'margazhi and mysorepak....

That year's 'Margazhi' too was as usual, a pot-pourri of 'raga & tala' and visits to Shrines!



I started looking forward to it ..and would you believe, I was the first one to step out of the exam-hall during the last exam..such was my anxiety to start off with my 'Michaelmas holidays!!'

It is a tradition in our family to go on a pilgrimage during the 'Margazhi' season : in fact, it also did serve as a family get-together of all our cousins, who normally were away from the South. This was a desire of my grandpa, as well.

He also used this opportunity to play with all of us, which normally is not possible, as he was such a 'busybody'. I still remember how we all the tiny-tots would love crushing the betelnuts for 'our thaatha's 'tamboolam'.

My granny's round of story-sessions,exclusively hosted for us,was yet another 'scene-stealer'.Along with her steaming degree coffee, we would help ourselves to her "AMBULICHUTTI" stories. (Perhaps in a subsequent blog I shall narrate one of her favourite stories).

Around 8.00 a.m. ,we would all head towards the temple-tank to take a dip. I bet no other 'waters' in the world ..even the swimming-pool of great 5-star hotels, would be as serene and pure as the temple-tank's'!!!! One could cherish the tingly feeling of the small fish,nibbling at our feet.

With the strands of our wet tresses wafting in the gentle breeze, we would have a happy stroll all the way, pausing to see butterflies, mynas and even peacocks. There used to be a contest between my cousin, Santhya and myself, as to who spots the most number of butterflies...our grand-father being the 'contest's judge'! If she wins then I would be waiting to take revenge by beating her in the 'Dayakkatai' game, which we would play in the court-yard of the huge mansion.




At times even after several calls from our granny, we would never go for break-fast, as my grandpa would have already treated us to sumptuous delicacies from the "Sriranga Iyengar's Sweets". In fact, Grandpa, a diabetic, would also take a bite of those irresistible Mysorepaks, soaked in dollops of pure ghee.

The evenings were a different story altogether: all of us would go to the 'Adhivinayahar temple'..those "Saayaratchai -moments" would be a treat to the eyes, feasting on the 'beauty' of the Lord in His 'swayambu' pose with a human face!!
My grandpa, a well-known personality in the 'temple-circuit, loved taking us on a 'Devotional-Spree",that still continues to be a part of me.

With just five more days to go for the school to re-open, I started to wear a gloomy look already.The state of my cousin, Santhya, even worse. She started to have one of those spells of 'school-going phobias', if there could be such a word-coinage!!

In the noon all of us were keenly glued on to the television, watching 'Rajinikanth rescuing the poor elephant-calf from a pit'.
"Oh! what a tragic fate for 'Rajni's mom"!! so saying,my granny was having tears in her eyes..
just when my mother was trying to explain to her that it was only a movie;-

-Our maid-servant came in saying,"Amma! amma!" namma Santhya papava enge thediyum kaanomma" ( mam, our Santhya is missing )....

 

Dear CL,

Do you know what?! It's become an eager expectation with me to look forward for the first comment from you.
Thanq so much!!!!

The temple spoken of here i.e. the "AdhiVinayakar " temple is located 3 kms. south of Poonthottam village, enroute to Tiruvarur. The deity here also known as "Nara Ganapathy" (Nara means human) comes with a human face. It's also believed that "Pitru tharpanams" performed here, absolves one of 'Pitru Doshams'.


Stay tuned
:cheers
Saras

 

Dear Raji,

At the outset thanx for stepping in.

The series of this blog, "Surfing with Saraswathi(ma)", talks about incidents in an autobiographical style, starting with my childhood!!

This is not in a story-style with a precise continuity..instead what I'm doing here, Raji, is gather the various flowers (the incidents)and make a "kadamba maalai" of them!!

Hope this "Garland" of mine spreads fragrance in the 'Garden' of all your minds!!!!

Stay tuned.

:cheers

Saras

 

Hey 'Icy Gal',

Thanx a ton yaar!

:cheers
Saras

 

Dear IM,

Thanx for stepping in.
Happy that somewhere, I have been instumental in kindling the fond memories of your childhood!

Yes, Iniyamalar, my childhood is punctuated with such niceties..and this is what I'm going to share with friends like you!!

Stay tuned IM

:cheers
Saras