Jeeyo, Utho, Badho, Jeeto!

A couple of days back, an international news channel presenter chuckled as he covered the last minute, frantic repair work taking place in Delhi, as the Indian capital prepared to host this year’s Commonwealth Games. He likened the games to an Indian wedding; “chaotic until the very end”; before things finally fall into place and the lifelong union of two individuals into holy matrimony takes place. Mom and I let out a short laugh at that – highly amused at the comparison but also a tad bit embarrassed at the ridicule India was subjecting itself to on an international platform. Caustically, we too agreed that doomsday was approaching soon.

The CWG have been nothing short of a Big, Fat Indian Wedding. Amidst construction delays, dengue outbreaks, bridges that collapsed and fears over the inadequate security in the light of a tourist shootout, the preparations have seen enough trouble to cause the father of the bride a cardiac arrest.

But when the lights came on, what a wedding it was! The guests, from across the world turned up in thousands and none of them left disappointed. The ceremony showcased a heritage so rich, a cultural diversity so profound and a fanfare so colourful, it left Indians bursting at their seams with pride as the world watched enraptured at the event that can be called nothing less than SPECTACULAR : Folk dances from across the country, grand henna designs by India’s young prodigies, sand paintings, larger than life (literally and figuratively) cultural totems that free-floated across the stadium, dabbawalas, chaiwalas, mithaiwalas – people who make India so Indian – as they paraded in the great Indian carnival. And when the cultural extravaganza ended on the musical power-packed note by AR Rahman, the skies roared with the thunder of the electrifying fireworks as the equally feverous applause rocked the world below. For once, Suresh Kalmadi, far from giving me  a chance to scoff at his remarks, received my praise for having kept his promise of ensuring a dazzling inauguration ceremony at India’s first sporting event.

This blog simply CANNOT do justice to what we witnessed on television, just as television cannot do justice to the mega-sporting ceremony that was witnessed in person. But I trust you’ve seen what I have and are able to wholly relate to my feeling of pride today.

It’s been an eventful day. Thousands of miles away from India, I’m on a gloating spree. Tomorrow will be a new, colourful day: blue skies, red ribbons and hopefully shiny golden medals.