KW 01: 50 years in Germany - A journey of memories: Cologne Carnival

Hello, dear friends!

Today is a very special day for me because I am celebrating my 50th anniversary in Germany. I came here from India half a century ago and built my life in the beautiful city of Cologne and then in Stuttgart and Mannheim.

I would like to share this special milestone with you all and announce something special: Starting this week, every week of 2024, I will share a personal experience or memory from my 50 years in Germany. It will be a mixture of joy, challenges, learning and growth.

I look forward to sharing my stories with you and hope that they will inspire, amuse and perhaps even make you think. I invite you to be part of my journey, which is characterised by two beautiful cultures.

Join me on this journey of memories as I open a new chapter each week. Let's laugh, reflect and celebrate the beauty of life together.

Thank you for being a part of my life. 🙏

Memories of my childhood: Cologne Carnival

Under the hashtag #50YearsInGermany, I reflect on one of my favourite memories in Germany and Cologne. I start with the Cologne Carnival on. This story is not only a journey through time, but also a symbol of the fusion of the cultures of #IndiaGermany.

It was in 1975, one year after our arrival in Cologne in 1974, in April. As a child from India, I had never experienced anything like it. The carnival in Cologne was a festival of colour, music and exuberant joy, similar to the celebrations in my home country, but so different.

I remember my parents and I making our way through the decorated streets, surrounded by people in imaginative costumes. The air was filled with the music of the brass bands and the laughter of the people. My father, Madan Mohan, the usually serious journalist, had put on a funny hat and my mother, Raj Rani, had a big smile on her lips. For a moment, it seemed as if they had forgotten all their worries.

I was particularly fascinated by the large floats depicting scenes from fairy tales and local legends. I stood there, marvelling and clapping as the floats passed us by, each one a work of art in its own right.

But the best thing for me was how we brought our own culture into this celebration. My mum had adapted traditional Indian dresses for us to make them suitable for carnival. We were a colourful mix of our Indian heritage and the new Cologne joie de vivre. Many people smiled at us and some asked curiously about our clothes. It was a moment of pride and belonging.

This day of the Cologne Carnival stands in my memory as a shining example of different cultures living together. It was a day that showed how one can simultaneously honour one's roots and merge into a new world.

This is how I associate the Carnival not only the joy and laughter, but also the deep realisation that life is a wonderful journey, full of new experiences and encounters. This memory of the carnival in Cologne is a treasure in my heart, a part of my # life journey and a precious chapter of my # memories.