Lost in August....

Mangalore2014

I gather my thoughts  give it a name and shape, and then it becomes  as my post for the month. Trust me.. mostly it comes from with in, some times, from no where, some times, from all over!  I make it a point to bring it out once a month, so I myself will know what happened in that month,in my life  and around me.  I am sure it will be read by me in my later years. I don't know who reads it, and  I never ask, since I know I am doing this for my self,  it gives me immense satisfaction when I bring out my thoughts like this . Then what happened in August? Why I did not write anything? Nothing happened in August or no thoughts came to me?  Was I lost? That can not be true...as I was pondering..first week of August...Chudi pooja... I remember as a kid running early in the morn to neighbour hood houses to get some flowers so that my mom could make these Chudis. I use to leave the flowers n run to school so most of the time I never saw what my mom did on Fridays. But Sundays of course we use to watch her perform the Chudi pooja.  That is when I got to know during the month of Shravan all married ladies have to perform this Pooja for the betterment of  their families I guess! WE kids use to wait for the yummy Prasad mom use to make on that day, for God and us to eat. Then of course she use to take one of us with her to her elder sisters house to exchange this chudi and that was fun too. Visiting cousins and getting pampered by my Aunt and Uncle was what I loved.  AS a new Bride I was the privileged one to perform this pooja along with my mother in law,  and my mother, and other married ladies of the family. It was like an event by itself, and I did not had to run for flowers! My new house had loads of flowers, n blooms, especially that special grass which we have to add in our chudis, was very much there in our garden. So basically we make small and  colour full bouquet of flowers and keep a count like 7 or9, or 11 like that, I don't know why! Then take it in a nice silver plate if we have and go outdoors to the  Tulsi plant which will be there in every Konkani house. So the pooja was performed for Ma Tulasi,by keeping the area clean, water the Tulasi plant, and applying Kumkum and then Chudi will be offered to her,Then Prayers  to the sun God by going around the Tulasi for 5 times...,then keep the chudis near the entrance of the door, both sides, and then of course offer to the god in side the pooja room. Then if there are elder married ladies, offer them the first chudi  and take their blessings and take one from them in exchange, and  then tuck  the chudi  in our hair . What a custom right? From the time I was married my mom was in far away places, and though most people send it by post, I decided not to do that.  I did not wanted my mom  to receive dry, crumpled flowers. But I was living with my mother in law, so I use to make the chudis , do the pooja with her, and then give her first and take her blessings, and then I use to get one from her in exchange. This is how I started off my Chudi pooja. I definitely felt it was the symbol of  flowers of the rainy season which are bright and beautiful. Then the new brides get a chance to be introduced to all the other family members,neighbours in a formal way , take her fear off, and may be see her creative talent by asking her to prepare the floral chudi.Then of course visiting other elders houses to offer and exchange with other ladies, is sort of an outing and intro to keep connected  and spend time with them. That has to be the reason behind this one month Friday and Sunday pooja affair ! I had nothing against it, nor believed too much in it, but did it every year simply coz I liked to make the chudi, did the pooja with my Mother in law, and offer her and she use to bless me giving one in exchange to me. That's it ! After the first year I never went to any other relatives houses to offer nor exchange it! But I did it every year with out fail and later my kids when they saw the chudi near Tulasi and our front door,  happily jumping, when they use to come back from school. Oh..mommy is it Chudi today? I even let my daughter do it with me, so young Amulya too felt very important and performed with me, and I am so  glad I let her do it. I definitely loved this pooja, and I hated skipping it, so yrs went by and I loved the exchange with my mother in law! Last year I performed the pooja and offered the Chudi to her knowing she may not be there to take it from me, nor will be there to bless me, since she was very sick! This year I didn't do it, and no reason for it. I simply didn't feel like doing it.My mother in law is the only person I use to give, and she is no more, so in future too I may do or I may not. But here some pics with young Amulya and me. I let Amulya do every thing as I did! N it was so much fun..letting her learn our tradition!

Hmm.. as the first week of August went by my thoughts went towards the responsibility I had taken in our Rotary Club for helping them put up a show for independence day. It was fun organizing and helping the club, and the theme was Indian citizens who made our country proud over the years internationally. So a bunch of men women and kids who could not say no to me took part in this huge tableau, and i don't even need to say it was a success.From Rabindranath Tagore, to Sush and Ash, and From Sachin Tendulkar to RK laxmans common man.there were so many characters who brought laurels to our country.The practices were fun n the function super hit. WE all said Happy independence and Jai Hind at the end, not forgetting to sing our national anthem.

hmmm...what else came then? Of course Krishna Janmashtami. I have seen my mom making all the goodies for that day, in my childhood, so would I leave it since I grew up watching all that? In my small Gods mantap or sacred space I have kept in my house, I have  my most favorite Statue of Lord Krishna, but in the baby form. I do everything what is need to be done that day , in my own way. It makes me very happy doing it.

Hmmm.. were else was  I lost?? Oh.. then comes to my mind  our trip to Goa, with our Rotary club. It is a yearly affair, and so patterned, but nevertheless we all enjoy and have great fun.

August...now I know why I was lost..so much happened, and so little time..but I loved two of my special guests who came to our house, one uninvited, and not at all wanted by me, and the other is so very much loved and pampered and I showered all my love on him! Yes that is my nieces son and he is the cutest baby and so lovable that  he stole my heart! .. the unwanted visitor, of course is the monkey which took me by surprise, as it was staring at me sitting on my window sill ! 

And the cutest baby Uddhav  who stole my heart and loved having him here...!

Huh...busy month but could not wrap it up until we  celebrated the Ganesh Chathurthi. Though we don't do any ritualistic pooja at home any more, since last 30 yrs or so, we always celebrate it at our Temple, as we have given the rights to the temple authorities. Ganapathi bappa Moriya....Mangal moorthi ..the God I love and believe the most!God Bless my family .Bless all my near and dear ones.

This is how I got lost in August!!! Great month!