People from the era ( that was the 1970’s ) would recall that peppy tune from immensely popular Rock Hudson movie “Come September” which went on to become a must (and mast ) number for all the band-walas to which the inebriated baratis would do their own version of the rock and roll ! Well, September used to be the happy autumn time back in 70s, till global warming hit us and the month lost its sheen.
Since long the mantle of the coolest and most happening month has fallen on December, not only for its festive ‘Yuletide’ spirit but for being the favourite and auspicious season for ‘shaadis’ & their related festivities and the chance to get adorned in three-piece suits, galabands and sherwanis on many celebratory functions that always get scheduled. It’s much easier talking about men’s sartorial preferences than of the elegant lady’s ‘haute couture’ that’s daunting for men to venture into because of their range, styles & designs.
With multifarious invites to parties, meets & get-togethers that start floating in family, social circles, it’s also the time when the foreign based relatives and friends visit India. There’s acute pressure on working folks to be omnipresent & to partake in all the listed festivities. Wedding planners & program organizers therefore often face dilemma of last minute drop outs sending the set arrangements into disarray, but it’s all acceptable.
Yet everyone wants to be part of the early part of December for the start of chilly nights and nippy mornings as one waits for the sun to gently smile on them ! Sporting colourful pullovers, jackets, ties, scarves and caps people briskly go about their lives despite the grim global/local events that may unfold. However, in the North, December ends with a somber note – intense cold, heavy fog and trains and flights getting delayed/cancelled !
December has been generally found to be a very productive month in many ways and I can count five birthdays & four anniversaries in my extended family. Also December has had its contradictions being the birth-month of super-greats Shakespeare and Einstein and down to superstar, Salman (facing security problems of late) it’s been sublime to the ridiculous ! Though, I am humbled that I share my birth date with the icons like Brad Pitt & Steven Spielberg and my birth-month with the living legends, Dharmendra Paji and ‘Thalaivar’ Rajnikant ! I’m sure we now have some December born IPL heroes too !
How fast has the year (2024) flown past is what most of us say every year end. That said, 2025 will be better is what we hope for and wish ‘HNY’. Till then let’s enjoy December !
Working on Living 