Part I – Kuke Subramanya, Dharmasthala and Sringeri
Diwali. Thursday, 31 October. We got up early morning, had Ganga snaan, received and reciprocated greetings from well-wishers.
We packed our suitcases, ran through the check list and, in the evening left for Kannan/Chitra’s home in Rajaji Nagar. Kannan is Mami’s one and only brother among seven sisters – ladla to everyone. He has bought a new Toyota Hycross Hybrid van and was keen we join them on a pilgrimage-cum-pleasure trip. It coincided with my 85th birthday. So nice of him.
Friday morning, 1 November: We all got into the van at 5.10 am, only ten minutes later than planned. For the next fifteen minutes both Kannan and Chitra got busy familiarizing with the latest computer features that the vehicle had incorporated to help negotiate one’s way. The journey started at 5.30, with everything in place.
The next task for Kannan was to identify a good restaurant for breakfast. After ten minutes of search, he came out with two options: “Athimbar, do you want to have breakfast at a very good restaurant between 7 and 7.30, or at an average restaurant between 8 and 8.30?” “8 and 8.30 would be a better time,” I suggested. Everyone agreed.
During the preparatory stage, Kannan had suggested that we carry our Airpods just in case one wanted to hear one’s favourite songs, listen to discourses, or be absorbed in Ted talks. Everyone carried, but I can’t recall anyone having plugged the Airpod in his/her ears during the entire trip.
Anand, the driver, is very quiet; will never speak unless spoken to. At one point during discussions on movies, we asked him if he had watched Rajani’s Vettaiyaan. “Yes sir, I happened to be one in the Censor Board to approve it. He took out his card that he was a member of the Film Censor Board for regional films. Very quiet gentleman.
“The restaurant sir,” Anand announced as he stopped the van. Initially we had told ourselves. ‘no oily stuff; will go light on travel.’ But when others around us were gobbling from left and right, we modified our pledge, ’next time onwards surely.’
We reached Kuke Subramanya around 11.30. As we were changing our dress, we heard an announcement in the public address system that sanctum sanctorum would close at 11.30 for some time. We hurriedly bought Rs 100 tickets, got into the special queue that permitted us to walk without stepping on the guy in front. We had a very good darshan. Back to the car park, we said, “a good beginning.”
Before the trip, both Kannan and Chitra had decided that they would be behind the wheel at least for an hour to get a feel of the new vehicle, apart from Kia. Chitra took charge first. It was okay for a while, but thereafter signboards started surfacing too often: “Landslide, Slow Down’. “I think we need to reach Dharmashala before the temple closes for the afternoon; my trial drive can wait,’ so she said and took back seat.
“Athimbar, do you know we narrowly escaped a landslide once?” asked Kannan. “Initially we blamed Chitra for starting late. As we drove, at one point there was a huge landslide six or seven vehicles ahead of us which took a toll of two bus load of passengers. All of us then hugged and thanked Chitra for starting late.”
In Dharmastala we bought Rs 200 tickets. It took us 1 hour and 30 minutes for darshan. But it was worth waiting for. We took the temple meals. Really massive and well organized.
There was slight drizzle on our way to Sringeri. Checked in, changed to dhoti, rushed to temple as it would close at 8.30 night. We had very good darshan. The Goddess Sharadambal’s procession idol was mounted on a golden chariot and taken around three times in the inner temple premises to the accompaniment of Nadaswaram, and japa ganam chanting and the small trainee boys joining them. On our part we chanted Lalitha Sahasranamam. It was a delight to watch the junior seer Shri Vidhushekhara Bharati Mahaswami doing pooja in the sanctum sanctorum.
Returned to hotel only to hit the bed fully tired.
To be continued in Part II and final: Horanadu and Kudremukh
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