Ganapati Bappa Morya, or Om Shree Ganeshaya Namaha. That is what I should pray before attempting to cover our function that I couldn’t attend in full.
Nonetheless, here is imagination running riot for the missing portions. Lord Ganesha had agreed to descend to Sobha Forestview on Sunday morning disregarding His host of other commitments. Playing a welcoming note on Nadaswaram with a foot tapping beat on the percussion instrument, the deity was accompanied from Gate 1 to MPH Hall by men and women devotees attired in traditional clothes, not excluding Mysore silk, Kancheepuram silk, crepe silk, or simple but graceful cotton sarees by women, and equally matching silk dhoti with golden- or peacock-eyed border dhotis and angavastram by the menfolk. The procession halted at regular intervals and those accompanying it enjoyed some of the best notes on Nadaswaram with the burly middle-aged men playing tavil with gusto.
At MPH2 where the deity was to be installed awaited a larger gathering, some sticking their neck out to see where the procession had reached and how soon or late it will reach the venue. Yet others, fear of losing their seats for a vantage view of puja and other rituals to follow, preferred to guess it from the decibel of Nadaswaram. The morning function over with puja and prasadam distribution, some headed to the flea market for a dekho, while others chose to club it with the evening’s cultural programme.
Earlier, on Saturday evening when we reached the lawns, musical chair was in progress. It was nice to see women of all ages taking part in it. When the number thinned down to 10 or 12 in the process of elimination, I made a mental guess on who might be the winner. I asked Aunty casually who might make it. Believe me, she pointed at the same lady - and lo she was the winner in the end. Some who are into mild gambling on these occasions might think of summoning our services to spot the possible winner to make some easy money. We should hasten to advise them that this was a pure chance, and first time.
We went around the stalls. I felt a slight discomfort passing by the stalls situated on the elevation of the lawns. We had to stand on the slope to look in. We deliberately skipped that stall where we feared our little secured investments might get disturbed by the marketing gimmicks of that financial institution. Yes, we are highly gullible. Also, we desisted from tasting the samples of various food products. We didn’t want to add to our inventory. Already we find it difficult to deplete our Coimbatore-trip stock.
On Sunday, 24 September, too we could join the function only in the evening. We had to be part of a Koti Vishnu Sahasranamam chant planned pan India. In SFV, my neighbour Hari-Geetha, 3192, had requested the SFV Vedic Group members to chant it twice from 11.30 to 12.30 pm so that we could add a modest 40 000 to the one crore chant. This was followed by lunch that Geetha had prepared - all by herself, politely declining assistance or potluck arrangement from others.
We rushed to the visarjan ceremony parade as soon as we heard the first beat of Dhol Tashe. It was irresistible. We enjoyed watching the merriment all around where men and women of all ages danced with gay abandon. The mutka-todh ceremony was interesting, as also the tug of war by children. The prasadam kit was mouth-watering.
On way back, my friend asked me, “So we can expect a blog some time by tonight?” “I am afraid I have no locus standi to write a piece on a function I didn’t attend in full,” I replied. “Maybe, you can do one minus what you missed,” he quipped, unrelenting.
Heartiest congratulations Binita Prasad, Vaishali, and others for organizing such a wonderful event. Three cheers.
2 comments:
VVS ji - Thanks 🙏 We were travelling & could not participate in person. However, no regrets you made us visualise the entire event with your mesmerising writing skills 🙏
Well written. Thanks for mentioning Vishnu sahasranama japam at our house. Thanks for your appreciation.
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