Kolkata Revolutionary Hash House Harriers KRH3
The Kolkata Revolutionary Hash House Harriers is a hash which meets every alternate Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.Hashers meet for an hour of running/walking followed by a circle, plenty of beer, chips and if the occasion arises, cake, food and fellowship.
Hashers are typically other expats living in Kolkata, Indian professionals and executives with a lot of overlapping of members also in the Sunday Hash Group.
With Kolkata been given the honour of hosting the first ever eastern Nash Hash at Puri Dec 3-5th 2004, we need to reach out to get more hashers to join us. The Hash Groups in Delhi, Chennai (both places have more than 1 hash group meeting on different days of the week) have definitely more members than Calcutta, but we were successful in pitching to organize the Nash Hash in the East and creating enough enthusiasm across the country and amongst our neighbours like Bangladesh and Malaysia to hope for around 150 participants.
Here’s a write up I picked up from the http://www.gthhh.com THE WORLD HASH HOUSE HARRIERS HOME PAGE
which explains the Hash Spirit and could be forwarded to our friends who want to join.
Basically a hash consists of three main parts:
The Run (aka Trail)
One or two hashers, called the hare(s), lay a trail. They mark their trail with chalk arrows, shredded paper, flour, or pieces of toilet paper hanging in the bush, depending on local tradition or terrain. They might pre-lay the trail a day or a few hours before the hash, or they might lay the trail as "live hares," running ahead of the pack with only a short (15 minutes is typical) head start. At a given signal, the rest of the hash (the Harriers, Harriettes, hounds, or pack) set off in pursuit of the trail. The idea is to keep the pack somewhat together and this is achieved by setting false trails, cunning checks, and sneaky loops. The fitter front runners will often run twice as far as the more slothful members yet still finish the run at the same time as the rest of the pack. The length and difficulty of the run depends on the hare and the terrain but will typically be between four and eight kilometers, or about 45 minutes to an hour of running/walking with checks, false trails, and shortcutting.
The Circle (aka Religion)
At trail's end hashers gather to drink beer and observe religious ceremonies . . . which consist of drinking more beer, this time ritualistically. Circles may be led by the hash Grandmaster, the Religious Adviser, or by a committee of mismanagement. Traditions (and the degree of rowdiness) vary from hash to hash, but in general the Circle consists of awarding "Down-Downs" for misdemeanors real, imagined, or blatantly made up, and the recipients will most likely have been charged by their fellow hashers for use of mobiles during the run or smoking... Visitors are always given a Visitors Down-Down as are Virgins (first-time hash runners) and anyone else who comes to the attention of the Circle. The Circle can last a couple of minutes or half the night depending on the level of religious fervor of the hash. With changing times, drinking has lost some of its importance and most clubs now modify their ceremonies to cater to non-drinkers and those stupid enough to think that hashing can improve their health.
The On-On (aka On-On-On, On-Afters, or Après)
Some hashes suspend ceremonies for awhile to consume food provided by the hare(s). Other hashes, at the conclusion of the Circle, repair to a nearby restaurant or pub. This is the social part of the hash, and the party usually breaks up afterward. In some hashes, however, religion may continue during or after On-Ons, with the telling of jokes and singing of songs, and all members, visitors, and virgins should come armed with at least one joke or song lest they be called upon.
Regardless of the style of the hash, all is in good fun and this "drinking club with a running problem" welcomes all with a sense of humor. Hashing has created a fraternity that knows no geographical bounds of hospitality. The only prerequisite to hashing is a sense of humor, as running and athletic ability usually take a back seat to the social aspects of the sport. As reportedly coined by Hong Kong hasher Phil Kirkland and stated in hash flyers frequently: "If you've half a mind to join the hash, that's all you need!"
Hashing also knows no age boundaries, with family hashes and horrors or children's hashes, as well as members from all ages in the regular hashes. The only main difference between groups is their emphasis on the sporting versus social aspects of hashing. All of the hashes end with a bit of fraternity business at the On-In or finish point. The Down-Down celebrates new runners, various landmarks in the careers of hashers, hash names or handles for the hashers, and assorted other reasons to drink beer or their favorite beverage. Most hashes also add bawdy song to the festivities and there are special event runs that may end in a feast and a party as well. Interhashes, or gatherings of several hashes for a special event, occur at frequent intervals worldwide. There are national and regional interhashes, as well as a world event simply labeled Interhash. (A complete calendar of these events can be found in the Global Trash Future Tortures section of the magazine or The Worldwide HHH Home Page.)
The important thing is that we are all Hashers sharing an experience like no other, and in the sharing, we are all enriched with... The Hashing Spirit.
For further queries to join the Saturday Hash write to me at the Kolkata Revolutionary Hash House Harriers kr_h3@yahoo.co.in
You will automatically be put on our mailing list and receive news of the next run and a write up of the previous one. There is no membership fee only hash cash of Rs.100 per run from regulars and visitors alike.
Late cummer Neela 9830014934
A list of those Mismanaging the KRH3
Role Hash Handle Name
Grand Master Duck Suck Carl Fowler
Religious Advisor Sexy Legs Chiru Sur
Hash Cash/Drey-beer n drinks in the circle Hissin' Sid Siddique Cowper
Hash Flash Debaroop Sen
Hash Scribe Late Cummer Neela Majumdar
posted by Calcutta Hash Walks @ 4:50 pm
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