Baraats in GRSfamily
Today in Indian Express I read a column on baraats and my mind floated back to some of the baraats in GRS Family. Not in the strict sense that the word is understood in North India, but the way we (the groom's party) travelled & reached the mandapam.
In anna's (GSR) marriage (1956), I remember only that I travelled in First Class (railways) to Kumbakonam. thanks to the Free Passes that Pappa Chiththi had. Obviously, I impersonated someone in her family (Gopu, perhaps?). I don't remember how we travelled to Coimbatore for Sundaresan's marriage (1965).
For my marriage (1971), I vividly remember we had packed everything by 9PM the previous night and everyone was sleeping as though in a station platform. The passenger train to Chengalpattu was at 4.00AM; we got up at 2 AM, anna brought a kattai vandi and we loaded our luggage and proceeded, on foot, to the station. At Villupuram station (6 AM) where the train halted for more than 30 minutes, anna and Ramamurthy athimber went and fetched hot coffee in flasks! At Chengalpattu station (9-30AM), we were all made to sit on the ground (platform) and amma served us breakfast (idlis?). At Chengalpattu, we changed train for Kanchipuram. Srikanth "missed" his way but luckily found out...!
As I did not join the groom's party at TPR for Sugavanam's marriage (1975)- we reached Thirukkazhu Kundram direct from Chennai - I don't remember anything, except that Ashok was just 9 months old. For Jayaraman's marriage (1977) at Erode, we started by the 5PM passenger train to Salem. Amma was then having problems in walking. We got into one compartment, but finding the next compartment to be a "NEW ONE", we shifted there. From the time the train left TPR, there were songs and songs only - VASU, then 17, was the "hero", singing all the way! Mannis and sisters were distributing murukku etc first and then at 8-30PM the meals.
At Salem, we have to change train for Erode. The TPR train reached by 12 mn, we walked our amma slowly someone always holding her and guiding in the dark across railway lines. Then, we all huddled up in the platform itself - it was a cold December night. ARVIND was just 3 months then. Anna & Ramamurthy athimber (close dosts always) went outside for tea. Arun (5) and Ashok (2 1/2) never left my side even for a moment. Most of us did not sleep at all that night. The Erode express came at 5AM, we all got in two diff compartments, and in our compartment, there ensued a hot political discussion on Indira Gandhi.
In the 2nd generation marriages, I don't remember much in Vasu's (1990). We didn't attend Sridhar's (1991). For Bala's marriage (Apr 1994) there was no baraat as such, since the bride's side came to Chennai. Next was Suresh marriage (Jun 1994); we all gathered first in Chennai at Jayaraman's house for the Poonool of Vijay. Then, we left for CBE in two batches (our family by prev night-train and others by next day morning train) Jayaraman had a Fiat car that time and we went to station in the Fiat ! It was during the morning trip that Jayaraman forgot the Group-booked tickets in the house itself and he had to rush back to get it. After two functions at Sundaresan's place, we all left in a Thiruvalluvar bus for Kumbakonam.
Sudhakar's marriage (Jan 1996) was next, and it was a local affair - no baraat. Prakash marriage (Mar 1996) was also a local affair. In Feb 1997, it was Srikanth's marriage. Manni and family came from Delhi and stayed with us at Kanchanbagh for 3 days. Others from Chennai, Pune and other places joined at Kanchanbagh and it was a fun-filled affair. About 40+ people stayed with us. For Ganesh's marriage (1998), we came direct to Bangalore, went straight to bride's house, introduced ourselves, and had bath & breakfast & lunch in their house with them. (do you remember, Sridevi?). The actual baraat came in a van/bus from Hosur in the afternoon and we welcomed the party !
Ravi's marriage (Jan 2000) at Delhi was also a local affair. I remember the COLD and the FEAST SPREAD only. Next was Arun's (Oct 2000), another local affair. Most of us gathered in Sugavanam's place and went to the Mandapam in vans.
For Ashok's marriage (Feb 2004), I had booked around 40 tickets from Chennai. Periya Manni from Delhi, Sundaresan - Manni from Pune, Savithri from Hosur had joined us for the pre-marriage functions and we all travelled together. I remember two things particularly - the hot coffee served at the station by bride's side and KVS Athimber's anxiety to meet Srividya at 4-30AM at KR Puram!!
Arvind's marriage (Jun 2004) was another local affair. Next was Sudhan's marriage (Nov 2005) - though the official baraat started from Tiruvannamalai in a bus, there were 12 from Chennai travelling by Pandiyan Express, albeit in different coaches.
From Anna's marriage in 1956 to Sudhan's in 2005, I have travelled for 50 years in these memories, some of these fading and maybe factually incorrect ! I would welcome others to add / modify these with their tidbits.
COME, everyone.
Rajappa
1-15PM on 2 May 2006
Today in Indian Express I read a column on baraats and my mind floated back to some of the baraats in GRS Family. Not in the strict sense that the word is understood in North India, but the way we (the groom's party) travelled & reached the mandapam.
In anna's (GSR) marriage (1956), I remember only that I travelled in First Class (railways) to Kumbakonam. thanks to the Free Passes that Pappa Chiththi had. Obviously, I impersonated someone in her family (Gopu, perhaps?). I don't remember how we travelled to Coimbatore for Sundaresan's marriage (1965).
For my marriage (1971), I vividly remember we had packed everything by 9PM the previous night and everyone was sleeping as though in a station platform. The passenger train to Chengalpattu was at 4.00AM; we got up at 2 AM, anna brought a kattai vandi and we loaded our luggage and proceeded, on foot, to the station. At Villupuram station (6 AM) where the train halted for more than 30 minutes, anna and Ramamurthy athimber went and fetched hot coffee in flasks! At Chengalpattu station (9-30AM), we were all made to sit on the ground (platform) and amma served us breakfast (idlis?). At Chengalpattu, we changed train for Kanchipuram. Srikanth "missed" his way but luckily found out...!
As I did not join the groom's party at TPR for Sugavanam's marriage (1975)- we reached Thirukkazhu Kundram direct from Chennai - I don't remember anything, except that Ashok was just 9 months old. For Jayaraman's marriage (1977) at Erode, we started by the 5PM passenger train to Salem. Amma was then having problems in walking. We got into one compartment, but finding the next compartment to be a "NEW ONE", we shifted there. From the time the train left TPR, there were songs and songs only - VASU, then 17, was the "hero", singing all the way! Mannis and sisters were distributing murukku etc first and then at 8-30PM the meals.
At Salem, we have to change train for Erode. The TPR train reached by 12 mn, we walked our amma slowly someone always holding her and guiding in the dark across railway lines. Then, we all huddled up in the platform itself - it was a cold December night. ARVIND was just 3 months then. Anna & Ramamurthy athimber (close dosts always) went outside for tea. Arun (5) and Ashok (2 1/2) never left my side even for a moment. Most of us did not sleep at all that night. The Erode express came at 5AM, we all got in two diff compartments, and in our compartment, there ensued a hot political discussion on Indira Gandhi.
In the 2nd generation marriages, I don't remember much in Vasu's (1990). We didn't attend Sridhar's (1991). For Bala's marriage (Apr 1994) there was no baraat as such, since the bride's side came to Chennai. Next was Suresh marriage (Jun 1994); we all gathered first in Chennai at Jayaraman's house for the Poonool of Vijay. Then, we left for CBE in two batches (our family by prev night-train and others by next day morning train) Jayaraman had a Fiat car that time and we went to station in the Fiat ! It was during the morning trip that Jayaraman forgot the Group-booked tickets in the house itself and he had to rush back to get it. After two functions at Sundaresan's place, we all left in a Thiruvalluvar bus for Kumbakonam.
Sudhakar's marriage (Jan 1996) was next, and it was a local affair - no baraat. Prakash marriage (Mar 1996) was also a local affair. In Feb 1997, it was Srikanth's marriage. Manni and family came from Delhi and stayed with us at Kanchanbagh for 3 days. Others from Chennai, Pune and other places joined at Kanchanbagh and it was a fun-filled affair. About 40+ people stayed with us. For Ganesh's marriage (1998), we came direct to Bangalore, went straight to bride's house, introduced ourselves, and had bath & breakfast & lunch in their house with them. (do you remember, Sridevi?). The actual baraat came in a van/bus from Hosur in the afternoon and we welcomed the party !
Ravi's marriage (Jan 2000) at Delhi was also a local affair. I remember the COLD and the FEAST SPREAD only. Next was Arun's (Oct 2000), another local affair. Most of us gathered in Sugavanam's place and went to the Mandapam in vans.
For Ashok's marriage (Feb 2004), I had booked around 40 tickets from Chennai. Periya Manni from Delhi, Sundaresan - Manni from Pune, Savithri from Hosur had joined us for the pre-marriage functions and we all travelled together. I remember two things particularly - the hot coffee served at the station by bride's side and KVS Athimber's anxiety to meet Srividya at 4-30AM at KR Puram!!
Arvind's marriage (Jun 2004) was another local affair. Next was Sudhan's marriage (Nov 2005) - though the official baraat started from Tiruvannamalai in a bus, there were 12 from Chennai travelling by Pandiyan Express, albeit in different coaches.
From Anna's marriage in 1956 to Sudhan's in 2005, I have travelled for 50 years in these memories, some of these fading and maybe factually incorrect ! I would welcome others to add / modify these with their tidbits.
COME, everyone.
Rajappa
1-15PM on 2 May 2006
Comments
Post a Comment