Another night out

25 July

A large number of us went out to a club last night. Dj Sanj was playing and rumors promised that he would play bhangra and other Indian music. We were not let down in this regard, as he played to the desires of the crowd. Much like club going in America and England, we got ready then gathered in a hotel room and preceded to booze it up. As one person put it, it really sucks to stand in line sober. In reality, the heat and humidity here guarantees that whatever alcohol you put in your system is sweated out while you’re standing in line.

I almost didn’t make it inside the club. I had paid my Rs.500 ($11.50) and had my wrist stamped with the word INVINCIBLE when the burly bouncer patting me down felt my kirpan (Sikh religious dagger). At once he denied me entry and rightly so, many confuse the kirpan as a weapon. To come to my defense, it wasn’t as if I was just some white boy wearing a kirpan. I was representing a form of traditional Punjabi-Sikh identity, replete with a neatly tied navy blue turban and a full-length white kurta. I protested my case to the bouncer commenting that a Sikh’s kirpan is not to be removed to fit the desire of others.

I continued, inquiring if amritdharis (Baptized Sikhs forbidden to part with their kirpan) were also banned from entering the club. Still denied entry, I lifted my voice and said that the kirpan, like the turban, is a gift from the Guru. It was here that I saw some sympathy flash in his eyes. An older man with his beard tied and a baseball cap covering a bandana, covering his hair, (i.e. a Sikh) moved next to me and spoke up. He argued for me, stating that I was Khalsa (another term for amritdhari). To be historically correct, Guru Gobind Singh declared that all of his Sikhs were the Khalsa.

The bouncer let me in. Once inside, the older man stopped me and shook my hand, commenting that he was proud I was sporting my Sikh identity and not backing down when questioned. He said that too many youth in Punjab today are not wearing turbans and shave their beards – fashion rather than tradition leading their lives. I really enjoy tying a turban; I take great pride in completing my attire with it. Besides, if women can accessorize with a handbag and heels, why can’t men sport a colorful turban.

We danced up a storm and had plenty of energy after the club had closed; too much in fact. Outside the club, we were told by a police officer, wielding a lathi (wooden club), to stop making so much noise. We had been singing and dancing in a circle, practicing songs we had been learning all week from a traditional singer and dholi (drummer). The young Punjabis around us enjoyed our presentation, too bad Mr. Grumpy Pants in his silly khaki beret didn’t.