Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Celebrating Eid in Awadh

The Gomti is overflowing. It's a beautiful sight from above the bridge near Dollygunge.

I don't remember having seen the river flowing at this height in the last twenty years. It was always a stream.

The lush greenery on both sides of the bank catches one's eyes and for a moment it takes you away from the posters and placards of Bahujan Samaj Party that dot the entire landscape.

It's so striking that with every change of regime, the flags of new party eclipse the flags of the losing  party.

Vehicles bear small flags of BSP on the bonnet, as the cops won't stop them. At the gate of Nadwatul Ulama, a huge billboard photographs of Mayawati and Akhilesh Das, greet me. In Aminabad and Hazratganj it's tough to walk due to the crowd ahead of Id.

I haven't been able to sight the moon yet, though one can perhaps sight many moons on the streets of Lucknow. It is cloudy today. Chaand will not be visible today, I feel.

Though Maulanas are out on the roofs, armed with their binoculars, to spot moon, it seems that Idul Fitr will be celebrated on Thursday. I have just bought evening papers and was taking a glance while riding the rickshaw, one of them informs me about the death of MIM leader Sultan Owaisi in Hyderabad.

I am passing by Hanuman Setu. I suddenly remember Lucknow's dearest poet Majaz. The weather is fine due to the drizzle. Have bought a few books from Danish Mahal and Minoo and Dinshaw. Right now I am blogging from a relative's place. Have been unable to blog for a while and that's why it's taking time for comments to appear on this blog.

Though elections are still away, the political temperature is high. BSP nominee from Lucknow constituency Akhish Das is campaigning as if the polls are going to be held tomorrow. Hopefully regular blogging will resume by next week.

Till then, Id Mubarak to all of you.