Rakhri

The month of August brings (another) cultural occaision known as Rakhri / Raksha Bandhan, this dates to way back in the day when monkey gods were moving mountains and torching palaces with their tails. Legend has it that during his 14 years of exile, Lord Rama was hunting a deer for it's hide as a gift for Sita, his wife who was left home with her brother-in-law Lakshman. After Rama had not returned, Lakhsman went in search of him. Before leaving Sita alone, he drew an arrow from his quivver and raked a circle around their abode. This was the 'Lakshman Rekha', while Sita was within it's bounds she is protected, consequently when she steps out Ravana avails in her kidnap.

That Circle is represented by the thread that a sister would tie on her brother's arm on a fine summer's day in the month of August. Rakhri / Raksha Bandhan therefore means 'the tie of protection', this however when applied through the prism of Gautam Malkani's 'Londonstani' where it has been convulted through modern economics and is percieved as a 'Sister Tax'.

I have about 6 rakhrian (plural) most of which are from Jas, self appointed party girl extrodinairre. She appeared on my doorstep one winter's eve when the sky had blackened and the moon was fat. A knock upon the door and the whimper of a little girl with pig tails sighing aloud, "woe is me, I have no family, no friends and no pets... nobody loves me!" What could one do when beseeched with such a sight? My mother took her in and delegated me by way of brotherhood to this little sprite known by the name of Jas!

Myself and my beloved sister Jas with a special appearance from a watermelon martini. This girl would never refuse a martini, or a cosmo, or much really!
This was taken at Bombay Bronx at the Notting Hill Arts Club, circa 2006.

December 2006

Two days stand between me and a flight out to party city international, Mumbai... Formally known as Bombay, the phone rings "why did they change the name to Mumbai?"
That's the coastal city's pre-colinial name.
"Actually it was originally called Bombiya", my mother informs me, simplified for the old chaps at the East India Company.

What to do for two days in Birmingham? Although a Londoner, I find myself in this peculiar metropolis that has risen from the ashes of a fromer industrial back yard spawning a Bull Ring that clearly has had a colonic.

Having been sent an e-flyer from the tribe of Shaanti, the New Year's festivities seem to be pencilled in as a date at the Boiler Room with Transglobal Underground, Tigerstyle and UK Apache... The dynamic duo of desi deckwrecking, it's usually a safe bet to say that Tigerstyle will rock a party.