don't we always say that you need opposing elements for balance? Same way, more traits and more opposing traits keep us balanced, we can be what we like, without really changing. It's like yin and yang all inside you; so you have the flowing energy of the female and the rigid tensility of the male and can switch between them. If you have either, you need the other externally, so you're dependant. Right? I think I need to develop on this idea. :P
Also, it's Holi today, and the streets are flowing pink. Pretty awesome when you're looking down from the third floor. Happy Holi!
There are other kannadigas there too; and I love listening to people other than my family speak kannada. It makes me feel different, feel good. Probably because I've never lived anywhere in a place where the local language is kannada. Strangely enough, when I come back to Delhi after a holiday down south, I feel like I'm home. This duality in the lives of people living in a place not ethnically their own will always remain. I used to find it quite peculiar initially when I used to support South Indians when people criticised them here, but I supported North Indians when people down south would criticise them. Delhiites call me a fake Delhiite, kannadigas call me a fake kannadiga. It was confusing earlier, now I'm just used to it. I don't quite mind contradictions, like a very wise friend said, we don't have to label everything, it's simpler, but in other ways, life is harder if you categorise and sort every single thing, every person, every trait, every habit.
I also think duality keeps us self-sufficient. It might sound like a very narcissistic idea, but it's pretty logical: don't we always say that you need opposing elements for balance? Same way, more traits and more opposing traits keep us balanced, we can be what we like, without really changing. It's like yin and yang all inside you; so you have the flowing energy of the female and the rigid tensility of the male and can switch between them. If you have either, you need the other externally, so you're dependant. Right? I think I need to develop on this idea. :P
Also, it's Holi today, and the streets are flowing pink. Pretty awesome when you're looking down from the third floor. Happy Holi!
