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Showing posts with label People. Show all posts
Showing posts with label People. Show all posts

June 17, 2013

ஆனந்த யாழை மீட்டுகிறாள் [She is playing the happy music]

At last, Nagamani, along with his family, visited our home at Pondicherry last weekend. And incidentally Sai Prithvi, as well, along with his family, made a quick visit to our home. Prithvi’s daughter Mrithika aka Meethu was a cute little kid just dancing on the road as any toddler does. She had fun in jumping over the small elevation of steps and getting down the steps at outer viewing point of Auroville. She was walking on the foot path easily but we have to go beyond her nevertheless I didn’t get tired by that. Those chirpy sounds that her shoes makes while she walks were more than music. She got easily attached to me and didn’t hesitate or cry much. When she smiles, those little tooth were pleasure to. And on Saturday evening, Nagamani finally arrived. His daughter Yaazhini (Yaalini) what an angel she is. She also easily got attached to me on the very first time I called her. Of course there were share of hesitation and cry but we could manage it. When we say her, pray God, she just looks up looking for the frames of God (as they used to be in their home). While her parents went inside the Aurobindo Ashram, she was sleeping me over my shoulders. Due to lack of such opportunities like that in my life so far, not sure when before a kid was sleeping like that on me. She sleeps, adjusts her head from left position to right position and over time slides down. That’s when I realized that, Oh! even for sleeping a kid we need to learn many techniques. But those 10-15 minutes was sheer joy for me. When in car, along with her mom, she would identify me, sitting in the back, and shake hands with me and when I decided to pull her back, she was willing to come but, at last moment, she changed her mind. Similarly, she was his father and I was going around near her. She quickly turned her head and changed her position. When enquired about it, I came to know that it is to safeguard that I don’t lift her from her father. What an intelligent girl. All these wonderful moments are really awesome and makes me envious of all fathers and mothers. Honestly, I was tempted to get married and quickly have a girl. But I said to myself - Tempting but not now. Last night, when I returned from Pondicherry to Bangalore, I listened to Anandha Yaazhai (from Thanga Meengal) at an altogether different level and it was awesome.

P. S: Both Sai Prithvi’s wife and Nagamani’s wife affirmed that their kids don’t go to a stranger immediately but they got attached to you so easily. I had to say “En kitta vara ellaa pon kozhandaigaloda petrorgal elaarume ippadi thaan solraanga” (All the parents of the kids tell me the same).

I must thank Sai Prithvi and Nagamani for having visited my home this weekend. It was great. 

Here below is the lyrics of the beautiful song Anandha Yaazhai (from Thanga Meengal)

ஆனந்த யாழை மீட்டுகிறாய்,
அடி நெஞ்சில் வண்ணம் தீட்டுகிறாய்.
அன்பெனும் குடையை நீட்டுகிறாய்,
அதில் ஆயிரம் மழைத்துளி கூட்டுகிறாய்.

இரு நெஞ்சம் இணைத்து பேசிட,
உலகில் பாஷைகள் எதுவும் தேவை இல்லை!
சிறு புல்லில் உறங்கும் பனியில் தெரியும்,
மலையின் அழகோ தாங்கவில்லை.

உந்தன் கைகள் பிடித்து போகும் வழி,
அது போதவில்லை இன்னும் வேண்டுமடி…

இந்த மண்ணில் இது போல் யாரும் இங்கே
என்றும் வாழவில்லை என்று தோன்றுதடி !

ஆனந்த யாழை மீட்டுகிறாய்,
அடி நெஞ்சில் வண்ணம் தீட்டுகிறாய்.
அன்பெனும் குடையை நீட்டுகிறாய்,
அதில் ஆயிரம் மழைத்துளி கூட்டுகிறாய்.

தூரத்து மரங்கள் பார்க்குதடி,
தேவதை இவளா கேக்குதடி,
தன்னிலை மறந்தே பூக்குதடி,
காற்றினில் வாசம் தூக்குதடி – அடி
கோவில் எதற்கு ? தெய்வங்கள் எதற்கு ?
உனது புன்னகை போதுமடி !

இந்த மண்ணில் இது போல் யாரு இங்கே,
என்றும் வாழவில்லை என்று தோன்றுதடி !

ஆனந்த யாழை மீட்டுகிறாய்,
அடி நெஞ்சில் வண்ணம் பூசுகிறாய் !

உன் முகம் பார்த்தால் தோணுதடி,
வானத்து நிலவு சின்னதடி,
மேகத்தில் வரைந்தே பார்குதடி,
உன்னிடம் வெளிச்சம் கேட்குதடி,

அதை கையில் பிடித்து ஆறுதல்
உரைத்து வீட்டுக்கு அனுப்பு நல்லப்படி !

இந்த மண்ணில் இது போல் யாரும்
இங்கே என்றும் வாழவில்லை என்று தோன்றுதடி

ஆனந்த யாழை மீட்டுகிறாய்
அடி நெஞ்சில் வண்ணம் தீட்டுகிறாய் !
                                                                              - நா.முத்துக்குமார்


Meaning: Do not forsake good friends.

September 08, 2012

Indian Wedding

Yesterday I went to Palakkad to attend a marriage of my good friend (who was my Violin classmate in Delhi under our Guruji Sri Durga Prasad). Palakkad can be said as a gateway to the western ghats from Tamil Nadu. This was the first time I attended a Keralian wedding. It was a pleasant gloomy day with cool breeze. I straightaway went to the marriage hall and fresh'd up. The Muhurtham was between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. By the time I got ready it was 9 a.m. I was thinking how to pass the time till Muhurtham because I went alone and didn't know anyone there. To not to look as an odd person in the hall I chose not to put my headsets but observe. Thanks to Arun, who was from Cochin, who kept me engaged for a while with him.

In few words I will say that this marriage was well organised. The stage was well-decorated and set for the nuptials. Lots of people - Oldies; chit-chats, nalam-visaaripps; recently wedded people introducing their wife's to their relatives (on the day of marriage thousands turn up hence the married people do not remember all the relatives/friends who come for the marriage); few couples carry their just born's to their relatives for their blessings- people cheer up the groovy yawn of the just born and do a drishiti; kids playing and roaming around with their cousins, some of them are new friends; [in my opinion] the hot property of this marriage was the bride's brother - he was, in a typical fashion, clean shaven in glittering long red silk kurtha and Mundu dhoti running on his toes, looking after everyone and coordinating the events and the people; parents with lots of smiles for their ward's marriage and a great sense of satisfaction in their eyes that their ward is gonna be in safe hands and warm family - a sign of successful positive upbringing; relatives flaunting their silk sarees and accessories (artwork blouses, necklaces, pendants, bangles) bought with great care; obviously girls and boys; inevitable gossips; some oral marriage suggestions (there is a saying many marriage engagements happen in marriages); some grannies carried their sleeping grand children in their shoulders; and with a background music of mangala Naadhaswaram-Thavil-Jalra (one purpose of this music is to cut down the evil things especially gossips and rumors). 

Now it was 10:30 a.m, the groom arrived and was staged. Around 10:45 a.m the bride arrived. Both of them, carrying million hopes dreams (wish each comes true) in their heart and best dressed, exchanged  garlands and the marriage happened with the blessings of parents, elders, relatives and friends. Parents and relatives congratulate each other. Now its time to receive blessings from the elders individually. People throng the stage to bless the just weds', to gift and to pose in group with entire family for photographs. The group photo of the immediate families of the nuptials will be framed and finally decorate the walls. And another important aspect of the weddings is the grand lunch. One side of the leaf had 15 side dishes which include two paayasams, porriyals, paruppu, two pickles - sweet and spicy, chips, applams, kootu etc. Other side of the leaf had rice, sambar, rasam and pappad. At the end they provided a delicious paaysam Adapradhaman.

I can safely say, one place where most people keep smiling would be marriages. It is really nice to be part of such well "organised" marriages. I am glad to have been part of this marriage. Aparna Anupkumar (formerly Aparna Menon): you thanked me for coming for the marriage but the pleasure was mine. Hence I thank you and your family for inviting me to witness the occasion. 

P.S: It is not that I attended a marriage after a long time or for the first time that led to write a post about it. This time, I was almost lonely and had a good amount of time to observe and cherish, but not the first time. It would go on to be one of the memorable weddings, perhaps due to the timing of it. Few dreams does not come true but it is great to be part of similar such dreams of others. :-)

P.S: Recently I read that "We marry not the individual but the families too" - Courtesy Chinmayee

P.S: Next post would be on Nelliyampathy (coming soon)

Glossary
Muhurtham - auspicious time for marriage
kurtha - shirt like
nalam-visaaripps - abouts and whereabouts
drishiti - safeguarding and throwing away all the jealous of the people that are surrounding the kid
Mundu dhoti - White Dhoti with Jariga/silk-thread borders
mangala - auspicious
paaysam - a dessert 
Adapradhaman -  ada and jaggery in highly condensed milk

--

Meaning - Helps others and live

May 31, 2011

I Love you Sukruti alias Sukku

29th May 2011 (Sunday) will go as one of the most unforgettable day in my life.  Because it was a little divine angel who ruled me the complete day. On 28th May 2011 night I and my friend Jagadish boarded into a bus (of Panicker Travels) on an one day package trip to Rishikesh and Haridwar.  A kind of rejuvenation (one day) trip for me.  Around 10:30p.m. one little angel wearing small pant & shirt was walking in half sleep towards her seat. I had no doubt that night, that I have a great day ahead. On Sunday(29May11) it was 5 a.m. in the morning at Rishikesh. Everybody was getting ready for the day. And now I saw the little angel in a Black outfits at her best. I was in little doubt whether her parents would allow us to interact with her and play with her. At Lakshman Jhula (Bridge), I introduced myself with her family and her. Her name is Sukruti. Sukruti means doing good deed. She is 29months (born on 1st Jan 2009) old gorgeous babe. Later I came to know she is a Delhite. And she has a Tamil Nadu origin also. That means she can understand Tamil. Oh great. She can understand my language which made me more happy because, I can communicate with her. I was eager to carry her with me in my hip and play with her. But beloved Madame didn’t allow me. Strict No. No other option, as usual I walked behind the "angel". Pleasure. After crossing Lakshman Jhula, Madame saw a calf. From a distance, Madame was observing it with patience and excitement. When the Calf moved a bit towards her, Madame jolted. It was fun to watch it.  And her parents were clicking some shots of her. And Madame gave some excellent poses which I missed because I was bit late there. Her grand mother called her Sukku (short pet name for Sukruti). (I remembered my Mom calling/teasing me often by name Sukku. In Tamil Sukku means Dried Ginger. Yeaah I was lean/slim till my college days). From Ram Jhula, we crossed the river in a boat. And now Madame got fascinated and was dancing (You can see those in the snaps I have mentioned). Madame enjoyed the sprinkles of River Ganges water made by her passengers in the boat. When the chill water kissed her (seemed that Ganges Mata(Mother) wanted to kiss this little angel) Madame made the most energetic roar in the world. On our way to Shivanand Ashram, her mother was holding one of her hands. Her left hand was free. Now I joined my hands with her left hand. We walked for some 2 seconds. Madame saw, who this guy? No prizes for guessing. Madame immediately put my hand down. Smartness was her best. My friend laughed at his best. This 2 seconds walk with her is something I will not forget in my life (earlier I had one such beautiful walk in my life).  We were in Shivanand Ashram. Her parents persuaded her to give her a snap along with me. And she gave. And you can see that here (in this post). We headed to Haridwar and we took holy bath in River Ganges. It was summer. Approximately 40degree Celsius. But River Ganges should have been approximately some 10degree Celsius. I need not explain how much delight we can see in Madame’s face. At 3p.m. we headed back to Delhi. Around 6p.m. we stopped at a highway restaurant. I knew (and each of us knew) children like chocolates. And I bought for her and her sister, each, a Cadbury's Dairy Milk Fruit&Nut.  And in the bus when we tried to approach, Madame was crying a lot. Her mother said, this appetite (cry) is for Madame’s father. Again, after some time we went back. Madame was bit calm. And we gave her the DairyMilk. The lips widened, the teeth flashed. But the head cautiously turned 75degrees towards her Mumma. By now, you would have guessed – For permission. After her Mumma conceded, it was delightfully accepted (with all eyes on the chocolate) with a silent thanks (as thought by her Mother). After 2-3 minutes we went back to our seat. Turning back, we saw Madame was all smiling. Standing on her seat, leaning on the front seat Madame was in jubilant mood (see the last pic of the post). Madame voluntarily shook her tender hands with us and gave a cherubic smile and played with us for sometime. Lesson1: Start with a (Big)Chocolate to the kids. You can easily befriend them. Now we were about to reach Delhi. We requested her a snap along with us. But Madame once again said NO. Lesson2: Get the snaps when you give the chocolates to them. After we landed at Delhi, we went to Gurgaon by Metro. And our little angel was with her father, who came to receive her. After seeing her father, she was very happy and was responding to us except for the photo. But while she got down, she waved her hands at us with a smile. Awesome. Pleasure.

I love you Sukruti. Aayiram Ummaaaaaaaaa!! (Tons of Kisses!!) (which you didn't allow me).



   
  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

    

 (This is the maximum distance she allowed me near)

  
 (while we were crossing the river in boat from Ram Jhula)
 
(After giving Cadbury's Dairy Milk Fruit&Nut, this is the cherubic smile I got)


July 12, 2010

மழலைப் பட்டாளம் - Kids Corner











[It is right to mention மழலை [Kids] as பட்டாளம் [Military] because, kids are like military people who corner you from all corners and keep you in arrest. We can't escape from them]

On one fine evening when I was in a park nearby my house in Delhi, I was tempted 1. to get married asap and have two three children, 2. to be as children itself throughout life because I can defer from board exams, marks, entrance exams, campus exams, project, deadlines, appraisals, love, marriage, responsibility, stress. Okay coming back to what made me tempted is the cheerful smiles, which is highly contagious, I found in children. These kids were/are always in a jubilant mood. I was interested in taking few candid shots, but in the dusk, I found it bit difficult to get some candid shots, especially when the kids are dynamic. And these kids somehow found me taking snaps and were much euphoric to give me the much required shots. And once I took few snaps there were some 20 kids buzzing like bees and the word they buzzed was UNCLE UNCLE UNCLE [Initially when I came to Delhi I hated this word UNCLE. I wished/loved them to call me Bhaiya [Elder Brother]. But I never succeeded even with my neighbor Behan [Younger Sister]]. It is a great feeling when those kids beam with complete joy in their eyes and looked at me and put their soft hands up and asked me take them some snaps, a honor, they gave me, which I didn't refuse. [Few things I found difficult, the ladies and grannies in the park were probing me with many questions such as are your reporter?, where are you from? why you are taking snaps? have u come for survey? Are you a journalist? Oh! ]. And it is really very happy when you are surrounded with kids, you forgot everything. I realized what one of my friends sister [a Teacher] said about the joy she gets from unconditional love she gets from her children/students. Be amidst children, Be amidst happiness. Have fun. Cheers!


April 01, 2010