July 15 – 17, 2005, Toronto, Canada – A brand new dawn breaks in the middle of the workweek. “It hasn’t even started yet and I already don’t want the weekend to end” said one. “What about New Year’s and where is the Retreat next year?” asked another. These days everything good about YSA is contagious such as its following, its energy, and specially the love. Last year, after a memorable YSA Retreat III in Washington D.C. and an amazing YSA New Year’s Event in South Beach, Miami, organizers and attendees alike wondered how much better it could get. Held in a land known for ice wine and ice hockey, Maple syrup and the Maple Leaf, the answer this year came in the form of romance; it stole the show at YSA Retreat IV !
It started off as any other speech about the grandeur of YSA in front of a sold out crowd during the closing formal banquet. Then he called her to the middle of the dance floor as he continued interjecting sentences in Sindhi. Finally ending with “tu tamam suthi aye”, he left the podium, walked towards her and on bended knee, Nitin Bharti proposed to Harsha Babani, a member of our very own Toronto Host Committee. With the crowd screaming and cheering, and without a dry eye in the room, she said “Yes !” As if having won a championship, the crowd rushed the floor to congratulate the ecstatic couple and seemingly interrupting a deep embrace in a private world all of their own.
They say love conquers all and it seemed to be the case in spite of the staggering and impressive statistics; YSAers from a total of 4 continents, 16 countries, and 75 cities worldwide all interacting as one like the threads that come together to form a live, colourful Bandini. The unofficial start to YSA Retreat IV began Thursday night with a Pre-Retreat Networking Social. Already in town were delegates from London, Spain, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Florida, Gibraltar, Surinam, Hong Kong, Bombay, Kolkata, New York, New Jersey, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Boston, Japan, Connecticut, Vancouver, Saskatchewan, St. Thomas, Texas, Washington D.C., and a few others.
Registration that began Friday morning ran through the late evening with each participant receiving a handsome T-Shirt, a neatly embroidered cap, a keychain, and an elegant color brochure. All checked-in, the night was crisp and clear. It was time for the unveiling: the debut of… Sindhilicious ! YSA’s official lounge and signature cocktail for the weekend. Sindhilicious was everything advertised and then some, the perfect blend of candles, dim lights, contemporary squared furniture, a little mango juice, a splash of lychee liquor, and ambiance!! It was tasty love and the Amazing Sindhi Race was on ! Teams were made of 16 members with the objective of finding pieces to complete a puzzle of the map of Sindh. Upon completion of the puzzle, came a tantalizing scavenger hunt for several items which then led to a winner. All in all a grand opening night filled with never-ending dancing and the start of a sleepless weekend.
“This is your 8:00 A.M. wake up call for Saturday, July 16, 2005.” says the recording. Miraculously and with eyes still shut, a handful of YSAers prop themselves up –like a puppet propped by a ventriloquist- for the first of two morning workouts. Like there wasn’t enough of it throughout the weekend, the agenda this morning was more dancing, Bollywood style. Step one, two, three, four, really translated into sweat more & more, but tons of fun nonetheless.
Wide awake now, it was time to do some serious talking. An array of sessions and discussions followed. Topics included - Sindhi Identity, The Sindhi Language & its survival, Sindhi Power Couples speaking about balancing family, career, and marriage, and finally the long anticipated ‘Sinfully Sindhi’, a candid exchange about the human touch & expectations in our community. These sessions, which ran into the late afternoon, gave YSAers an opportunity to interact and learn about issues that equally affect all regardless of their varied upbringings.
It’s time to party ! “Ladies & gentlemen, please be at the lobby ready to go at 7:00 P.M. SHARP, not 7:00 P.M. SST (Sindhi Standard Time).” exclaims one of the Toronto Host Committee Members. Yellow school buses filled with singing YSAers arrived promptly at “The Docks”, one of Toronto’s main attraction. An entertainment complex consisting of outdoor and indoor restaurants, night clubs, and lounges, the Docks overlook the harbour and the Toronto Skyline with its shimmering lights. YSAers roamed the various venues and jammed to the nightlife, T-DOT style. While returning to the hotel, songs were still on their lips. The thirst had yet to be quenched. More had to be had. The congregation took over the lobby and a conceded hotel ballroom to build on newly formed friendships.
The last day brings another early morning workout session but all in Sindhi this time and along an imaginary Sindhu River. Not only an invigorating workout for the mind, body and soul but it also sharpened our Sindhi speaking skills. In a familar format from the previous day, brunch was next on the menu along with a silent auction of items including a Sindhi Topi, a designer tie, a hand painted portrait of Ganesh, and much more. All proceeds collected from the auctions benefited the newly built GurMandir, the pride and joy of S.C.A.T. (Sindhi Cultural Association of Toronto).
So, on they hopped to those familiar yellow school buses for a field trip to this historic GurMandir. YSAers got a tour and an inside look at how this dream became a reality. It was a tribute to the perseverance of the Sindhi Spirit and in the middle of it all lies a beautiful statue of Jhulelal. Then came the sweetest sensation of it all, a live cooking demonstration and an explanation of the significance of Kanao Parshad. We watched as the aroma hypnotized us and watered our mouths. Finally, standing in line with our open right palm over our left one, the time had come to savour our blessings. It was beyond description; it was warm and yummy just like mummy makes it; it was sweet and complete as nectar being fed directly from the hands of the Goddesses ! Following this delightful sensation, was a dialogue between YSAers and parents in an attempt to bridge the generation gap.
Back to the hotel for a brief break before the closing formal banquet. But there was a feeling in the air, a feeling of incredulousness, sadness, that it was all coming to an end. Nevermind those thoughts, decorations have to be completed ! Bandini has to be tied, candles have to be lit, and clothes have to be ironed.
As YSAers walked into the room and the final evening, they sensed a special night with a culmination of something bigger than their imaginations could have afforded them. It had finally dawned on them that they were no longer strangers but all of a sudden had become part of the extended YSA Family. Their senses danced with joy at the breathtaking, upholstered, transformation of an ordinary hotel ballroom to a palatial hall filled with majestic, regal, and opulent décor. The tone had been set !
The opening of the closing banquet brought acknowledgements and the singing of the Canadian and Sindhi Anthems. The Toronto Host Committee then followed with a smashing dance performance to a popular Hindi hit song that climaxed into a standing ovation. And just when it seemed that the evening had been consummated, that ultimate declaration of love sealed the night ! Memories this writer will never forget along with the finale of jumping high in unison with fellow YSAers to touch the sky and proclaiming at the top of our lungs… ‘ayo Lal JhuleLal !’, ‘ayo Lal JhuleLal !’, louder and stronger ‘AYO LAL JHULELAL !!’, ‘AYO LAL JHULELAL !!!!!’
A clear, bright, sunny, Monday morning arrives. The crowd gathers, says its
extended Sindhi goodbyes, then gradually disperses scraping with it every
ounce, every single scent, every trace of what they had come and fallen head
over heals for, be it now an inexplicable essence of their beings. And even
if they tried or wanted to deny it, leaving it behind was impossible because
it had come to engulf them, to consume them, to overpower them, to be a part
of them. How could they return home with half a self ? The lobby is more like
a ghost town. Nothing there to see anymore, not even memories which were captured
on film and are now prisoners of our hearts. Out from a distance… ‘wait,
when’s the next YSA Event ?! I’ve got to plan now and tell my friends
!’ The response is standard. ‘Check the website www.YoungSindhiAdults.org’
The sun no longer rises on the British Empire but it shall always rise on
YSA. They did as the theme suggested, ‘Be Proud, Be Sindhi, & Celebrate.’
Sabhey chao, Jhuleeeeeeh Laal !
