A Sea that Melts into the Horizon

 

It is actually amusing how the mind wanders and how memories deeply stowed away in the recesses of mind tumble out at the slightest provocation. An article in TOI triggered the memory of a beautiful surreal vacation that I took as a young girl in class XII with my parents and brother. Papa was posted in Barrackpore Cantt near Kolkatta and we all decided to take a small break and venture out to Chandipur-on-sea in Odisha near Balasore. He planned it because he wanted to show us DRDO’s testing range It is from here that many a missiles have been launched. We were booked to stay in the DRDO’s guest house right by the shore. Little did we know that we were in for a surprise when the sea, yes the sea, did a disappearing act.

At that time, this is more than 2 decades back, now now don’t start calculating my age this was a very quaint little town and I remember I had run out of my camera roll and couldn’t even find any around the shops here. That explains the lack of pics in the post scanned or otherwise.

At night we went strolling on the well kept and manicured lawn terrace that overlooked the sea and watched the sea lapping up its waves till the shore. We chatted and heard the sounds of the sea and generally soaked up in the peaceful environment before calling it a night.

In the morning post breakfast we decided to walk to the terrace again to greet the morning sea and we were in for a shock. Where is the sea? Yes we were sure we saw it last night and left it right there before retiring. But surprises of surprises there wasn’t a drop on the sea bed and me and bro were out of our wits since we hadnt heard any of this and were absolutely unprepared for the sight. On asking the guard “bhaiya” there we got to know that this is normal, huh, the sea here recedes each day almost upto 5 kms and then comes back again. Yes we had heard about high and low tides but this was amazing and absolutely unbelievable had we not seen it our selves. The guard told us maybe we could take a walk into the horizon and go look for the sea. To that suggestion we jumped and as excited kids started our walk, a walk that was almost a km long and no trace of the sea. Mom sat on the terrace and watched us through binoculars, and after a point starting waving at us frantically since she was scared. All we could spot was the endless horizon spreading in front of us with no sight and sound of the sea.

It was a beautiful place, a lovely vacation and an amazing experience…all of it deeply entrenched as fond memories of a carefree childhood. Ahh I hope I had a digi camera in those days to capture it for posterity but all I have is stories unlimited for my grandchildren. Thank you papa and mommy for providing us with an abundant beautiful childhood filled with love and joy. 

Navratris Jaise Bhi

 

Celebrations and festivals are a few of the things that bind us all with a thread of unity. Though there does exist a cultural and traditional divide between the rituals and festivals of North and South India, Navratris is one festival that is celebrated all over. All across the length and breadth of the country; the flavors are different, methods are varied, rituals are diverse but celebration time it is. Hindus are one of the few that believe in and revere the feminine principle like no other religion. This festival is dedicated to the goddess, the mother, the feminine divine.

Navratis mean different things to different age groups and castes. While in North India the most predominant method is by observing fasts through the seven or eight days with kanjak celebration on ashtami or navami. For Bengalis, the last four days is the biggest festival with them decking up the pandals innovatively with use of a multitude of materials, feasting, indulging in pandal hopping, sindoor khela and dhak competitions. It is a community celebrations for Bengalis with no abstinence on either veg or non-veg food. Infact since I am an army product, at one of the sendoff parties when my mom wasn’t even eating regular veg food, this aunt was drinking alcohol and even enjoying her piece of chicken, she told us they belong to a community in Rajasthan where even the poorest of poor will eat non veg during these days since they worship the Shakti roopa of the Goddess, it sounded so cool at that time. Ah and how can we forget the famous dandiya dance that all the soaps on the TV are celebrating with fervor. By the way the farm house parties even arrange for Dandiya competitions for couples with vrat ka khanaa on the side even in saddi Dilli. Gujaratis and Mumbaikars are big on Dandiya and Garba during the season, film stars and celebrity singers perform at various functions throughout India and even abroad especially in US, Canada and UK.

In South of India people set up idols and dolls in several tiers or padis a customary ritual during navratris it is observed in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In the evening when people visit the homes where Golu is sthapit they are sent off with Prasadam. It is kept for 9 days and packed up on the 10^th on Vijaydashmi.

Dussara in Mysore is celebrated with a big pomp and show. During the nine days leading up to Dusshera Mysore city is decked up as a bride and various tourists from around the world throng the city to watch the beauty and soak in the revelry. This is one royal experience for sure. Various cultural shows are performed in front of the illuminated Palace. Dasara celebrations commence with a pooja performed to Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi Hills with the presence of the Wodeyar royal couple, and state officials. On tenth day of Dasara, a grand Procession (Jamboo Savari) starts from the palace after the royal couple worship the idol. The main attraction of the Dasara procession this year 2013 will be the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari which is carried in a Golden howdah weighing over 750 kgs on top of an elephant. The procession consists of dancers, musical bands belonging to State Police, Folk dancers, decorated elephants, horses and camels. Colorful tableaux created by different State organisations too form an integral part of the procession.

Keralites mark this period with worshipping of the book during the last 3 days. This period is celebrated as Sarasvati poojan period. On Vijaya Dashami day, the books are ceremoniously taken out for reading and writing after worshiping Sarasvati. Vijaya Dashami day is considered auspicious for initiating the children into writing and reading, which is called Vidyarambham. Tens of thousands of children are initiated into the world of letters on this day in Kerala.

This is also a time for shopping and auspicious beginnings, of rokas and weddings, of buying new cars and those sone ke haars. A great time for both publishers and advertisers, a time when corporates do maximum business and a time when consumers reap maximum benefits. No one remains untouched with the fervor and the festivities in the air just like that slight nip of cold. So whatever suits you fasting or feasting, dancing or buying, praying or meditating….just keep the faith, take a deep breath, bless the world and before I forget, raise your arms and scream out loud JAI MATA DI !!

How do you intend to celebrate these nine?

Eyes Wide Shut

This is an appalling experience that I had at the petrol station that I frequent. A couple of times before also I have felt that arre the indicator is hardly risen even after fuelling and have invariably blamed it on the ever rising petrol prices and soon forgotten about it the minute I have left the station. I have always been confident that I did check the zero before fuelling and the amount on the credit slip; 2 most important rules at the station.
Today however has changed it all. I gave my card and asked the guy to fill the petrol for Rs.700. To expedite the process as we are all in rush early morning, I glanced over checked zero, gave my nod and my credit card to the other attendant. The attendant came and stood next to my driving window almost blocking my view of the dispensing tank. I thought he wanted to swipe in front of me. I just glanced over my shoulder and looked back and saw this really weird and odd occurrence. The guy who was fuelling my car left my car, came over to the tank, stopped the dispense at Rs 508.58 and punched in Rs 700 on the key pad and that is what started reflecting on the screen. In that split of a second I jumped out of the car and told the guy swiping my card what the hell is happening I saw the reading as Rs 508 and then Rs 700. The guy instead of listening to me properly went on to punch the amount of Rs 700 and I told him to stop it else I wont sign. He stopped and I screamed to another fellow “whats going on?” he came and told me the most revealing thing he said “mam the last transaction will show up, don’t worry” but obviously he punched in something and the display including the price and petrol, was Rs 508. I was aghast at whatever was going on. It is then that he told me that the last transaction displays not only the amount but also the liters that have been dispensed. The 3rd attendant that had rushed to me when I was screaming told me that there was a problem in the tank and that the guy fuelling had told him. I re-screamed why I wasn’t told. But anyways I paid Rs 508 and drove off. Only to thank my stars that I looked back at the right moment, else I would have been taken for a royal ride.
I did not have enough time to fight with the manager and was shocked at what happened and I wonder how many times I had been fooled like this, and to think that I am a smart consumer. Bloody hell. This is a lesson that we should be more careful and responsible. The said petrol pump is Indian Oil’s Khyber Service Station, Panchsheel Enclave on BRT in Delhi.

Baby Waterfall near Shimla

This summers when we stayed in Shimla, our main agenda was to explore and discover new terrains by trekking or by driving. So when someone told us that there is a “real waterfall” nearby in a place called Shaddi around 8 kms down from Koti Resorts, we decided to check it out.

My son was very excited at the prospect of a waterfall in the midst of the mountains. Packed the car with munchies and started off, the journey in itself was awe inspiring and gaping-worthy. Beautiful peaks lit with brilliant glistening sunshine, majestic pine trees sprouting fresh cones, butterflies strutting around as if they owned the place, a single car or jeep passing by as leisurely, Ahh the times of no traffic chaos and us in no hurry to reach anywhere or looking at the watch time and again, just the serene cool crisp mountain air,windows rolled down a feat unimaginable in Delhi. On the way down we caught many sites of step farming, a quaint little mandir, a shepherd and obviously many monkeys doing what they do best; monkeying around. Whoever said joy is in the journey must have traveled mindfully focusing on the moment and happiness derived from it.
 
Soon on crossing the bend we reached THE waterfall. It was “so small” like the son put it since I think mentally he was expecting a distant cousin of Niagra or the Tews falls that he has been to and had a reference of. Small it was but disappointing it wasn’t, and it was as private as it could get since we were the only people around. A bit of crossing over the slippery boulders and getting feet and hands wet did the trick for my son and frankly us too, at that time seemed like we were all kids, flowing gushing water does have that effect on boring grown ups too, the mischievous child within awakens and wants to splash and get splashed.

But like all good things have to come to an end, on a philosophical note thankfully all the bad ones too have an ending. Infact my mantra for life remains “this too shall pass”, we bid our goodbyes to this short rejuvenating and memorable sojourn too.

Submitting this post for the contest by indiblogger facebook.com/AmbiPurIndia

Wah Puttar Wah!

 

So, my son had a class activity in which he was to develop a story out of a sentence given by the teacher. Today when he got back and showed me his “fantastical” tale, I felt like the quintessential Bollywood Maa, over-happy, over-joyed, over excited basically over-reaction(after all I am SRK’s biggest, truest and loyalest fan na), and decided to share it with my blogger friends, his nani, dadi, didi, mamu, mami….yeah you got it ….the world. So here goes, the first sentence is by the teacher.

Footsteps Behind Me

I was walking down the road when suddenly I heard footsteps behind me. I quickly turned to see who it was but I could see nobody only the empty road behind me. I started to walk again thinking it was my imagination but I kept hearing the footsteps and everytime I turned there was nobody. Suddenly I had an idea I walked in a puddle of mud and continued walking, when I heard the footsteps again, I spun around and lo behold there were tiny footprints like an elf walking. I tried to catch him but he dodged and ran inside the woods. As a rule I wasn’t allowed in the woods, but I ran and started following the elf. He soon arrived at a tiny little cute cottage. He went in and I thought i  heard him murmur something like Home Sweet……Home. I peeped inside from the window and saw a most amazing sight. The little elf removed his hat and I saw the tiniest person I had ever seen. He started eating food and I heard his wife call him TinyMick. It was getting late and I thought I would come back tomorrow to talk to him and ask him about the following me business. When I returned the next day there was nobody there.It looked as if TinyMick and his house had disappeared into thin air. I never saw him or his tiny house again.

By Arnaav Bellani, Grade VI

The story is reproduced warts and all, absolutely unedited. Now please clap your hands and write in some equally adorable comments.

Yeh Kaun Chitrakaar Hai

Just like truth is sometimes stranger than fiction; nature at times reveals views even more dreamy than Van Gogh's Starry Nights. Words cant contain the moment but a photograph can. Some shots that i took    in an attempt to capture nature in its glorious and vivid hues.

Sinduri Shaam 

Angels or Clouds 

Glistening Snow Capped Range 

Nature doesn't ever cease to surprise, isn't it? And like Mom loves to quote "prabhi ki maya kahin dhoop kahin chaya."

Yeh Pagdandi aur Yeh Raasta

Shimla has a special place in our collective hearts, always a chance revisit to many old beautiful memories and an opportunity to create some more. It is almost like an “annual pilgrimage” as some of my friends like to call my trip to Shimla.
Last Oct we had stayed at the beautiful Koti Resort and this time too unanimously voted for the same. Our 11 year old loves to trek and is totally enamored by the word “pagdandi” (Hindi for narrow foot trails). On asking for trek options, someone from the resort told us that the trek upto the state owned “Apple Institute” as the Regional Horticultural Research Institute is popularly called, is worth it not only for its educational value but also for the panoramic view of the mountains. On checking how far would it be and if it is a easy walk we were told “15 mins”.
Post a hearty breakfast we packed our backpack with bottles of water, took the wooden cane to shoo off the monkeys just in case, tied those shoe laces tight and off we went. Initially we were very excited and posed for pictures at every spot, raved about the pine trees, stopped for the valley views and generally sang along. Soon though we were gasping, panting city dwellers with lazy and unexercised bones. A couple of locals passed by effortlessly and obviously much faster and definitely without the gear we were lugging around. At that time we felt like solar powered Reva racing against the Ferraris that zip past. On checking with a local guy “bhaiya kitni door?” we were told “bus ji yeh raha, paanch minute.” That worked like a balm on our frayed jangled nerves. We rebooted and started the climb up again with “jai mata di” motivational chants.
10 minutes – 15 minutes the lad kept looking at the watch and repeating “Mommy bhaiya ne paanch minute kaha tha…kab ayegaa?” and I was like huff puff “aa gya bus jai mata di”. A grueling 10 more minutes we finally reached the destination Apple Insititute. Yayyyy we did it!!!

Lesson Learnt: The “pahari” locals are really like mountain goats and the terrain that comes effortlessly to them is quite a task for us lazy bums!
The trek was really worth it, the apple trees were laden with unripe fruit hanging in bunches and looking as tempting as they would have to Adam and Eve. Flowers were in full bloom and in profusion of colors, a small green house had a variety of flowers that are so typical of colder climes. A small museum showcases the historical perspective and pictures of some of the wide varieties of apples that were planted here along with their characteristics and provides for a quick and interesting read. The first floor museum also preserves some of the specimens of butterflies found in the region as also the pests that plague the plantations at times.

Fortunately the trek back was easy as it was all downhill. When we reached the resort the husband cheekily took out his pedometer and announced that we had done 7kms trek. I fainted!! You would too if you knew that I drive up to the park for my evening walk (yeah I do).