Navarathiri used to mean a lot of things to me as a kid….Preparations would begin atleast begin a month or two in advance with scouting for new dolls …thinking about different ideas for the theme of the “golu”….deciding what pavadais my sis and I were going to wear….how would the invite be designed…who would we call…decorations for the house..snacks for the guest…list is endless….
Should say my grandma should have thought in a B school!!She used to do project management with my moms and aunts being managers under her and we kids as the poor associates…(IT influence I should say!!!) Being a perfectionist she would want everything in place atleast a week before in advance…Then comes the ritual of getting the dolls from the attic and mantling the steps to place the dolls…My sis and I used to get excited about the room that was allocated to us..We used to arrange almost every doll we owned and made our own theme for the kiddies corner….We also used to insist that a park set features in almost all our golus…
This is just the preparatory stage…Dates were decided and those were the designated days when people were invited to collect “vethala pakku” from our house!We would hurriedly get ready as soon as we got home from school.Still remember the long plaits we wore adorned with flowers!I wouldnt even dare dream of doing that now!Guests would start coming in by 3..We even had few relatives staying at our place to help us out! We never got tired with the long list of people who came!Friends relatives neighbours distant relatives, dad’s and uncle’s collegues…list is never ending…Then there would be a huge dinner for the first family circle and by the time the last guest leaves it would atleast be 11.
Everything was done in a elaborate manner….The energy levels of my mom or grandma were amazing!I am not sure if I can even match even half of that now!!
This year I have been invited to couple of places and I notice one thing in common.That genuine warmth and interest is not longer what it used to be…Many a time its becomes more like a ritual done because they do not want to break the tradition. I am not blaming anyone and neither am I trying to say what happened then was right or wrong!Used to wonder what’s changed so much that my grandma still talks about those good ol’times..I guess I sound no differrent here…..:-)
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12 comments:
sigh...i miss sundal and the whole celebration so much....
UD,Harish,
Guess everyone is missing the sundal so much..:-)
hey! thanks for visiting my blog n commenting. I don't think i have had new readers in a long time and i am thrilled to c ur comment(might i ask how u came across my rather obscure blog?)
as for navarathri... i guess my sis enjoys it more than i ever did. hindu festivals were sexist. neither cud we guys wear pattu paavadai, nor were we given vethalai paaku. (and i am not a major sundal fan).
SIG
hey..i guess i dont remember how i came across ur blog..:-)actually now that u mention its kinda true..its always the women who get a lotta importance...
U can still wear pattu veshti and accompany ur sis..:-)no one will say u shouldnt come
Ayshu,
In fact was thinking on same lines this morning. Feel its jus a matter of time before these pujas, gulus, inviting people, making sundals become a thing of the past. Even I remember the enthu and energy with which my folks used to set up a golu; I guess the woman folks today dont really have the time. Yester years all they could think of are these functions. not the same nowadays with every one getting busy....nice thing I had the puja at my place this morning and also did a puja for my car :)
dear aysh,
i wish someone had invited me this time! kinda missed out on the whole kolu deal! sigh!!!
SF,
Things like pooja at home/pooja for teh car will still be there for some more time..Rather these are things I wouldnt give up on..maybe not like before but atleast on a small scale...
Anjali,
I would hv had I kept one at home..:-))))
Wow .. i didnt know navratri was celebrated like that down south.. sounds a lot of fun.. i wish i knew more about these golus though
i miss golu.... :( :( next time, i'm going to india during navaratri! and i'll wear saris..! and plait my hair! i can't even begin to describe how i long for "malli poo" and "jaadhi" (though it's not the season now)...! well, wait till deepavali for me to complain even more!! bahhh!!! :(
Aditi,
Yup its a big deal down south especially if u have ppl at home who are very enthu abt it!!
Kavitha,
I know I know....romba crib adikadha,,,when ur here these things loose relevance...its always a case of grass on the other side is greener..btw suggest some good books na?
you are tagged to write six weird things about yourself...by me. please find time to do it, ofcourse if u have not done it be4
SF,
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...:-( Will do it!!
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