Sri Paddy's Day
on Jane in India (India), 12/Apr/2011 17:44, 34 days ago
17th March was St. Patrick's Day and I was determined to spread some Irish cheer in India. I started the day with an Irish coffee with my flatmate Terri (morning coffee tastes so much better when it's Irish), then went off to work, picking up lots of cake on the way. I had informed everyone in the office about the day and was quite impressed to see a good few turn up wearing green! After some searching, I discovered to my dismay that there are no Irish bars in Bhubaneswar...well actually there is one now, but it opened on 19th March (who opens an Irish bar two days after Paddy's Day??!). So, instead we threw a party at my house, complete with Irish playlist and one and a bit Irish people (the bit being my part-Irish Aussie flatmate). We decorated the house and wore green bindis. Quite handy that the Indian and Irish colours are the same, so I found heaps of tacky decorations at the market - beads and banners and glittery stuff they use for decorating the Hindu gods - perfect for our Sri Patrick. The other volunteers and some Indian friends came over for food& drinks. No Guinness or Jameson, but after many Indian whiskeys& thums up, it felt just like any other St. Patrick's Day...kind of! Slainte.Swaha, Basant& me outside the office, in green!Ireland meets India: some decorations on our doorstep