Wherever You Are

Feasty Christmas

Traditions with origins before the coming of Christianity among the Paites in the Indo-Myanmar border, has still got favours in Christmas Celebrations. For example Soiree (it's Christianised version not captured in video due to poor lighting in the basement of EBCC Church, New Delhi, where the social singing is held) among the Paites is as old as history. Bonfires, rice beers, dances and singing are the ingredients of traditional merry making.

The beginning of the 20th century heralded in the good news about the death, the resurrection and the saving work of Jesus Christ, which was believed to have taken place in AD 1. Soon the gospel of Christ spread like wild fire. And to the followers of Christ a date conveniently fixed for celebration of His birthday, is the 25th of December.

The worship service, popularly referred to as the Mas (if Im not mistaken) is universal all across the churches, east and west, pole to pole. With the passage of time, the Christmas celebration has got enriched and diversified. To the western revellers drinks, gifts and santa claus have crept in as part of the celebration.

There are things that a Paite considers essential to really go high during Christmas; a Christianised form of soiree and a big feast. Matters of tradition, uniqueness, identity.

SHORT SESSION

A Tribute to Mommy

A TRIBUTE TO MOMMY- by T. Hahau

• God saw She was getting tired

  And a cure was not to be

  So he put his arms around her

  And whispered, "Come with me"

  With Tears filled eyes

  We watched her suffer and fade away

  Although we loved her deeply

  We could not make her stay

  A Golden Heart stopped beating

  Hard working hands put to rest

  God broke our hearts

  To prove to us

  "He only takes the Best"

BARITONE

The worship service held last Sunday, the 17th February, 2008 was in no way similar with the other worship services held in the Church. Firstly, the audience was mesmerized when a retired Army man belted out a special number, 'Christian te Aw'. Secondly, instead of the pastor or any of the elders, a senior bureaucrat, who have just come back from an assignment in World Bank in Washington was taking the pulpit. The IAS officer, in brown suit, white cameez and red tie, shared a deeply felt sense of worthlessness in the side of God. "I was born again in 1984" he said without a show of prestigious career. His next sentence was turning emotional "But today I still feel that I am not as productive as I ought to be". And I said to myself 'Oh! perhaps this guy has served his Master through humility'

IRRESPONSIBLE DRIVERS

Everytime I encounter irresponsible drivers, I can't help but vent my anger in some ways- blaring horns, flashing pass lights. Instead of admitting the possibility that at some point or the other, I could have as well been seen as a menace, I use to fuss over the authorities for having shown undue generousity towards unskilled drivers thus putting the entire traffic at risk. As an individual, I wish I have a variety of horns attached to my bike and car to hoot pre-recorded human voices that says 'Arre aw Baba' , 'Kya hua Chacha Chokri', 'Excuse Me', 'Hai koi emergency meeting?', etc. Under the existing system, a number of driving schools are operating in the country. Whoever enrolls with such institutes are given some training and a Drivers Licence arranged for them accordingly. Somewhere the system must be flawed. Because there are too many drivers, specially women drivers, on the roads whose possessing the adequate skill to drive are doubtful. Automobile companies want to sell their products, banks are eager to sale their products and Governments have no qualms at facilitating the rich companies. So who will solve the problem in the traffic?
A Mother's Prayer
In the midst of a monologue on the traffic woes, I recall a special number from a typical mother, who appeared to have realized, on experiencing motherhood, how mothers have laboured for, cared and nurtured their offsprings. Such situations become emotional moments, outpourings of which leave man breathless. Sample this song titled, 'Ka Nu' Thumna" or "My Mother's Prayer"

LAST SUNDAY

For me knowledge about 'copy right infringement' is limited to the spelling. So I decided to post something and if something happens against me as a result, I'll learn something. And if nothing happens, then I'll call it fate :-). Yes this friend of mine happens to be an entertainer too. In view of a relatively deeper tone (compared with other singers in the Church) and his mastery of the art, I chose to put the video clip here: