The best part of Canada is its diversity and how Canadian values are a beautiful mosaic of various religions, cultures, traditions and values. In one of his speeches, Premier Dalton McGuinty especially thanked parents and grandparents for imparting and passing on the values to their kids.

MPP Dr. Qaadri with Shamsa and Qaadri Jr.

Premier McGuinty has much to thank for to MPP Dr. Shafiq Qaadri’s parents’ who have raised MPP Qaadri and are, now, nurturing, their grandkids.

At his public events, Dr. Qaadri, an MPP from Etobicoke North, is seen with his kids. His kids Shamsa and Shafiq Qaadri Jr. were at Pakistan Day Independence Day celebrations at Queens Park on August 14^th, and they were at International Muslim Organization (IMO) centre at Rexdale.

“It really feels nice to be at all these great events especially to the ones that are religious,” Shamsa said.

Dressed in blue shalwar kameez with her head covered with dupatta, Shamsa is fasting in the holy month of Ramadan every other day.

Shafiq Qaadri Jr. with her sister Shamsa at Jinnah's tomb in Karachi

Shamsa, who is starting grade 6, and her brother Qaadri Jr., who is starting grade 4 in Fall, have just been back from their trip to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

“We went for Umrah,” she tells us excitedly. Shamsa and her brother were told by her maternal grandfather that whatever you ask for with the first sight at Ka’aba in Mecca, “it will come true.”

So Qaadri kids and family prayed “Allah mian, whatever dua we make, please make it come true.”

This was the first time that they had gone to Mecca, though their grandparents have been to Saudi Arabia for Umrahs and Hajj multiple times.”

Qaadri kids had gone to Pakistan after about six years.

“Pakistan is one of the best countries of the world I’ve been to,” says Shamsa, the politician-in-making.

In one of his interviews with Generation Next, Dr. Qaadri had said my kids are “trained campaigners.”

By: Staff Writer

Teej – ‘the festival of swings’ is celebrated with gusto and fervour in various parts of India and Nepal. The festival of Teej commemorates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Married women and young girls celebrate the festival with earnest devotion.  Being a mansoon celebration it rejoices in the bounty of nature with social activities and customs.

“We celebrate the festival with devotion. It is called the `swing festival’ where decorated swings are hung from trees and women dressed in their best attire swing on them. The others who accompany them sing songs and enjoy the day,” says Reeta Shukla, a housewife.

Legend behind this festival

According to Hindu mythology, in the month of Shravan, Goddess Parvati reunited with Lord Shiva after a penance of hundred years. In her 108th birth, Lord Shiva realized her devotion for him and accepted her as his wife. This legend is said to be the basis of Teej celebrations.

Now let’s have a look at some of the exciting rituals and customs of teej:

Mehendi: “Its one of the most beautiful traditions of this festival. It is said, “The darker the henna, the more a woman is loved by her husband and in-laws.” Back home you can see the markets crowded with women getting their palms decorated with henna. In fact, it has become common in Canada too! At my home in India all of us get together at my mom’s place for Teej mehendi and some of us hide our husband’s name in the mehndi design which later becomes part of the search game. Husbands then search out their name and gift something to their beloved wife,” says Reshma Jaju, an employment consultant at Kelly Services.

It’s time again to look like a new bride: Hues of reds, greens and pinks can be seen everywhere. “We dress up in colourful cloths and jewellery to look like a new bride once again. Our Teej shopping starts well in advance. The best part of this festival is that women have full liberty to ask for anything they wish. Even husband`s don’t stop them from doing anything and gift them whatever they desire as they starve themselves for well-being of their husband,” says Shreya Agarwal, student of York University.

Tradition of Teej Fasting

The holy custom of fasting forms an integral part of Teej celebrations. Hence Teej is also famous as ‘women fasting festival’ of Rajasthan. “For full 24 hours we women refrain ourselves from food and water to ensure long life of husband. The tradition to fast for so long without water and food has a pious legend associated with it. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati underwent penance for 100 years to be accepted by Lord Shiva. Even till date women pay homage to Goddess Parvati and seek blessings for blissful marital life. We sing and dance to distract our attention from kitchen,” says Reshma. Married women keep fast for healthy life of their husband while unmarried girls keep it to marry a person who good and understanding.

After the day-long fast for longevity of their soul mate is over, women drink water and eat some healthy food. Many husbands make their wife drink water with their hands.

The tradition of swings: Teej also known as ‘Festival of Swings’ marks the advent of monsoon season. The word Teej, in many minds conjure up the image of swings as people hang beautiful swings in gardens and outside their houses. People follow the age-old tradition of swinging in the rains and perform traditional dance.

“We usually decorate the swings with colored and fragrant flowers. Some swings are also decorated with leharia print fabric to highlight the Rajasthani culture. These swings are either hung in the locality parks or at the backyard,” says Meenakshi Maheshwary, housewife.

This way Teej Celebrations bring lot of happiness for both married and unmarried couples and create some everlasting memories.
Author: Ramya Maheshwary

There once was a primitive tribe in a distant land. One day, a team of researchers discovered this tribe and tried to understand its customs and culture. As the team of researchers went on to study the tribe, they realized that there was one particular word that was missing from the tribe’s vocabulary – Fear.

The tribe had a complex linguistic system and an extensive vocabulary at their disposal, but they did not have a word in their language for fear. The team found this to be an interesting occurrence and went on to understand the causes and consequences of this peculiar omission in the tribe’s vocabulary. The findings were astounding. When this phenomenon was considered through a socio-anthropological perspective it was concluded that their unusual ferocity in battle was directly interconnected to the omission of this word from their vocabulary. The omission of the word nullified the notion of fear in their psyche and enabled them to succeed in the fierce battles fought against enemy tribes. Their language translated into their martial culture, which in turn, translated into their survival.

Language is a window into a society’s soul. Through it we behold a culture’s histories, traditions, truths, deceptions, triumphs, trials, and hopes. It is intertwined with the social and cultural fibers that weave an identity that defines a society. Therefore, any society that wishes to retain its identity cannot forgo its language. As a global community, we must realize the need for a greater emphasis on languages and linguistics in education systems across the world.

Every language evolves over time and, as a part of its evolution, it reinvents itself and gains a fresh edge. This evolutionary shift in linguistic traditions is essential to the preservation of language.  However, it is important that we appreciate each era of language for the unique flavor and charm that it offers. Just as we do not discard renaissance art just because we now have contemporary art, language in all its present and historical forms needs to be studied and appreciated. In fact, the learning of more than one language must be greatly encouraged by progressive communities all around the world. The knowledge of languages deepens our understanding of cultures, and in turn, equips us to be better global citizens.

In this day and age when we see the world shrinking into a global village, it can be viewed as a paradox that we are trying to unite as a human race, but at the same time trying to preserve aspects of our culture that sets us apart from others, such as our languages. This paradox should awaken us to a beautiful realization that we are at the threshold of achieving unity in diversity. Any culture’s quest to preserve and enhance its linguistic identity should be encouraged, and hopefully, in due time, we will hear a million voices speaking a multitude of languages, all resonating with the sound of humanity.

Author:Aswin Pillarisetty

There have probably been so many people out there who have read about Ramadan or have written about Ramadan. But there are always some facts which not everyone knows about. This might be difficult to believe, but fasting has been concluded as a very healthy act.

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims use the blessed month of Ramadan as a chance to live their lives in the light of Islamic guidance. It is said that Muslims are to make peace with those who have wronged them, strengthen ties with family and friends, and stay away from bad habits. All these things are done to essentially clean up their lives, thoughts, and feelings.

Many people usually fast just because it is recommended but unfortunately, they aren’t aware of what these recommended fasts ask us to do. During Ramadan, every part of our body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain from looking at unlawful things. The hands must not touch or take anything that does not belong there. The ears must restrain from listening to inoperative talk or obscene words [curses]. And lastly, the feet must restrain from going to sinful places.

If one can not keep a fast due to an illness, he/she can keep an Iftar [the time when you can eat] for a poor person. That will be considered as one fast. If a person is traveling, he/she does not have to fast during the day and can make up that fast later on. Children under the age of 12 are not required to fast but some children still do as a practice for the future and merely because their older siblings or parents do. Along with fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran. That is done by means of special prayers called Tarawih, which are held in Masjids every night of the month. During these gatherings, a whole section of the Quran is recited. Thus, the entire Quran is completed by the end of the month.

Now moving on to how fasting has been concluded as an extremely healthy act. Many researchers have reported that fasting helps keep many infections out of our stomachs. During the entire year, we are left with 11 months excluding the month Ramadan. Throughout those 11 months, we eat all day long and our stomach doesn’t get any rest. Think of it this way: Our stomach is like a machine. If a machine keeps on functioning without a break, it will start to slow down and essentially stop working. Therefore, during the month of Ramadan, our stomach is made used to eating in the morning [Sehri time] and then in the evening [Iftar time]. This way, our stomach gets to take some time off from functioning for so long and thus it develops the capability of keeping away many infections that may attack us.

So remember that fasting is not only physical, but it is the total commitment of the person’s body and the soul to the spirit of the fast. Therefore, take this blessed chance to practice self restraint, cleanse your body, and pray. Stay purified, keep others happy, and remember that Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.

Ramadan Mubarik to all of you!

Author: Noor Ahsan,

For many, life can appear meaningless unless it is imbibed with a purpose. Finding your identity can often go hand in hand with discovering this purpose. Identity is the core from which we pursue our passions and goals, but can also rope us in to a confining belief of who we are.

For a great deal of South Asian citizens in Canada, this identity is derived from culture, religion and traditions. While this elevates us into a sphere of exoticism and purpose, it can also restrict us from a level of personal discovery. What I have always wondered though, is if this pursuit of identity is a one-track process that we pursue throughout life? Another possibility is that we rediscover this identity through each stage of life, from childhood to elderhood. Rather than identity becoming more solidified as we move forwards, it may just redefine itself during each stage. My interest is in discovering how this identity varies from the point we are in our life.

In North America, South Asian identity for a child will be rather different from that of an elder. A common belief is that once you reach the stage of elderhood, you will understand and accept what it means to be a South Asian in North America. However this may not be the case, and there may be new complexities that are added into the equation. Can we ever truly be comfortable in a transplanted culture?

Children have a wonderfully perceptive ability. Their young minds are not as littered with politics and other complications, and they are often known to speak of some uncomfortable truths. So what does a South Asian child in North America feel about his or her identity in relation to their peers?

This can vary based on a number of factors. For example, we may consider what area of Canada they live in, because surely someone growing up in Mississauga or Brampton will have a very different experience. For example, I grew up in a place called Port Elgin which had a population of 6000 people and a negative percentage of South Asian individuals.  My experience growing up was very focused on trying to integrate as much as possible, since I embodied the term “different.” As a kid, being different doesn’t seem to have much intrinsic value, nor does it provide us excitement for “going against the stream.” A child is simple, and wishes for their life to be as such. This simplicity is, truthfully, harder to find when you are trying to explain why your mom packed you a roti in your lunch and why you cannot go out because you have to pray instead.

For children who grow up in a populated South Asian region, their experience will reflect a child who is surrounded by similar environments from home to school. They don’t have to learn to adapt as much, and they may not even consciously think about the fact that they are “different.”

Who figures out their identity better in this scenario? It depends on your notion of identity. In some cases, South Asian kids residing in predominantly Caucasian communities may have a greater drive to discover who they are and how they fit into the world around them. South Asian children that live in areas more “brown oriented” may feel too comfortable in their environment, and never think to question or analyze their identity.  Similarly, however, these same kids may find the high population of South Asians as a motivation to push past their cultural label, and to discover something beyond it.

While Childhood as a stage does not offer the peak of self-discovery in one’s life, it does allow for a South Asian child to begin thinking more generally about how they fit into the world around them.

Author: Myuri S. Komaragiri

It’s the most authentic cuisine of India. It’s truly an ‘Explosion of Flavors’ in your mouth that tingle your taste buds leaving you wanting more! Indian street food is pretty famous and most tourists gorge on the delicious and affordable roadside food in India to get the real taste of this amazing country. The street food in India is an amalgamation of various flavours that stimulate your taste buds. In every big metro, you will find all roads and small narrow lanes having at least one such portable food stall. The snacks are prepared right there in front of your eyes tempting you visually with the wonderful spicy aromas. In fact there are vendors for whom people don’t mind travelling far.

Street food varies from region to region. The scrumptious snacks, each prepared more temptingly than the other vary depending on the regions. Let’s have a look on what the regions of India have to offer you!

The typical North Indian food is chaat, a generic name for spicy, tangy and not very nutritious delicacies. Chaat literally means to lick yes and the fare is lip-smacking. It is sometimes crisp, tangy and brings out a variety of sensation, literally putting the tongue on fire. The chaat combines all the flavours – salt, sweet, hot, sour into a homogenous blend. Each flavour flows distinct yet it blends as one, giving it a unique taste which is best eaten and not described.

The Aaloo Tikki (potato cutlets) and Chole (spiced chickpeas) is also a famous North Indian Snack. This is my favorite street food. In north India you’ll find many street vendors selling Tikki Chole in the residential areas on a cycle or ‘thela’. In monsoon, you’ll find vendors outside schools and colleges, in markets, near bus stands and railway stations, in short everywhere packed with people waiting for their plate of Tikki chhole. The plate is topped with Dahi (curd), onion, tomato, sev, coriander, tamarind chutney, coriander chutney and some spices. My goodness I’m feeling so hungry while listing these ingredients. The taste is tangy and spicy and believe me you just can’t stop after having one plate of Tikki chhole, you’ll surely ask for another one.
No story on chaat can be complete without reference to the famous paani puri. In Delhi, they call it the gol gappa. In U.P., it is called the batasha, Mumbaiyas call it paani puri while in Kolkata it is popularly known as phhuchka. There is no Indian on this earth, who is not familiar with Panipuri. For those who are coming across this word first time, Panipuri is combination of Puri with potato stuffing, chutney and masala water. Very tasty and sort of addictive too. “I get Panipuri whenever I come back from India. I can never forget the taste of local Panipuri which I enjoyed back home,” says Mina Gupta, a student of York University.
Desi Chinese? ‘Desi Chinese’ is probably a term that you have never heard before. The word ‘desi’ is a direct reference to almost anything Indian (including person, place or thing). So essentially Desi Chinese is Chinese food in Indian style. It’s the best of both worlds and simply delicious. It’s a fusion of Indo-Chinese cuisine at its best. Traditional Chinese dishes are prepared with aromatic Indian flavors and spices. Veg/Gobi-Manchurian is a favourite among fans, it is easy to prepare and tasty. Served along with stir fried noodles with vegetables or fragrant jasmine rice, it makes for a delightful meal.
The southern states do not share the chaat experience at all. The street corners are dotted with food stalls doling out hot idlis, medu vadas, uthappams, or spreading a dosa on a hot griddle offered for one-fourth of what you may have to shell out at a restaurant.
Steaming idlis come and vanish in a flash, devoured by Venkatesh Prasad. “Ek aur lao bhai,” the waiter is instructed even before he turns back. In fact, the best way to start the day would be with the soft and fluffy idlis soaked in coconut chutney with filter coffee.  What about Dosa then? Call it a dosa, a pancake, a crepe… there’s no doubt it has caught on with the connoisseurs and commoners alike. The swish and the swirl of the batter on the tawa entices everyone to have it at any time of the day. The dosa may have metamorphosed many versions but it still remains close to everyone’s palate and heart. Along with the idli and vada, it continues to be part of the triumvirate of tiffin down south.
The South Indian thali! The thali arrives with stuff that is simply irresistible. “There is nothing like vegetarian food, especially the South Indian variety. It’s served on a plantain leaf,” says Deepti Agarwal, a student of University of Toronto. “Eating on banana leaf has always been my favourite. I have to agree that there’s something about it that makes it a meal that every once in a while I get such strong urges for that I think it must be laced with some kind of drug! Sometimes my tummy churns and grumbles in a way that only banana leaf can satisfy…and yet it’s such a simple meal served on a large banana leaf instead of a plate…  And the experience of eating with your hands is something that cannot be described in words. Maybe it’s the intermingling of all the different flavours and textures… maybe it’s the fact that you’re eating with your hands brings back that feeling of being a child picking up your food and just enjoying it without thinking of etiquette and grace…whatever it is…banana leaf is one of those meals I have to have at least once a month… ”
“My all time favourite snack is Mirchi Bajji! Everyone in our family just loves it. With little garnish it can be just heaven on earth eating the spicy yummy mirchi bajji,” says Shreya Gupta, student of York University. Mirchi Bajji is an Indian street food and is popular during the monsoon season served with coconut chutney. Be it any season or any celebration in India you see Mirchi Bajji is the common snack or appetizer to start with. It is the best snack for teatime.
Indians are culinary enthusiasts with a palette developed for hot and spicy food. The vibrancy of Indian culture is quite evident in its lip-smacking, hot and spicy cuisine. Irrespective of whether one is in the North, South, East or West, street food is available everywhere. Varied, delicious and economical, they are sure to satisfy taste buds and whet the appetite.
Drooling already?

Author: Ramya Maheshwary

As a first generation Canadian, the life path I choose to pursue is often littered with confusion.  Most of the individuals that fall under this category, and even second and third generation, are often stretched quite thin. There are two major beliefs in this matter. One expresses that being stretched between the two worlds, that of your peers and that of your parents, only diminishes the point, which defines you. The opposing argument, however, states that this contribution of two sides may actually contribute to a more holistic and rounded human being. Yet what is the reality? “Are South Asian youth suffering from a loss of identity, or experiencing an influx of cultural diversity?”

Youth especially are constantly stuck between what their peers state about society and what their parents preach. Once a youth reaches their late teens, they are expected to define themselves in terms of these two, often opposing, ideals. The principles that create our general character find their pivotal foundation at this point. For South Asian youth, two major areas of focus are explored at this time: Education and Social Circles.

The pursuit of knowledge has always been a source of pride and an upheld tradition within the South Asian community. Providing your child with an elite education not only gives them stability in the future, but brings a positive name to one’s parenting abilities.

However, through my experiences in the education system, I have seen what this pressure can do to youth.  Those South Asian youth that are deemed as successful by the community, normally occupy a small range of occupations. We have not been able to produce a substantial population of athletes, artists, poets, and philosophers in North America.  It is certainly not for lack of talent, because anyone remotely versed in South Asian roots knows of its revolutionary contributions to these fields. It is the sad belief that these pursuits will not bring the required status into the future lives of these youth. I respect the nature of wishing for your offspring to pursue something that will bring them stability, however I simply long for the nature of education to be that which expands the mind and activates our spiritual capacities.

Social circles can have an immense impact on the life decisions of South Asian youth as well. Through observation, I have noticed that there are major populations of these youth that only associate with other South Asian youth.  What I have unfortunately found, however, is that this causes youth to compromise their background, and in a sense, substitute their parents’ ideas for that of their South Asian friends.

Although not to be excessively generalized, most youth adopt a commercialized idea of what South Asian culture really is. That which is portrayed in movies, TV shows and popular music, has a colossal impact on communities that are geographically disconnected from their native state. As such, South Asian culture becomes “Bollywoodified”.

In an effort to integrate into Canadian society, we have isolated ourselves from our own culture. As migrants, the expression of our culture was achieved by packaging together the simplified aspects of South Asian culture so as to not overwhelm anyone. While potentially logical in its initial stages, it has caused for a complete commercialization and demeaning of where South Asian culture has been derived from. This miniature rant is to express the idea that every first generation migrant youth should be provided an actual understanding of their native country’s history, traditions, and global contributions. So as these youth surround themselves with South Asian social circles in an effort to uphold their background, they are really suffocating themselves into a delusional representation of what their culture is.

These two examples show us what blindly following either our parents or peers will do. South Asian youth must recognize their pivotal role in educating themselves about their backgrounds. Whether it is history, religion, or even South Asian cuisine, the globalized nature of this world will depend on the educated foundation that we create.

We can no longer depend on our parents or social circles to tell us what to believe and how to act. The future of the South Asian youth in Canada must be derived from personal and individual initiative. To answer the question stated above, “Are South Asian youth suffering from a loss of identity, or experiencing an influx of cultural diversity,” I believe that our community is at a crossroads between the two. The loss of identity is expressed by what I termed a “Bollywoodified” version of our culture, yet as this generation becomes independently interested in where they came from, we will achieve cultural diversity.

Once we know where we came from, no matter where we are or who we interact with, our identity will not be compromised.

Author: Myuri Komaragiri

Mother is a sacred word for me. For months I have been thinking what if it was possible to request God to grant a day so that I could meet and interact with my mother in her eternal abode. I know such things can’t happen unless you are at the zenith of spiritual power and your soul could traverse time and space to meet the people who have left forever.

Never mind! If such an absurd wish couldn’t be granted… at least the words are mine and I can sew my mother’s memories into words and sentences and years later when my memory would begin to fade, she would speak to me through those lines.

I recall myself as quite an extravagant child. My mother used to buy me a pack of twelve China made lead pencils. I got sick of those dull patterns on the white background printed on the pencils. But buying new set of pencils wasn’t possible until those were used up so I came up with a rather sly idea of wasting the pencils by sharpening them incessantly. A few days later I told mother that I was done with the old pencils and needed more. She was startled and said, “How could you use up all in a week… they were a dozen pencils.” “They weren’t of a good quality I suppose.” I said promptly. She thought briefly, nodded and got me the new pencils. How easy it was to get a wish fulfilled by her because she was one of those people who didn’t know how to say no or to argue at length before accepting the demand.

I always did my best not to hurt my mother. She never had to yell at me or force me to open my books as I used to work hard for every test and exam. I wasn’t an outstanding student though… but at least I was honest with my commitment. When I was in the first standard in the second term exam (the one before final) I managed to get the second position. One of the drawbacks of being teacher’s daughter is that both the good and the bad news related to exams breaks to you beforehand. So she walked up to me. I was standing in the queue attending the assembly when she lovingly held my face in the cup of her hands, the happiness seemed to have engulfed her whole being, “You’ve got the second position,” she said. I kept looking at her towering on me… not knowing how to react. I smiled too seeing her evident happiness. That day I realized that was perhaps the only thing that could make her happy so throughout my academic career I kept trying hard to stand out. I never did. But I never stopped trying.

My mother is synonymous to a thick, cool shade that would protect me from every severity in life. I got used to her protectiveness. When in late 2005 one of the most devastating earthquakes struck leaving everyone in shock and awe, I turned to my mother to take refuge in her bosom because the continual aftershocks had scared me to death. Honestly speaking, I didn’t even know what aftershocks were before I experienced them. I was deprived of sleep and had started to develop dark circles. I shared my apprehensions with her. She smiled and said in her usual gentle tone, “There is nothing to worry about.” Her words alone were enough to lift my spirits but I requested her to move to my room. I would sleep as close to her as possible with my arm wrapped around her. I am glad the calamity had provided that opportunity to me for I had not imagined in my wildest dreams that exactly a year later I’ll lose her forever.

That’s true I miss her and when I do, I close my eyes and try to recall the good times; the times when depression was just a word and not a phase. The times when her very presence was enough to help me face the challenges bravely. Somewhere I yearn to be a young child again in her protective embrace and want her to lift my face in her hands and tell me that the hard times would be over soon. The dreams would be fulfilled and you’ll get what you’ve been striving for. I miss that reassurance.

On this mother’s day everyone would express their love for mothers while I’ll be content with a silent prayer for my mother. I remember once she was watching a mother’s day show on TV where Musharraf was paying tribute to his mother. I can’t forget the glow in my mother’s eyes. At that time I thought will I ever be able to pay tribute to her on a platform like that before the whole world? Three and half years elapsed. I am the same ordinary struggling person. And this is a tribute of an ordinary daughter to her extraordinary mother.

For all the mothers are truly extraordinary and the epitome of selfless love.

Author: Ayesha Umer

A pen can write and rewrite music,  but the music of  Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan can only be written by the pen drowned in, who Javed Akhtar calls an ocean, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. A rose to love is the late lover Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and as long as lives love, lives Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Undeniably, he was his words. He sang to the everlasting sacrifice of Karbala and with words shed tears upon the sands of Karbala : undeniably from whom the world has studied to live after death, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was, and is, a student of high regard. He lives.

Beings  whose hearts have been opened by love, bring your minds to stop and salute  the presence of the  Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the immortal voice of a blessed  mortal. On August 16 1997, his life had only just begun.He is a lesson for all aspiring singers and listeners. You may not listen to any music or may not even have a taste for the kind of music he sings. But it is his methodology that makes him the ultimate revelation to all singers and listeners of the future. None can make it close to this man’s shadow but by blindly consuming his approach, one surely shall ascend to the epitome of love and devotion. Yes, love is blind. You see your blindness and there is no vision more eloquent than this.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan came from a family whose heart beat echoed the greatest form of Qawalli . Qawalli was, and still is, the water of his family tree and in 600 years they  finally saw the blooming of a son who was to symbolize his family’s works in the most fruitful of expression. Initially his father did not wish for his son to follow the family culture. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, though, had his fate in his faith. He is now the fragrance that gives the family its eternal breath.

Qawalli finds its soil in the land of Sufi thought. But Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan  became the catalyst of the modernisation of this music. I say, with great caution, that Khan gets modernity to rethink its thought. Qawalli utilizes the individual’s vocals as its main instrument : its best instrument is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He sang in dedication to numerous personalities and concepts : his appreciation of all that he appreciated will continue to send listeners into a trance. Each of his works is a sermon. I am sure you have your personal prayers of preference. For me, then and now, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s callings to the Qalandars will remain ripe in my heart : the beats of Dhamaal shall remain my beat of life. Jhoolay Lal.

Author: Ali Abbas

With winter almost tucked up in the attic, it’s time to come out of our cocoons and enjoy this spring festival. Every year it is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March and glorifies good harvest.

Holi is now a symbolic tribute to a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story is about an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king’s sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges unscathed, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.

This exuberant festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna-Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over sixteen days in Vrindavan and Mathura – the two cities with which Lord Krishna shared a deep affiliation. It is believed that when Lord Krishna was young, he often whined about his dark complexion and wondered why Radha was so fair. One day, his mother Yashoda playfully suggested that he can smear colour on Radha’s face and change her complexion to any colour he wanted. Fascinated by the idea, Krishna proceeded to do so and thus, introduced the festival of colours. Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks on the gopis.

“It`s once again a time of the year, when you can holler, howl and scream, ‘Holi hai!’ with full social sanction. Holi demands big time planning. Buckets and barrels of strongly coloured water have to be concocted and water balloons filled to greet friends and neighbours. The gala time starts in the morning itself. People go around smearing each other with gulal (coloured powder) and coloured water. Children shoot jets of water from their pichkaris. A lot of people spend the day alternating between getting drenched and coloured, and consuming thandai (a marijuana-based drink) in large quantities as the day progresses. Singing and dancing to the beat of dholaks (drums) completes the picture,” says Sheela Sara, housewife. So get going, fill up your water guns to the brim and go on a wild shooting spree, this Holi.

“Adventures begin when one splashes coloured water, water balloons or simply turn the water pipes on!! My husband generally makes others squirm. So he uses pukka or fast colours mixed in water – or even paint. But it is a fact that this festival is enjoyed the most if there is a large gathering echoing with laughter, gentle pranks and jokes,” says Sheela.

You name the color and it is there. The more multi-coloured or horrible you are to look at, the better you feel. If only the eyes and teeth are visible, it is ideal. Then after we are done with playing colours at home we go house to house. The good thing about going from house to house and greeting neighbours and friends is that you get to eat special flour-based sweets like gujiya and malpua, and other savouries. It does not matter that you don’t really know the person in whose house you are wolfing down so many things.

And then comes Bhang! jai jai shiv shankar…. it’s that time of the year — when lusty voices of holi hai rent the air and bhang flows as high as cloud nine.  Culled from the leaves and buds of cannabis – the very intoxicating bhang helps to escalate the spirit of holi.

Thandai: “The name says it all! Thandai is part and parcel of Holi celebrations. This refreshing and healthy drink is to be served amid the play of colours. In fact, Bhang thandai sets the mood for the festival of colours. Drinking thandai in this season also goes with the weather, as it acts as a coolant for people in North India, where the temperature is usually high at this time,” says Atharva Khanna, a store owner at Gerrard street.

“There are no two ways about it — Bhang has become the official Holi drink. Lip-smacking bhang pakoras and bhang vadas are some popular snacks people look forward to on Holi,” adds Atharva. Sweets and kulfi made of ‘bhang’ known as ‘bhang ki barfi’ and ‘bhang ki kulfi’ are amongst these special preparations.

Colours of the cuisine:

Holi is also celebrated along with several interesting delicacies. Though the traditional recipes vary from family to family and place to place, one thing that remains the same is the zeal with which these delicacies are prepared for this occasion. Sweets are the vital element of Holi celebrations in any part of India. In fact, the festival of Holi is renowned for the umpteen varieties of sweets prepared on the occasion.

There are some universal sweets and dishes that are prepared throughout the length and the breadth in the country on this occasion. “One of the most popular desserts of Holi is ‘Gujhia’, which is a must for every Indian home during the season. Then, there are ‘papris’ and ‘dahi-bhalles’ that are prepared in majority of Indian homes on the occasion.

“The evenings are not as exciting. A good part of what’s left of the day is spent in that special room of the house – the bathroom. Scrubbing and scrubbing, and then scrubbing some more. It is an exercise that is repeated for days as it’s a normal sight to see people with patches of pink skin, green hair, purple hands and silver nails, for days and even weeks after Holi. Even the neighbourhood cows and buffaloes get their share of colourful patches, says Mrinalini, a resident of Brampton.

So let your hair down and do what you like, say what you like, meet, tease and play with colours with the people around you as Generation Next wishes you a colourful splashy Holi.

Author :Ramya Maheshwary