Been there, done that... and posted pics online!
There's an Israeli ensemble in town presenting the spirit of Hebrew and Sufi heritage. I want to go for it. Sufi is really in, and besides I like that sort of thing.
But that's not the real reason. I also am fast becoming a photo-getter-with-eventers. Blame it on Facebook pressures. Thing is, I haven't updated my Facebook photo status for quite some time. And drat, I missed the Republic Day and Beating Retreat rehearsal photo-ops. So, this seems the best bet.
To be sure, I was there at the Auto Expo in Delhi and at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and at the Art Fair in Delhi. But you know what? Shame and scandal — I didn't take any pictures of myself at any of these places.
It was bad enough to have to fight and struggle to get in, then to absorb and assimilate what was being said — and don't forget I was on assignment — so had to take notes.
At Jaipur, the struggle began with the car park — we parked 2 km away — in a medical college's basement. At the Art Fair, fortunately, I heeded the organisers' advice and took the metro, and watched with glee the Mercs and limos in which the VIPs were arriving, getting bogged down in traffic. Going by the crowds on the Press and VIP preview day, I can tell you that Delhi has more important personages than ordinary people.
And at JLF, as someone remarked, “It was kumbh mela with clothes on”. Well, the Art Fair was a kumbh mela with designer clothes on.
Speaking of kumbh melas, it's amazing how every other Facebook friend of mine has been to the mother of all fairs — even those who I thought were well removed from religion and more at home in westernised pubs, have pictures of themselves at the Holy Ganges.
Obviously, it seems a safe bet to say that more and more people are rushing off for outings, weekend breaks, parties, book launches, craft melas, sports events, even neighbourhood satsangs, all so that they can take pictures of themselves in zany poses to be uploaded immediately onto social networking sites. Last year, at the one IPL league match I attended — I had my head turned away from the pitch most of the time, watching the antics of the crowd rather than the cricket — so funny was it to watch people with painted faces busy taking pictures of each other. Been there, seen that, done it is today's new motto.
And, let me confess, it's pretty hard not to succumb to this new temptation. Returning from a walk in Old Delhi, I found myself posting pictures of it, within minutes of getting near a computer. Ditto from a bird walk. I would have posted pics of myself at the Sabri Brothers do, but work pressures prevented me from doing so.
Given this growing cult of online exhibitionism, event organisers should perhaps start doubling their expectations of how many people will attend a show. Let's start building event grounds that can hold at least 5 lakh people and start putting them outside the cities far away. Then build a metro rail to it.
But seriously, folks, what's it with us? I can understand wanting to attend an event for the thrill of watching something first time or the sheer joy of watching a sporting action live, but why are we boasting about it?