No Irish lakes for me...

Went for a talk in IHC (India Habitat Centre for the non Delhites). It had the intriguing title, Early Irish Mythology and India. Since I wasn't aware of any Indian connections with ancient Ireland, here was an opportunity to learn. Reached the place a bit late but found nothing going on. Some Indians and presumably Irish folks were wandering around in their evening best. The talk started over an hour late. Apparently the Irish believe in IST too - Irish Standard Time.

Anyhow, sat through some random intro speeches including this really hilarious guy called Dr.K. He was to introduce the main speaker. It was so funny I actually noted stuff down. His gems,

.....rebuilding the mammaries of the existence of ancient peoples. [That was memories if you haven't got it yet.]

Then he went on about the main speaker's interest in antiquities,

"As an Indian, I can appreciate his interest in antiquities". [As if Indians have a patent on appreciating antiquities.]

After we (colleagues and I) derived much enjoyment from these words of wisdom, the main guy with an unpronounceable Irish name (and they say South Indian names are complicated!) started talking. Apparently the names of the father and mother gods in Irish and Indian mythology is very similar. Unfortunately I didn't catch the names due to his lovely accent. After that there was no Indian connection. He just rambled on about the Celts who had some bizarre myths. No Indian angle at all. So we got bored (no visuals for us lesser non anthropology creatures) and left rudely half way through the talk. I did hear a lovely myth which I just have to share:

This is straight out of Indian movies (ah that is the connection!) with a couple on the run from the guy's father who is a god of something or the other. The pair are in spot of trouble so the girl's father gives them this wondrous magical horse. The only catch (of course there is one!) is that the hero can't let the horse stop or urinate. If either of this happened all would be lost. Imagine the fate of these star crossed lovers being dependent on a horse not peeing.

Of course, the horse stopped AND peed. And this formed a spring from which arose a lake. This is the origin story for Ireland's largest lake apparently. As for the lovers, all was not lost. The girl's dad gave them another horse. Didn't find out if this is a loop story with endlessly repeating elements. Hopefully not for I wouldn't be able to go into any lake in Ireland then!