#Stay @home, once again

 Dear Reader

It's once again that time of the Pandemic-the second wave of COVID-19 and/or its mutated form. India is struggling with it like different countries have already done or still struggling with it. The struggles here in India are mainly due to the vast population. The challenges to the government and the medical fraternity to supply required medicine are tall. The situation becomes even more complicated when superstitions and overconfidence set the tone for the second wave.

  With strong opposition (understandably) from all quarters against a lockdown, the opening of shops and construction work will hopefully sustain the unskilled labourers and the migrant workers in metropolitan cities. And it is only to this extent and no further, sadly. 

  Hotels, restaurants and a home-delivery system are intact in this semi-lockdown situation. This ensures some relief and convenience to individuals away from their homes. The risk, however, can't be ruled out. 

    With all these challenges, the situation is still doable-- with some willingness to follow stipulations of hygiene, respecting social distance and forgetting various forms of socialising. And most important, do undergo a COVID-19 test if you have the slightest, faintest doubt that you may have been infected. I hope we have understood that it is no shame to be tested and found positive for COVID-19. It is simpler to take care of oneself. Prevention is always better than cure!!  

   I would like to share some observations that can help to remain calm in the face of the pandemic. Here are some stipulations we are required to follow:

 1. Dear Indians, please, it is time to spend on masks, sanitisers/handwash, and forget being economical (a.k.a stingy)😁And that means we can't use a handkerchief or the dupatta or the end of the sari as the face mask. If, for emergency purposes or if your work requires you to go to your place of work, wear masks. If needed, wear a face shield proudly. It has no curative value but it does provide minimal safety. 

2. It is time to revisit the Great Indian Familly 😜 Indian families are organised, function and uniquely relate with their members. The family meeting--the ceremonial meeting of the innumerable 'first' cousins, aunts and uncles, is part of family bonding's epistemology. Today, it is central to guard our health if we want to keep our family safe and healthy. So, it is time to rewrite the family vows differently i.e. keep social distance and find newer, funnier modes of keeping in touch with all. It is the era of social networking. So, come up with innovative ways of keeping in touch. And enjoy some privacy. It is not a sin and not to be shunned (at all, if you ask me personally-it is most desirable; it is an opportunity you gift yourself to be innovative and creative; it is self-indulgence of the simplest kind to pay attention to what YOU want) and it is the time you have earned for yourself to discover yourself and your interests and indulge yourself thoroughly😍 

3. Please learn to listen to your body and preserve its good health. India is the land of spices and Ayurveda. So, we love to believe there is a home remedy for all and any problem. But it is essential to exercise caution. Please be careful when using home remedies. Whether it is turmeric, tulsi, pepper, or ginger, our body is not used to a routine consumption of these spices with medicinal qualities or in more than recommended quantities. I remember my mother and aunts used to tell me to use all these spices while cooking sparingly and in precise measure. So, the fact that they are used in everyday cooking doesn't mean that we consume them inordinately and hope to gain immunity. It is imperative to comprehend that these spices have medicinal qualities. If we take any of these ingredients in large quantities, it must be done under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Though not fatal, it can harm health. 

   Sincerely hope and wish for good health for all of you and speedy recovery of those who have tested positive🙏 

Dear Reader, if you have any precaution/s or a tip for well-being please do share👇 and if you are happy to read this blog, do hit the follow button 👉 and if you want,  share this blog with your friends and like-minded readers.

 Please share your comments at rekhadatta02@gmail.com or message me @rekhadatta1 on Instagram. I shall send the links to you personally. Thanks for your patience.

 

Finally, Cloth and Costumes

 Dear Reader

This is the final one of the series on Cloth. Costumes come much later in the history of clothing. In fact, it is a matter of national pride and identity. Don't agree? Remember all the controversy Priyanka Chopra's short skirt created when she met the Indian Prime Minister Mr Modi? Some people felt outraged about how could an 'Indian' meet the Prime Minister in a 'costume' other than the 'national costume' of the India-Sari. If this is not enough, remember the troll that Celebrity Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee had to face when he made a statement at Harvard University "...if you don't know how to wear a sari, it's a shame on you. Its a part of your culture and need to stand up for it". Then, many women and writers asked how is it that their mothers who hardly wore a sari were very much Indian? Some pointed to the fact that Sari is not the 'National Costume' and India is proud to have many 'Costumes' that represent the Nation. Sabyasachi wrote an open letter to apologize and retracted his statement. These are the two most recent examples to depict the attachment that people have to the costume. 

      Just as the cloth was directly related to the immediate geographical environment, costume too emerged and is related to this. Though the notion of costume and 'national costume' emerged much later, perhaps as late as the 10th Century AD, the earliest notion of the costume is rooted in Village fares and festivities.  It was during this time that the village drama would be organized, 

      In Greece, it was held in honor of Dionysius and they wore highly stylized masks. There is an interesting tale about theatre and the Sun Goddess in Japan. It is said that once the Sun Goddess was angry with her brother's prank. She hid in a cave and the world was plunged into darkness. The goddess of Dawn began to dance in front of the cave so beautifully that the gods began to cheer her performance. Her performance was wild and powerful; the cheer of the spirits and the gods grew louder and in this process, revealed her breasts. The Sun Goddess peeped curiously to see what was happening outside. She was mesmerized by the performance of the Goddess of Dawn. She stood there to watch it. Since she did not go back into her hiding, the world received all the warmth and light that was requisite. 

  In India, the colourful costumes worn by Classical Dancers and theatre is well known. Kathakali performers of Kerala wear elaborate costumes and masks. Their face is either painted in different bright hues or they wear different masks to denote the character they represent. Green usually represents the heroic; red dots on the green-painted face represent a character with an evil side to him/her; while red is the colour of evil, yellow is the colour for monks and spiritual women like Sita, Draupadi, Mohini, etc. 

    

     The various sketches of faces in Kathakali--image courtesy http://sandeepdesign.blogspot.com

    Thus the history of the costume is intricately woven with the theatre costume. And then, can we be far away from the cinema and Superheros. Marvel Studios have churned famous films centred around superheroes and superwomen just by designing suits for them. Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, Bat Man, Doctor Strange, the despicable Me's.  

    And from here, there is no looking back! There is an entire industry in the show business of costumes. Of course, these 'extravagant' costumes make their presence felt in the cupboards of the common man. There are designer wears that are custom made, there are mass-imitations of it and there is a lot of commerce in it. 

  I wonder in which direction is this relationship between people and clothes headed? Wonder whither!!!

Dear Reader, if you have anything to share in this series on clothes, please 👇 and if you are happy to read this blog, hit the follow button 👉 and if you would want to, share this blog with your friends and like-minded readers. 

Please share your comments at rekhadatta02@gmail.com or message me @rekhadatta1 on Instagram. I shall send the links to you personally. Thanks for your patience.