seed #344
The day was an important day. The Magjus had a mushaira to attend and whenever the Magjus had a mushaira they did not sleep, nor did they let the town of magajpuri sleep.
The Magjus may come across as the imp beelzebubs tail itself, but you are but helpless in front of their baby like innocence and dyslexia. You know better than to be angry at man who fails to open a simple door.
For the Magjus nothing is more serious than poetry and poetry does not get more serious than a mushaira.
Preparation for every mushaira starts 3 mondays before, with early morning prayer to Mahadev Maha Magju shiv shambho. This is important as it sets the tone of the next three weeks till they reach the mushaira.
Very few mushairas can afford to call the Magjus. They were inexpensive but their innocence was not so. Of the few times when they do get a call, the serious business becomes all the more serious.
Week one:
As soon as the letter of invitation is received in the magaj darbar, the town is lit up with the brightest jugnus of cosmos.
The morning prayer three Monday prior is more serious of all rituals. The ritual was they used to take their set for the mushaira to recite to Mahadev Maha Magju Shiv Shambho and nag him for his inputs. No surprises there for the Magjus were prolific naggers when it came to poetry. The town knew about it and rejoiced in their innocence. What they did not know was that Mahadev too looked forward to having the Magjus and dance to some poetry wreck Tango Tandav. It was their poetry that was the reason behind the inception of tango tandav. But that’s a different story.
This prayer ritual used to set the tone of the rest of the preparation of the mushaira. After the prayer, the Magjus used to sit down to get the rest of the things in order.
Sherwani had to be decided and the pillow and the pillow bearer too. The house also needed to be brought in order so that everything can be managed in their absence. They started with writing leave of absence to various important government and critical literary agencies. then moved to call on the official Barber to come in urgency. Magjus had three official barbers, led by babban the barber, who used to come twice a day to keep the Magju moustaches prim and proper till the mushaira was over. The official barbers sometimes also get to accompany the Magjus to the very stage of the mushaira ,if mushaira is of much importance.
The Magjus were particular about their rituals and followed it to the book, quite literally. Every mushaira is different just like every breath is a new life. Abhadra Basheer was the man incharge in such an hour. From the colour of the dhotis to the count of feathers in the pillows, Abhadra led the charge with a lot of bhadrata.
Every mushaira meant pillow shopping. The pillow was bought according to the mood of the set, but always big enough that it had to be carried by two people. The shopping of pillows required two days. The pillow had to be tested thoroughly, after all it was a matter of pride.
Week two
Would comprise Yoga and massages of celestial oil. Some could very well say that the Magjus were very much like hatt yogis. It was very common to witness them practising auterties of poetries in seershasan. The math was simple. The longer you want to sit in mushaira, the more seershasan you should practise. The sherwani they chose, continues to be ironed all day till teh mushaira, non stop. There cannot be no crease! The flower vendor is finalised.
Week 3
Multiple sherwanis continue to be ironed till the very last minute. The sherwani which survived was worn by the Magjus.
The luggage was packed with everything that magju might need on their journey of life. From peacock feather to 50 change of jobbass a day for the next three months.
Magjus always carried with them a pigeon. This was to send letters, but the pigeon had grown too fat out admiration and poetry of the Magjus and could no longer fly letters
Magjus prefer to travel by the train. People have no choice but to listen to them. For you cannot fight and win with those puppy poetic eyes. This was often a problem area. For the Magjus have been banned at various stations. Precisely for the fact that mushairas make them a little overly excited. whenever the ticket checker inquires for the ticket, they grab the poor fellow and recite poetry. The same is done with the coolie, the cab person, the co passengers. It was abhadra’s duty to find an cordial station. This was one of the examples what was meant by people when they used to say ‘ bhago bhago magju aajayega”, people would often like not to cross path with the Magjus.
**Mushaira is a poetic symposium. It is an event where poets gather to perform their
Magaj INC 