In My Community: Diwali Festival 2009

The 6^th annual Vancouver Celebrates Diwali festival has come to a close.  With over a week of fantastic events throughout Vancouver celebrating the exciting and colourful world of South Asian arts & culture, one thing is clear: these folks know how to party!

Diwali (row of lighted lamps) reflects festivals around the world who together celebrate the triumph of light over darkness.  In India it often represents the beginning of the New Year, a celebration marked with diyas (clay lamps) rangoli (colourful floor mosaics), feasting, dancing, music.  My friend Bill and I headed down to the Roundhouse to check out Diwali Downtown, the biggest event of the festival, and found all of this on full display from the beautiful chalk drawings outside to the music and bustle that drew us in.

Let me start by saying that this was a great space, but it was clear by the way we were squeezed in that the festival may want to find a bigger space next year.  The website promised the full experience of a “bustling Punjabi market” but the volunteers looked tired and just a little grumpy navigating and rearranging all the folks who were standing still to watch the events on stage.  Unfortunately this meant they were also blocking doorways, vendors, and artists trying to make it to the stage.  I felt for them, but not enough to drop my milk cake and leave the party. 

There was a little something for everyone from beautiful mehndi henna tattooing, diya painting for kids, dhol drums (not just for melancholics anymore), food, dance, and of course vendors with beautiful silks and jewelry – I was in heaven. 

As such, I have decided to give up the life of an only-child and take on a new cultural identity which includes huge families and lots of milk cake.  Sorry Mom.  I wondered who in the South Asian community I might get to adopt me.  Kismet had its way with me when I was very kindly invited by Akash Sablok to his son’s birthday party, which happened to be taking place at the Roundhouse the very same day.  You see where I’m going here?  What was that?  You can’t imagine this not being the perfect opportunity either?  Yes, and we really shouldn’t mess with kismet.  Wouldn’t that be like allowing darkness to triumph over light?   Wait, I think I’m messing with karma now.  (“Never mix your spiritual belief systems lest you wind up with no milk cake.”  -New Testament)

Considering we are probably the same age, adoption may be awkward, so I’m open to alternatives.  His father Tarlok seemed lovely.  Akash, look.  I promise, I’m like a chia-pet.  Just water me once a day and I’m good to go.  Well, and maybe a little milk cake.  And some jasmine rice with just a touch of butter chicken.  And a little chai.  And what is that, music?  Let’s dance! 

Happy Diwali!

For more information, visit: www.vandiwali.ca

Update:
Great News, Akash Sablok has agreed to adopt me as his sister, but I am not allowed to drive his car (I knew I shouldn’t have blogged about my questionable driving habits, never mind shared the story of the construction sign I recently took out with my front passenger door… and the right rear passenger door… and a bit of the right rear quarter panel.  Good call, Akash, good call.)

 

In My Community: Davie Day

I’m a little late with this post, but the photo popped up and I just couldn’t let it get away. 

Davie Street shut down again on September 11th to celebrate the 6th annual Davie Day.  Once I came upon this scene I was struck by the excitement of this little girl in her white dress being able to paint with abandon, and a parent letting her go for it.  I don’t know who was having more fun, her or me, but I was more than happy to let her and her red cheeks do all the work while I did all the photography.

Beyond adorable little girls covered in paint, what are some of the best things about public festivals?

Sophisticated eyewear

 

Food for the sophisticated palate

 

Environmentally friendly transportation

 

And, of course, what’s a festival without Pocahontas making balloon animals?

In My Community: Spontaneous Live Music

Because a key part of ABCD is taking an inventory of the assets in your community, I thought I might start a new series highlighting some of the assets in mine.  Granted, I could shout from the rooftops how much I love my community, but I’ll keep it on the down-low (or at least the mid-range) for the sake of avoiding the my-community-is-better-than-yours gloat (which is bound to happen anyway, but I don’t want it to be so obvious).

Today was a good day, filled with all the strange and unexpected happenings that make Vancouver’s West End the place I most wanted to live when that nesting instinct kicked in.  After 36 years and at least as many residences, it struck me as an active, diverse, soulful community within an urban setting – not the easiest find.

I’ve now been here three years, paying a scandalous rent to an unconscionable bandit landlord who continues to raise it every year regardless of the economy or the fact that there’s no heat or hot water for weeks at a time or there are sometimes workers walking in to my apartment unannounced or it takes 6 months to get anything repaired. 

Why?

Well allow me to assault you with another run-on sentence, it’s just that good: Neighbours that I know, the Celebration of Light and Davie Day,  the West Valley Market and the Nelson Street Dog Park and Stepho’s, the community garden with a yarn bombed fence, Pride, did I mention Stepho’s, and the seawall, the beach and Stanley Park and all the beautiful men who are not interested in me in the least – and it’s all steps from my door.  Now that’s a community!

The day started well

In the morning I walk my dogs.  Today I was stopped by a woman who apparently watches us walk every day from her balcony.  She wanted to tell me what good dogs they are.  Well thank you, slightly-unusual-neighbour, I appreciate that.  On my way home my little pup Sophie (who at 14 is maybe not as much of a pup as I wish she were) got sick, and a guy in the early stages of shooting up gave me napkins to clean her little face, and offered clucks of sympathy for her uncomfortable situation.  Well thank you, almost-high guy, I appreciate that too.

The afternoon was one part monty python

As I’m working I hear what I think is the sound of a marauding gang of flamenco dancers walking up Bute Street which, considering the neighbourhood, wouldn’t be unusual in and of itself, but upon closer investigation it turned out to be three female RCMP officers on horseback.  Three!  They were one Mr. Ed and a hi-ho Silver away from a Musical Ride, for pete’s sake…

But this evening took the cake

My bedroom faces onto the alley which makes for great acoustics that bounce off of the highrises in the immediate area, and it has provided some great concerts over the years.  I’ve been treated to opera, blues, the collective yelps of “YES!” and “NOOOO!!” during playoff season, and the homeless guy who likes to serenade with ”If you’ve got the money honey, I’ve got the time”

Tonight, however, I was subjected to the inevitable squawk of some dear soul learning scales on a clarinet.  Or, so I thought.  Within about 10 minutes it had turned in to a full concert of wind instruments – and they were good!

I took the dogs to investigate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They had papered Hydro poles, which was thoughtful.  Turned out it was part of the Vancouver Concert Band.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 …and they played everything from classical to modern jazz to Barry Manilow (oh yes, you heard me…)

 

 

 

 

And that, my friends, is what I call a good day in the West End.

Things To Do On A Tuesday: Meetup.com

Tonight is adventure night. Well, some may not call it an adventure, but it’s adventurous for me as I can be somewhat shy around new people unless there’s some common purpose or goal. As such I’ve decided to dip my toe into the Meetup pool, and tonight I’m heading out to meet a group of complete strangers to see James Arthur Ray (“balance is bogus!”) at the Westin Bayshore talking about Attracting the Life You Want.

I want a life that doesn’t see me shy around new people unless there’s a common purpose or goal. Anything you can do about that there, James?

Tonight it’s the Vancouver Professional Mixer group, with stealth connector Jill.  From what I’ve seen so far, she is everything Malcolm Gladwell suggests in The Tipping Point that connectors should be: living in multiple worlds (in a good way: at least two Meetup groups that I’ve seen so far, plus a ‘real’ life which would include friends, relatives, work, and special interests); genuinely interested in people; seeing things in you that you don’t see in yourself; easily relate to people they meet.

I did join other groups but so far this is the only one where I felt like I was connecting with a real person – with someone I could relate to. And for a shy toe-dipper this strikes me as a good place to start.

So, VP Mixer – here I come. And James? You’d better pull up your boots because I’ll be watching you…