A Sabyasachi Wedding

We had a lovely Indian bride this week, and she is going to wear this absolutely Grand Sabyasachi Couture sari for her wedding to this tall, dark and handsome American -- they are getting married with no one else present except the witness, who is going to hear their vows. The groom told me that "this is a celebration of our love." I just finished reading Liz Gilbert's "Committed" and I wish more people would "celebrate their love" instead of falling for the tinsel. We, at PKG, have fantastic clothes for those wishing to celebrate the love "of two young people starting their lives out together". Sharmila Tagore requested the press to allow Saif and Kareena privacy during their wedding saying those same words.

Swedish Prince's Wedding

i watched this wedding of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Sofia Hellqvist and it reaffirmed a view I hold strongly about bridal wear --- the wedding is NOT JUST about the clothes. You have to watch this wedding to see how happy the couple are with each other. They could be wearing swimsuits or jeans.

Raag Hameer: Tarana: Poem 3

Dance of The Warrior of Empty Arms

in the place, in the very first place,

where it all began and where,

there is no beginning or end, where

there is acceptance 

i accept you as i know you

you accept me as you know me

all artifice has fallen off, there are

elemental truths, basic truths,

contained in a "tarana"of despair,

longing, and empty arms

you are forced to look at yourself

and confront the truth about yourself,

you love yourself, you can then love me

there is no separation between you and me.

i exist happily in the universe, as do you.

Raag Hameer: poem 2

dance of the warrior

as the black night deepens,

a woman's hair unfolds

like an accordion

he reaches out to her

firmly, strongly,and hard,

she put her hands on him

against the limitless

the night finds its own strength

and can sleep in passion,

the warrior protects

the idea of love

dance of the warrior

with swords in two soft hands

one points to the unknown

the other to her breasts

standing silent is brave,

there is dance in stillness,

the sword in her soft hands

bleeds Khusrau's tarana.

*********

Raag Hameer is one of my favourite

raags.  The idea of the "tarana" came

from Amir Khusrao, a Persian poet.

What does the Tarana signify? It 

reaches into the essence of all things--

basic elements as in Chemistry--so 

there must be a single unified truth if

Khusrao is to be believed.

Raag Hameer: a raag reflecting Vir Rasa: Poem 1

we're the warriors of the night,

on our watch, love is protected,

let all assailants be at bay,

let his head sink into pillows

and his knee not hurt anymore,

let dreams be revealing and kind,

in a truly yogic posture

let him be nothing while he sleeps

we hold the lamps over the head,

close but not too close with our light,

our weapons are hidden from all

in the scabbards of our own hearts,

we bleed over Persian rugs,

the carpets show off red flowers

we're the warriors of the night,

on our watch, love is protected.

Dukkhobhilash (Desire for Sadness)

do you know why a red rose is so beautiful?  it takes all our pain, our

"abolombonheen sunyata" and manifests it in the silkiest of petals as 

soft as a kiss.

"abolombonheen sunyata" roughly translated: desolation without any recourse.

Reviving Dabanol

it's been 5 years since i've written in this blog.  i've been writing incessantly on Facebook, but Neel convinced me that I should start writing here again.  So i asked him what should I write about? he says things you are passionate about -- saris, poetry, travel, dogs, flowers and not necessarily in that order.  you give birth to children, raise them and then they become your parents -- your advocates, your critics, and your conscience.  the good thing is that like your parents, they are kind of stuck with you....i'm the only Mom they will have, and that makes for fulfilling, frustrating but interminable relationships.  knowing that we are certain to die and all relationships will terminate, it is a lovely illusion while we are living to think that we have interminable relationships.