Blasphemy, Books & Boredom

This blog post is forced. The books bought this evening are forced. Infact everything that transpired this evening has been forced.

I've been forced to sit at home, thanks to the teeming millions who've taken over the arterial roads of this great city - it's the second day of the Ganpati festival and to the uninitiated what it basically means is that the entire length along the rather grubby coastline of Mumbai will be full of people who are out there immersing the 'elephant God'. Chaos is certain. This happens all thru the 10 day fest, with people deciding to end their responsibility towards the God on various days, the 10th day, of course, is when insanity takes over in totality.

I'm not particularly a religious person. Ok, lemme be honest. I'm just not religious.
And no, I don't understand the need of a billion people to advertise their religious beliefs to the rest of the billion.
I don't understand why everything should come to a grinding halt because the 'masses' choose to inebriate themselves silly on their opium.

And if I am to be as belligerent in my 'dis'belief as they are of their belief, then I should say I refuse to understand too.

This diatribe will continue as I brave thru this festival...

For now, I've decided to be inspired by my latest purchase 'The World's Most Dangerous Places' by Robert Young Pelton (http://www.comebackalive.com/) and team up with my partner-in-crime (and out of it), Mukul Chaddha - to embark on a most delightful mission - Mumbai's Most Entertaining Places (featuring Ashish Jagtiani aka Jaggu).

Watch this space.