Sunday, September 14, 2008

Of Ganpati and Sean Paul

So its Visarjan day today. My colony Ganpati moves along at snail's pace. I am a passive bystander at the edge of the road. I see two trucks. The one ahead has a self proclaimed DJ, and atleast four speakers, each at least 8 feet tall. There're around 200 people behind this truck. Predominantly youth, but not without the ocassional beer bellied uncle here, or the fat bottomed aunty there. 

The DJ churns out music loud enough to drive you crazy. And all these 200 people begin dancing. Traffic is obstructed. Cars honking, traffic police screaming at the top of their lungs, and the DJ changing the music on a whim. Some real popular Bollywood numbers. Then comes a different beat. 'Temperature' is the song. Sean Paul's words of wisdom follow, and the crowd does a loud 'Woooooooooo' to show their appreciation for the DJ and his choice.

 Anyway, for all the colony to hear, Sean Paul raps

Five million and forty naughty shorty...
Baby girl...all my girls, all my girls...Sean de Paul say

Well woman the way they time cool I wanna be keepin' you warm
I got the right temperature for shelter you from the storm
oh lord, gal I got the right tactics to turn you on, and girl I...
Wanna be the Papa...You can be the Mom....oh oh!


Not less than five feet behind all this, the second truck trundles along. A few disgruntled old men, and little kids too young to know what 'turn you on' means, trail along behind it, and above all of this, Lord Ganesha towers in all his benign and magnanimous  glory. I detect a satiric smile on his face. I can't help but feel amused.  Meanwhile, Sean Paul gives way to Eminem now, and the ardent devotees dance on into the night.