On Rest, Rejuvenation and the Festive Season
Dear reader,
And just like that, we’re halfway through October and closer than ever to the end of the year. Where I am, the weather is changing slowly, the sun still ruling over us with the iron fist of some medieval emperor. To be very frank with you all, I’ve been swimming in work - and instead of being overwhelmed, I’m trying to let myself get lost in painting for the joy of it. The way time’s been flying, it might as well be Christmas tomorrow.
Still, the end of the year is always a happy time - the heat fades, the Diwali and Christmas decorations come out, and it’s time for rainy days, parties, sweets, soups, mince meat, mulled wine. My sweater collection gets to see the light of day, and nothing makes me happier than that!
A couple of weeks ago, my Instagram was filled with images, wishes, and plenty of delicious food on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturti. The festival always takes me back to Pune, filled with the sound of drums, petals strewn all along the roads and the calm rustling of leaves marking the start of cooler seasons. Focused devotees announcing their faithfulness in technicolour processions, with hundreds and hundreds of Ganeshas. Biodegradable Ganesha, terra cotta Ganeshas, LED Ganeshas with laser eyes, plastic Ganeshas that live forever, acrylic Ganeshas, marble Ganeshas. The women are all in the temples, if you can catch sight of them before they rush home to finish making modaks.
Oh, what modaks they were! This was the time of year all of us university students got a few days off, cheekily piggybacking on our local classmates for authentic Marathi food. It was a flash of sugar, alarming pink and gold sarees, and diyas all over the place.
Here in Bahrain, the start of October marks the events season - which always means work abounds, and time is a rare thing. You may have noticed it’s been quiet here recently - I’ve been spending time hacking away at canvas in the studio, surgically making marks on paper, and of course, teaching.
Here’s what our latest batch of students made:
And here’s something I made, to symbolise a poem written by Darius Abbasi, a fellow member of Bahrain Writers’ Circle:
Recently at the (non BWC related) Writer’s Meet I host, we entered a discussion on regenerative rest: what spiritual gurus mean when they talk about ‘filling your cup’. It could be nights in, reading a book. Or taking time out to play a sport you love. For me, it’s always the pursuit of more knowledge.
Here’s what I’ve been dipping into:
The Hidden Brain: This episode on Escaping Perfectionism hit hard.
Carlos Ghosn: Who doesn’t love a good documentary? Probably a lot of people. Still, this story of his escape and the story of an evasive truth makes for a good weekend watch.
Understanding Fashion: I stumbled across a free Fashion Studies course that offers certification from Paris! Time to don my student hat and take notes.
The New Happy: Man, this newsletter just comes in like a sign from the Universe every week.
Hope you didn’t miss me too much.
Kaav.