Hair raising experiences from around the world

An impressively-moustachioed cousin recently started his own business. His old employer in Jakarta wished him all the best and threw him a grand send-off party. The theme: Hirsute Pursuit. The dress code: Moustache; the bushier, the better. Come D-day, my cousin’s hitherto clean-shaven Indonesian colleagues did him proud. Handlebars and Dalis twirled around the floor. Fu Manchus were content just letting their hair down but an aggressive (Hitleresque) Toothbrush and Pencil bearded each other at the bar. Finally, it was the Walrus which ruled, but only by a hair’s breath, and after combating bristling competition from Mr Mutton Chops.

The face fuzz on display was so impressive that all the merry-makers could have immediately signed up for the ‘World Beard and Moustache Championships’ coming up in 2013 — if only the judges there didn’t split hairs and insist on tugging at the moustaches to check for authenticity. The beard and moustache contest began life in Europe in the 1990s but has since — as the name explains — moved around the world. In the middle, the US sprouted up and threatened to become the world’s new facial hair superpower.

But the Germans moved in quickly and clipped the American growth — by decisively capturing 16 world championship titles out of 18 at the 2011 outing.

Unfortunately, for my cousin’s newly moustachioed friends, fulfilling all the championship’s grizzly requirements can be a hair-raising experience. So they may not be able to qualify out there. But they can fall back on ‘Movember’, the moustache-honouring contest that runs every November. Begun in Australia in 2003, the event has since spread around the world, and helps to fund prostate and testicular cancer research. History doesn’t count at this event. The ‘Mo Bros’ begin Movember 1st clean shaven and spend the rest of the month grooming, trimming and waxing their way into the museums of moustachery. And then they go out to raise money for their Mo-growing efforts.

This year, the Americans are offering a new platform to anyone looking to celebrate a hairy upper lip.

Portland in Maine, US, is playing host to the first-ever international moustache film festival on March 30. Anyone who can put together a short film (of eight minutes or less) with a storyline that involves moustaches or has a moustachioed protagonist can apply. Entries are being accepted from all over the world and, apparently, there are already submissions from as far away as Norway.

The fun is in the participating. The creator of the best film will receive only a hundred dollars. But special trophies will also be handed over for Best ‘stache growth story, Best ‘stache shaving story, Best moustache death relationship story, Best fake-moustache movie, and Best collection of moustaches in one film. The event organisers say the festival may start with just a small sprout but has the potential to become a big, eye-tickling affair. Admission to the festival is free for those who arrive with the appropriate accessory. The clean shaven need to purchase tickets. I’ve already started following my cousin around with a handycam. I’ll worry about growing a moustache later.

shampa@newindianexpress.com