Prom, short for promenade is a social gathering that marks the end of a particular academic year. Initially started off as a formal affair in the US and Canada, this has been now been widely acknowledged as the night that most school seniors lose their virginity, if they haven’t lost it already.
A night of uninhibited carnal exploration, prom night is the first step that earmarks one’s babysteps into a hedonistic society, as the entire American Pie series and other such movies would have us believe.
Now, while reading through this post on India Uncut, it suddenly struck me that we have our own version of prom night.
In fact, so much so, that is isn’t so much as a single night, but nine nights consecutively. Yes, I am referring to Navratri. And, whoever in the entire frigging nation that wants to, can go ahead and celebrate it.
Instances of unmitigated debauchery have been reported for ages now, and in an atmosphere where members of the opposite sex can mingle the way they do during Navratri, it is hardly surprising that such a thing occurs. While Valentine’s Day and other so-called western influenced celebrations can be curtailed swiftly by the unforgiving hand of our self-appointed moral police, it would be sacrelige to prevent Navratri festivities from going on, and it is this lack of control over proceedings that makes this festival our answer to Prom night.
In fact, the creators of ‘American Desi’ were clever enough to include a Ras / Dandiya / Garba thing in their climax, since brown people don’t have prom night.
Who needs prom night anyway?
