Someone said, "Without music life would be a mistake", so TRUE!!!

The Festival au désert ("Festival in the Desert") is an annual concert in Mali, showcasing traditional Tuareg music as well as music from around the world. From 2001 until 2009 the festival was held in Essakane but because of security issues, from 2010 the festival has been held on the outskirts of Timbuktu.

This weekend the Mali Fest is going on in San Francisco and the best I feel is that how lucky we are that we get to watch all these people from Mali, who after suffering pain, atrocities yet bring out the happy music of all.

Through music they are fighting their war for peace, equal rights and women empowerment.

Today for the first time I had a chance to see Fatoumata Diawara, who is from Mali – which is known for its musical traditions. Her music, her craziness, her enthralling and powerful views about peace, love and empowerment for women, its so influencing through music. The oneness that music brings around is something so unique that no matter which part of the world you belong, music binds you in one string no matter what color, creed or gender you are. There is one religion, one food for soul and that is MUSIC.

One got to listen to these happy and dancing numbers that Fatou sings while she is playing her guitar. The story of pain and suffering yet coming out strong is such an inspiring one. I was amazed to hear about her today that she was born to Malian parents and despite strong opposition from her parents, she denied an arrange marriage to pursue her artistic ambitions and flew to Paris.

This is where one see, if you got to do it, you got to do it. I am so proud of this woman, who through her music is spreading the love. She says we are blacks, whites, and yellow but inside us the blood is Red. Stop killing and torturing people, lets live with love and peace.

It’s such a heart tearing when she says, your kids must be going to school and study but kids in Mali their education is outside of the book that you read in the school. Many lessons are learned outside of the book and it is so true. We all will agree with one thing that what we studied in school in those books within those four walls is much far from reality and we all learn it in our own way in our unique experiences in life.

I had the opportunity to hug her and convey my best wishes for the task she is doing and that is taking music across the universe and spreading the message of love and peace for humanity.

I think we all should support such music as these people only survive on MUSIC and that too the reason is for a good cause.

To fall and rise like a true dawn!

This was the day when 

The stream of strength

Followed with me to walk

When I was thinking "am alone"!

A journey which I chose

A journey she walked without knowing

The trust brought us together

To fall and rise like a true dawn!

Feeling of togetherness

A time well spent on relation

Which made us best friends

Only to grow together once again!

I know the time will come

To say goodbye in life

But am sure she will carry the relay

Being a living extension of mine!

~ Dawn

Happy Birthday to My Extension ;)

Today is an important day in my life, yes April 17^th, 1999 I was able to deliver a much desired baby girl – Rhea. This day I became ‘VAMA’ – a WOMAN.

I had her name decided even before she was born or rather even before I knew of having a baby girl. Somewhere in my heart, I was very confident about raising a baby girl as supposed to a baby boy.

Naming my kid Rhea – also had a significance which I call as life is full of struggle yet how to make it a success is all up to us. I liked to call my daughter Rhea – which means “Stream” in Hindi – though it has many meanings in other languages. I wanted my daughter to be like that stream which flows smoothly no matter how the path is. Streams they make their way.

This was my first teaching to my daughter, telling her the meaning of her name and why I chose one for her. I still remember the day April 17^th 1999 at 3:00 pm the doctor asked me what would you like – a boy or a girl? And me being cautious said, ‘A healthy baby’. The doctors tried their best to get out of me and when they couldn’t they tried a different question this time – What would you name if the baby is a boy? – I said, I don’t know yet! And what would you name if the baby is a girl? – Rhea 

They laughed out and said, here’s your Rhea and I heard one delicate voice of cry and it brought tears of happiness in my eyes.

That day and now – 15 years is a long way and many more long ways to go but that’s the best thing happened to me. When I thought I am alone in this world, I found an extension of me .

She remained my extension and now I see it turned into a best friend relationship. Previously as a kid till I became VAMA, I used to tell everything to my dairy, now I tell to Rhea. A relationship that we both have built together, irrespective of what came into our life as a change, we didn’t stop there. Today, I feel so proud to say that I do have a best friend, something which I never committed even in school.

When Rhea, comes and discusses her story whether it’s about her teachers, friends in her school or outside, her crushes, her dream to marry Zyan Malik (until he got engaged), the scary stories of pregnant school mates or kids who are being caught for drugs, or even when for the first time she had to dial 911 in school to protect a guy who was being bashed by other outside guys or even her feedback on her dad – I find my daughter is way matured for her age. I am sure life has its own values and learning that educates us and make us wise about a situation. I like the way she thinks and the way she reacts to a situation, makes me a worry free mom – specially to those who always told me wait until they turn 10, or teen  I am happy about my girl – it’s her 15^th birthday but the way she treats me – it feels like I am 15. 

As I wish my kid her 15^th Happy Birthday, I also say THANK YOU Rhea, for walking with me along side by side through the journey that I chose for US.

Your Madre’s advice to you on this day is -  Live the life the way you dream and desire for, never think of what someone else will think. Your happiness is yours and no one knows it better than yourself. Go for it!

~ Dawn

Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life ;)

The weekend had begun in a classical science fiction way on Friday evening with the pure magic of Karsh Kale’s breaking the rules.

Yes, he loves to break the rules and guess what? Music lovers love it more and more as each time he breaks the rule.

I mean one can think of playing certain instrument based on the ragas and jam the session. But Karsh Kale is known for his mucianship who bridges between the time, space and era in one single round. Believe me, you got to experience it for once at least in life time.

I happen to watch him twice by now and last time even though it was an awesome composition and orchestration, the sound system wasn’t that good. This year, he totally turned things ups and down. I mean you got to give that chance to self to mesmerize a moment that is being created just for you.

It was such an auspicious feeling as I just felt am just born now and its long way to go in this feeling to be nurtured forever.

A feeling one cannot put it in words, as something that one can feel is always a feeling that one person explores within. It cannot be the same for the other person as that person will have his/her own version of feelings.

The best part I felt is the drummer and a table and keyboard player – Karsh and his enthralling team (Max ZT on Santoor, Indian classical vocalist – Aditya Prakash, who toured with Ravi Shankar and Alam Khan on Sarode – son of maestro Ali Akbar Khan), when they performed it was ‘zone’ moment where nothing can distract you in life. A moment which kept the audience wondering what will be next and at the end we did get the surprise with the presence of rap singer Mandeep Sethi.

I ended up thinking Karsh is Krazy !!! :D 

Love is my weapon, Music is my religion and Peace is in my soul ;)

~ Dawn