Cary Diwali Festival
14. October. 06
It was 9:00 AM and I was still in the bed just too reluctant to come out of my blanket. Till now the temperature here was quite supportive, I mean it was kind of pleasant with the clothes I wore. But today suddenly it was chilling outside (my blanket) so my body was just against of leaving the armour, but then today there was this event "Carry Diwali Festival".
The program was to start by 11:00 AM. We (prasad and myself) had planned to catch a bus at 9:00 AM so that we reach the stop in 30-40 minutes and the place "Amphitheater -- where the function was organized" was about 20-mins walk from the stop. We were actually not so keen on touching the location dot on time, but we were planning to take some pics of the place around there. If you ask me the whole of cary is photogenic, its a beautiful place if you like greenary. It has huge tress around and roads in between them. When I first landed up in this place my reaction was, oh do people stay here.. I mean it was so unlike a city it looked like more of a beautiful forest... But that was all planning, and me with still in bed this planning was far from reality. Though Prasad was awake when I decided to peep out of my blanket, he was quite busy with my laptop. I streched myself out for another 15-20 mins in the bed and then finally made the hard decision... wake up, got a exciting day ahead!!!!
After getting up I immediately took some sun bath by opening the blinds of kitchen door, and then had my breakfast, went for the shower and again my body fell in love with the hot water but somehow I managed to come out in half hour. After coming out of the bathroom was the next hard decision to make (awhh.. the day started with full of hard decisions umm..) what am I going to wear??? I was already in to the dream world thinking of the indian crowd (u can read it as beautiful girls...) that I might have a chance to see (meet would be an exaggeration I guess...) so then finally I wore what you see in the photographs and thanks for all the compliments in advance!!! Till the time both of us got ready it was already 11:00 AM and finally both of us walked off the house for a day which we hoped to be one of the best ones in USA.
We had almost reached the stop that we saw the bus coming, so we had to sprint a bit to reach the stop but with the energy we had it wasnt that difficult. We were bubbling with so much of enthusiasum that we started our photo session right in the bus.
We reached the stop and started walking towards the destination and offcourse with camera rolling at top frequecny. We thought to take a different road, than the one which we knew would surely take us to the place. This other road was not the main road and so was more picturesque which meant more photos. On our journey we found a road which went right through the dense trees, so obviously that became our unanimous choice. I really enjoyed that route but then after 15-20 mins of walking we started to realise that we have missed our direction!!! after exploring the beautiful road, which took us to one garden, for some more time we decided to turn back. By now we were bit tired but my moral was high... Photography was almost stopped and we were now rushing towards the destination.
Finally we reached the Amphitheater by 2 or 2:30 PM. With lot of expectations and all funny thoughts in mind I entered through the gate. The place was huge, it had a big stage and many rows of chairs in front of it. There was a big lawn starting from where the chairs ended. There was also a kind of wooden mezzanine. There was a decent crowd (please read this as crowd only :-( ...). I thought must be it was the time, the afternoon which was holding back many in their homes. When we reached, there was already some dance number going on the stage, so we reached a place from where we could easily see the performance and it was not at all difficult to find this place!!! Prasad got back to his photographer role. Though the dance item was easily viewable I was more interested in scanning the place around. I was just trying to see where I can get what!!! In few moments I disccovered the food stalls, there were many stalls on the mezzanine but I couldnt get as to what they were for, and finally I was looking for the crowd for which I had already drawn an imaginary picture!!! Next five minutes I found myself explaining me "look its just the start, dont loose hopes!!" but then I didnt expect such a bad start. Well but then there were few americans in too for the program. So for some time I was a bit busy observing them, just seeing their reaction to the Indian masala going on at the stage. It was fun watching their curious faces (and least bothered faces in some cases!!!). After one more performance was over we decided to sit somewhere. We saw few chairs available and we walked towards them and made ourselves comforatable. Realizing that the best thing for me to see was the stage I forced my mind to appreciate the things on the stage by clapping and saying wow thats great.. but then soon there was one performance by really small kids and they were looking very cute in their costumes. I really enjoyed that one. But then it was already about three and we had to answer our stomach which was crying all the way when we were walking and now it was just screaming... We went to the food stalls which I had already discovered during my initial scan. There were stalls from 4 different restaurants and plenty of Indian dishes. I made my choice quickly, I decided on Samosa plate and Gulab jamoons while Prasad after much thought decided on Masala Dosa. We stood in the queue and finally made to the counter ordered and got our stuff and then stood at one comfortable place and started to gobble. The food was good and I really enjoyed it. After that we were just looking for some place to sit and relax while we can also watch the program. We found some sort of wooden thing which was elevated from ground and some hexagonal in shape.. it was like designed to sit. So we sat on it and in few seconds the next performance started with some heavy beats.. It was then we realized that the wooden thing was a sort of cover to cover the speakers. And I could feel all the vibrations through my bottom to my head... a funny thought just passed by my mind.. oh is this what "feeling the music" means!!! But since there was no better place to sit (the lawn was wet, chairs were full) and even more because it was a sort of free massage we decided to sit there. Prasad told me that somehow he didnt like the function, I dont know what made him say that, but I was enjoying it. After few regular desi songs and remixes there was one show which was moulded to this years theme "Vividhata- Unity in Diversity". It was the best show so far. There were these small kids who came in and then sung (the song was offcourse pre recorded) something like "My name is shamsher and I am from Ajmer, I speak urdu but i am just like you" and this was done for the cities in all the states, all in all it was very good.
After few more shows we decided to move on to the lawn and closer to the stage. By now the crowd (You can decide on what to read it this time!!!) had really started to flow in. Most of the beautifull things were either with their husbands or with their Brothers (now thats a more positive and optimistic way to look at it :-).... ). The comparer (the female one) had some misconceptions about the use of micro phone. I guess she felt its micro so I need to shout more.. but in reality she was tearing away the ear drums of many innocent people. While we were standing I heard somebody call my name. It was Vishwesh. Vishwesh is the only Indian in our office and he is just great. I mean he is so helpful like a God.. He helped me whenever I needed it and that too without waiting for me to ask for it and I am truly from my heart grateful to him for all of it. He was there with his wife, mother-in-law and a very cute little daughter "Disha". Disha mixes up very well with me and even I like playing with her. Its always a fun playing with small kids... When I met Vishwesh at the function she was sleeping but with the screaming 
beauty comparing the show Disha wasnt so lucky to have that peaceful nap and soon she woke up. The crowd () now kept sweeping in and the programs were also now going in full swing with more adults on the stage. Overall the enjoyment levels were going high. For sometime I played with Disha and then went to see those stalls on the mezzanine. With most of the ladies around the first stall I got a rough idea as to what it would be. There was a jewellery stall first up. We quickly moved through the stalls with least interest in anything. The maximum time for which we stopped at a stall was i guess 2 mins and it was a Hinid - DVDs stall, but then we were quickly out of all the stalls. We just decided to have a walk around the lake which was bordering one side of the amphitheater. The lake was cool, it had very calm water and ducks and some swans or I dont know what they were, which were enjoying in the lake and there were some couples enjoying outside it (and I dont know why I was singing the song Dhua dhua dhua dhua dhua dhua dhua hi dhua... and that too just this line). After this Prasad was feeling thirsty and I wanted to see an exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi and for this both of us had to reach the opposite side of the place. So we walked across and decided a spot where we will meet after we finish our activities. I went in to see the exhibition. The exhibition was very comprehensive. It displayed Gandhijis photos from his childhood till his death bed. Every photo had a detailed explanation below. It was very crowded inside and to my surprise most of the people seeing the exhibits were americans and they were just keenly reading all the description which I read only first two and last two words. So I was obviously much faster than them and overtook almost everyone inside and was LIFO (Last in first out). After coming out I met Prasad it was almost 5:45 PM by now and for the first time we spoke about our return plan, we had the last bus at 7:15 PM from the place which would take 20 mins walk from the amphitheater. So anyhow we had to leave the function by 6:45 PM. But then there was one "Air show" as they called it, to be performed by two professionals. They were going to sort of tie themselves with strings and then hang themselves up from top of the stage and do some dance, like Krish I guess!!! And infact this was the main attraction this time which they were announcing time and again. But there seemed no signs of that getting started soon. All other dance items were over and the DJ was playing lots of hindi song. We were sure of missing the fireworks (the most strange thing to miss on diwali) because it was at some 8:00 PM but were hoping to atleast getting a starting glimpse of the air show. I just called up vishwesh to check up whether he has left for home or still there. He was still there and we again met him. Again did some masti with Disha and Prasad the photographer stood true to his job. It was almost 6:45 and there was no sign of the Air show.. so came the final hard decission of the day, we will have to miss the show. Even Vishwesh and his family was bit tired since they were also here for quite a long time and that too standing for most of the time. So we all decided to leave. And again he was as nice as he is and he offered us to drive down till our bus stop because it was almost touching 7:00 PM. But for that his wife and mother in law would have to wait outside till he drops us and comes back to pick them up. So we were very reluctant for this initially. But, as I told you he is such a great guy, he dropped us to the bus stop.
After few more shows we decided to move on to the lawn and closer to the stage. By now the crowd (You can decide on what to read it this time!!!) had really started to flow in. Most of the beautifull things were either with their husbands or with their Brothers (now thats a more positive and optimistic way to look at it :-).... ). The comparer (the female one) had some misconceptions about the use of micro phone. I guess she felt its micro so I need to shout more.. but in reality she was tearing away the ear drums of many innocent people. While we were standing I heard somebody call my name. It was Vishwesh. Vishwesh is the only Indian in our office and he is just great. I mean he is so helpful like a God.. He helped me whenever I needed it and that too without waiting for me to ask for it and I am truly from my heart grateful to him for all of it. He was there with his wife, mother-in-law and a very cute little daughter "Disha". Disha mixes up very well with me and even I like playing with her. Its always a fun playing with small kids... When I met Vishwesh at the function she was sleeping but with the screaming beauty comparing the show Disha wasnt so lucky to have that peaceful nap and soon she woke up. The crowd () now kept sweeping in and the programs were also now going in full swing with more adults on the stage. Overall the enjoyment levels were going high. For sometime I played with Disha and then went to see those stalls on the mezzanine. With most of the ladies around the first stall I got a rough idea as to what it would be. There was a jewellery stall first up. We quickly moved through the stalls with least interest in anything. The maximum time for which we stopped at a stall was i guess 2 mins and it was a Hinid - DVDs stall, but then we were quickly out of all the stalls. We just decided to have a walk around the lake which was bordering one side of the amphitheater. The lake was cool, it had very calm water and ducks and some swans or I dont know what they were, which were enjoying in the lake and there were some couples enjoying outside it (and I dont know why I was singing the song Dhua dhua dhua dhua dhua dhua dhua hi dhua... and that too just this line). After this Prasad was feeling thirsty and I wanted to see an exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi and for this both of us had to reach the opposite side of the place. So we walked across and decided a spot where we will meet after we finish our activities. I went in to see the exhibition. The exhibition was very comprehensive. It displayed Gandhijis photos from his childhood till his death bed. Every photo had a detailed explanation below. It was very crowded inside and to my surprise most of the people seeing the exhibits were americans and they were just keenly reading all the description which I read only first two and last two words. So I was obviously much faster than them and overtook almost everyone inside and was LIFO (Last in first out). After coming out I met Prasad it was almost 5:45 PM by now and for the first time we spoke about our return plan, we had the last bus at 7:15 PM from the place which would take 20 mins walk from the amphitheater. So anyhow we had to leave the function by 6:45 PM. But then there was one "Air show" as they called it, to be performed by two professionals. They were going to sort of tie themselves with strings and then hang themselves up from top of the stage and do some dance, like Krish I guess!!! And infact this was the main attraction this time which they were announcing time and again. But there seemed no signs of that getting started soon. All other dance items were over and the DJ was playing lots of hindi song. We were sure of missing the fireworks (the most strange thing to miss on diwali) because it was at some 8:00 PM but were hoping to atleast getting a starting glimpse of the air show. I just called up vishwesh to check up whether he has left for home or still there. He was still there and we again met him. Again did some masti with Disha and Prasad the photographer stood true to his job. It was almost 6:45 and there was no sign of the Air show.. so came the final hard decission of the day, we will have to miss the show. Even Vishwesh and his family was bit tired since they were also here for quite a long time and that too standing for most of the time. So we all decided to leave. And again he was as nice as he is and he offered us to drive down till our bus stop because it was almost touching 7:00 PM. But for that his wife and mother in law would have to wait outside till he drops us and comes back to pick them up. So we were very reluctant for this initially. But, as I told you he is such a great guy, he dropped us to the bus stop. We boarded the bus and then we found out that we had missed our connecting bus from the train station. But still had another option of catching a differnt bus from Northwoods market. With Prasad with me I rarely care about how to travel and which bus to catch, thats his area of expertise. So we went till Northwoods market and caught that bus, which took us all around the maynard loop, walnut street but most importantly to our home. Yes finally we were back to our home by 9:15 very tired and very very satisfied for me.
Really had a great day. Didnt turn up to what I had dreamt off, but then thats why we call it as a dream isnt it? But this day is indeed one of my best days in USA. Oooh that was a kwel day babes... as I would have said if i was american. (The last word is assuming that I would have had a girl friend atleast if I was an american...)
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