A Repeat Blast by SFV Vedic Chant Group

For the sixth time in the recent past - and third since the dawn of 2023 - the SFV Vedic Chant group seniors and their spouses (66 to 83 age group) went for a blast. 

Just to recap the last two.  First, a grand buffet lunch in February for 22 persons at Cable Car restaurant in JP Nagar. The excuse? Five of the members had bought new cars. It was so nice of the restaurant chaps that they prepared some dishes without onion and garlic for a select few of four, and gave us a discount too when we played the senior citizen card.

Second, a one-day Tempo-Traveller trip by 14 members in March to Janapada Loka, Kengal Anjaneya temple, Aprameya Swamy temple, and, to use the Mumbai expression, a khalee peeli visit to the Mysore Silk retail outlet; not to speak of a planned boat-ride that did not happen – on arrival we were told they had postponed it for monsoon.  We had Thatte Idli at Bidadi, lunch at Shivalli restaurant, concluding coffee at Hotel Dwaraka, near home - and fun all the way. 

With the weather getting a little warm, this time the group decided, instead, to have a potluck. Many raised their hands simultaneously to host it. Ultimately, we accepted Alder Krishnan’s invitation – for the ample space his apartment provides. 

Now the date. Believe me, it is the oldies who are the busiest. One couple was slated to leave for Mumbai to be with their daughter. Another, to Rameshwaram to conclude the rituals of their recent visits to Kashi, Triveni and Gaya. Yet another was set to leave for USA to augur the arrival of their first grandchild. Another couple routinely visits Chennai to be with their son as though on an annual contract with the Railways, not to speak of yet another who has a near-permanent arrangement with a travel agency for car for their pilgrimage or historical trips. Amidst these, it was decided to hold the get-together on Saturday, 8 April, though Murali and Uma were leaving in the afternoon for Mumbai. 

The proposal, the date and venue fixed by the menfolk, the main part of the event, preparing food and making other arrangements, rested with the ladies. Mrs Vijaya Krishnan, the hostess, was appointed Coordinator, invited all ladies and they arrived at who would prepare what.

The menu consisted of soup-like Rasam, crispy Dal Vada and Manchurian as starters; Bisibela Bath and the raitha that goes with it; plain rice to relish the Vatha Kozambu, and Paruppu Tohayal (Toor dal being the basic ingredient); special Idli, steaming it with jack-fruit leaf as wrapper, and two types of chutneys; and curd rice. For dessert, there were jackfruit payasam (a speciality of Kerala), fruit-filled Custard, Kesari, and plum cake.

It was a sight to watch the ladies attired in their best, and menfolk carrying the allotted food items, transferring them occasionally to be fair to both hands, heading from the four corners to Alder. 

To say the least, each dish was prepared to perfection and it was difficult to identify which item stole the show.  In my opinion, it was the show of strength by the ladies that they are up to any challenge. For a while, everyone set aside his medical issues and did full justice to all the items. 

Lunch was followed by Anthakshari where songs from all languages and Sanskrit slokas were allowed.  It was ladies versus gents. The session got warmed up so quickly that now I know who is good at Carnatic music, film music, Sanskrit slokas and Telugu songs although Kannada is his mother tongue. The winner? On four occasions the menfolk were on the verge of collapse when the 1 to 10 warning-bell was sounded. It reached 7 and once up to 9.  The ladies got into that situation only twice. Nonetheless, on paper it is no winners, or both winners. 

Time to pack. Regardless of liberal servings, there were still a lot left. The Group met again, for dinner. Even then some items had to be packed for homes. 

As someone said, Age is just a number. Would you agree?