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The Song Challenge:   The Day That Saji's Sari Slipped and Baji's Bobbin Got Buffed . . . India's health minister has banned the use of condoms to lubricate bobbins used in weaving saris.  CP Thakur has told parliament sari makers are using condoms to speed up weaving because condom lubricant was also good at stopping yarn from snapping.    Mr. Thakur claims the use of so many condoms in the sari industry is affecting India's population control programme.    "Instructions have been issued to stop this practice," Mr Thakur said.  Mr Thakur says the use of condoms in weaving is causing shortages and instances of unscrupulous government health workers meant to distribute free condoms to contain population instead selling the condoms to sari makers.  Workers rub the condoms on bobbins while they make their brocade saris.   The industry is using an estimated half a million condoms every day.   Each of the 125,000 looms in the city of Varanasi uses an average four condoms per day.   It takes nearly 15 condoms to produce one Benarasi sari. The lubricant on the condom smoothens the bobbin and makes it move faster between threads..


Saris (From The Finest Silk) by Genie
(Tune: Geordie)

As I walked out by Bombay Bay
One misty morning early,
I overheard a kajillion cries
Of newborn boys and girlies.

Oh, my sari will be sewn from the finest silk
With needles oh, so greasy,
'Cause the bobbins have been stroked with condoms come
To make the sewing easy.

The fact'ry owner looked out at the throngs
And said, "Fair maids, I'm sorry!
I've had to commandeer the condoms come
To save my profit tomorry!

Twenty-two babies have been born
This morning in our village.
Without our safes, we've no birth control
But feeble stabs at "spillage."

So, our saris will be sewn from the finest silk,
And needles that glide "like buttah,"
'Cause they sold sixteen gross of condoms so dear
To the fact'ries in Calcutta.

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