Say ‘January’ for joyous celebration

Republic Day eve saw the national honours being announced and Kajol and Tabu are the younger Padma Shri winners from the entertainment world this time.

And tennis stars Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are in the finals of the Aussie Open — Lee and Hesh’s first Grand Slam Final, since 2002 apparently.

Both might flirt with the glamour world (Leander is acting in movies, Mahesh’s talent company handles movie stars and celebrities), but it is when they commit absolutely to the path of their first passion that they make serious headlines headway. So, will we have India Shining Down Under?

Meanwhile Rahman too, has cause to smile — he’s won the Crystal Award for social and charitable work at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos. Plus ofcourse, in global Awards season, two Oscar nominations.

Whilst on the topic of the Oscars, Hollywood’s Natalie Portman and Colin Firth are who the Netterati have their bets on, for best actress/actor. The two have already picked up a Golden Globe each. Natalie, at present, is radiant for a different reason — she’s pregnant, as in pregnant herself, not as in surrogacy as Hollywood now seems intent on exploring (Nicole Kidman, Sarah Jessica Parker both opted for surrogate parenthood for their second child).
***
Year beginning may be Awards season but it’s also Fest season. The Jaipur Literary Fest concluded this week, and it was an inclusive jamboree. The decorations in rainbow hues of Rajasthan proved fitting backdrop for the melange of accents that were in attendance, from all corners of India and the world. Accents, hairstyles, attitude — all on display as Literature (or its contemporary avatar) had its day in the desert sun. Not to be outdone, Mumbai’s celebrating its own week-long fest, that of the LGBT community, in the form of plays, music performances and a Pride march. Next up for the city: the Kala Ghoda cultural fest in the heritage precinct that February is traditionally associated with. Will it happen the way it has? Time will tell.

Meanwhile I attended a fest of personal importance — a Spring Fiesta, put forth by my four-year-old’s pre-primary school, last Thursday. There is something particularly uplifting in witnessing the joy of very little ones delighting in a special day created for them. Lost amidst a deluge of candy floss, puppets, teddy trinkets and paper flowers and streamers, I surrendered to the spirit around, became who my daughter willed me be: her age. I have said this before, there is no stress buster that works better than time spent in the uncomplicated, fiercely live-for-the-moment, tell-it-as-it-is world of children. No prizes for guessing which fest captured me most completely.