• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

www.assamtribune.com ● GUWAHATI ● JUNE 12, 2011 MY SPACE FICTION THIRD EYE Confessions of a teenage A room of green darkness-II A crusade with conscience wedding guest suited to the age of the child. and homemaking skills are considered an important part of a child's The nearby craft shops were full of Halloween decorations. Be- upbringing. German is spoken in the home, though English is also ing a Sunday, most were closed. I went inside the only one open. taught in school. Prior to baptism, Amish teenagers are encour- An amazing collection of sewn crafts in the form of cushion covers, aged to sample life in the outside world, in a period referred to as patchwork quilts, potholders, dainty tea cosies, table clothes, ker- Rumspringa, Pennsylvania German for “running around.” They chiefs, scarves and hats along with exquisite pottery, ceramics and are still bound by the beliefs and rules of their parents, but a certain woodwork filled up the shop, all tastefully arranged, with an old amount of experimentation is permitted or overlooked. Rumsprin- world charm. Just a visit was enough to conclude that the Amish ga ends when the youth requests baptism into the church or choos- are gifted craftsmen. I was told by an accompanying visitor that es to permanently leave Amish society. Most choose to remain they are excellent carpenters too, often building their own homes. Amish. Rebecca's elder son has only recently returned to the fold. I I climbed up the wooden stairs, to the furniture section. The latent listen with rapt interest … Rebecca was also looking forward to her interior designer in me was spoilt for choice, such was the spread daughter's wedding after the final autumn harvest. She knew I was before me, picnic tables, sheds, gazebos... but alas, I could only curious enough to know a bit about Amish weddings and added admire them, much as I would have loved to adorn my home with that they are simple, joyous events that involve the entire communi- a few of these delightful pieces! My sister-in-law picked up a lovely ty. Weddings are held in November, or at the very latest in early mantelpiece for her fireplace. Did the next best I could, picked up a December. That's after the busy fall harvesting season is over. Wed- few ceramic showpieces, mementoes for close ones. dings are held on Tuesdays or Thursdays – the least busy days of the The Amish lady manning the centre was reserved like most week on an Amish farm. Rebecca expects around 200 guests, others of her community. She smiled as our eyes met. I heard her while I jokingly invite myself to the wedding. And the wedding politely refusing to be photographed when asked by a group of menu? Rebecca plans a delicious dinner of chicken, mashed pota- visitors. I was cautious, having been warned about their reluctance toes, gravy, ham, relishes, canned fruit and varieties of cookies, cakes and pies for the guests. Wedding preparations have started; the bride's wedding dress was ready, stitched by the bride to be was another Alice in this Wonderland; only the illusive rabbit In the heart of herself! I was full of admiration for this community, their self reli- I was to follow was missing. It was a beautiful drive across ance. Denver's “Virginia” as we passed by the Blue Ridge Moun- America, a close knit About tourists disturbing the Amish, she said that though they tains and the Shenandoah National Park. The drive started want nothing more than to be simply left alone, the Amish have early and with Mozart and flute music of the Incas as the community lives in a accepted the influx of tourism as something they cannot change. Ibackdrop, sweet slumber soon took over…. The clip, clop rhythm So far as their lifestyle, tourists have not changed them, concluded of pony carts moving at a uniform pace woke me up. It was near world ruled by Rebecca. She excused herself, even as some more visitors entered noon and I found myself in a place, a blend between Blyton's the store. Thanking her profusely for sparing her valuable time, for countryside with meadows, dales and cattle grazing and an en- quaint tradition, all that she shared, I moved out to join the others. Outside was a chanting fairy tale village, entry to which would have been through lovely autumn weather with falling red yellow leaves carpeting the some magical opening in a tree trunk. Everything about the place writes Bhaswati K ground. was surreal. Quaint lace curtained cottages with colourful little flow- Our next destination, the Kitchen Kettle village was a gastron- er beds and cobbled paths dotted the area, horse drawn carriages Goswami. omist's delight, as it were. There were tourists aplenty, going by clip clopped along picturesque country roads, inside sat elegant the numbers of cars parked in the parking lot. At the centre of the ladies in bonnets and bearded gentlemen in hats, all with sombre village was a huge oak tree around which was a flurry of activities. expressions, eyes observant of the surroundings. It was as if time Single cottages and cute two-storied buildings surrounded the has stood still here, even as the world moved on… or did we step area. There were benches for people to sit down and relax. A into a time machine? lovely aroma of bakes, cakes and cinnamon pervaded the air. The Some experiences remain vivid in the mind, unchanged by the Amish are excellent cooks and bakers. Their baked goods are to vagaries of time. The visit to Amish country, Pennsylvania would In a time warp die for, pies, cakes, pastries, cream puffs. We tried out jams, surely be one such trip for me. This was New England at its best – rather – is the strong stench of manure from the adjoining country- at being photographed, by my relation. While making my purchas- preserves and cheese in the food stalls – everywhere there were with autumn fall colours in full glory- blazing reds, mellow yellows, side farm. This was so as the Amish practice organic farming and es, I politely asked the lady, who introduced herself as Rebecca, a bit bowls of crackers and samples of preserves and jams. We picked earthy browns and various hues of green in the foliage and trees- do not believe in chemical fertilisers, but more on that later. The about their culture. She seemed forthcoming, as long as I took no up a few bottles of preserves to carry back home. In each stall, maples, birch and oaks. Halloween was round the corner, decorat- wooden floored, ivy covered wine store looked inviting and we photographs, which I assured her of promptly and as we moved to Amish men and women meticulously went about their work with ed pumpkins lined the paths and the homes. The festive mood was stepped in. A warm smile from the Morgan Freeman lookalike store one corner of the store to talk, another woman dutifully replaced clockwork precision – chopping, cooking, baking, cleaning, wash- palpable and the surroundings picture perfect. I had read an article manager raised our spirits, literally! The wine samples with neat her at the counter. ing – even huge utensils. Nothing was mechanised, everything on the Amish community a few years ago, seen bits of Amish life in pieces of exotic cheeses were tasted one by one, at leisure. Wine in Rebecca was soft-spoken. What I had found striking was the hand made. movies and TV shows, arousing my fascination about this commu- different flavours, some new, most vintage, elegant goblets, glasses, uniform Amish dress code. All around in shops, the farms, the roads, We picked up sandwiches, croissants, cinnamon flavoured pret- nity and their unique lifestyle. The trip to neighbouring Maryland decanters and beautiful functional wine racks lined the store. We people, including small children, were attired in a similar manner. On zels and big mugs of coffee to wash them down with, sat down on and Virginia provided just that opportunity to see an Amish village picked up a few bottles of wine and a couple of wooden wine racks this, Rebecca said that Amish women typically wear dark -coloured the nearby benches and made the most of the ambience. An elderly in Pennsylvania, first hand. and bid adieu to “Freeman”, who asked us to visit again. dresses with long sleeves and a full skirt such as the one she was duo was entertaining the gathering with beautiful country music; The Amish in America are an old religious sect, direct descend- While entering the Amish area, what struck me was the neat row wearing, covered with a cape and an apron. The Amish make their the atmosphere, one of joy and bonhomie. Joined in and sang ants of the Anabaptists of sixteenth century Europe who challenged of clotheslines in each home. This was probably the only place in own clothes. The lady of the house generally sews the clothes for along while they were singing a favourite, Tom Jones' Green, the reforms of Martin Luther and others during the Protestant the US where each house had one, reminding me of back home. herself and her family. They never cut their hair, and wear it in a braid green grass of home. Soon there were people swaying and danc- Reformation, rejecting infant baptism in favour of baptism (or re- The Amish are averse to any technology, which they feel weakens or bun on the back of the head, concealed with a small white cap or ing to the soft country music, the love songs making couples sway baptism) as believing adults.

Load more

  1

Copy Link